London Explorer, 46233 14 November 2015

Did you mean this? <BJ>

''I read on Nat pres or that other site sometime ago, a comment from a man who said it was his job to know about the assistance of trains from the rear. He said that it was only permitted at designated sites e.g. Lickey incline . If a train loco' failed, assistance from the rear could be given at reduced speed to the first point where the assisting loco could be put on the front .Trains like the current top and tailing ,the driver on the rear loco must be given permission to shove .He said who would that person be ? ,not someone sitting in a office as this could happen at day or night. So it could only be a inspector or someone in charge .What is happening then ?.Does the inspector say before leaving give us a shove when you feel like it ,or give orders as the train is on its journey''.

 

Yes ,Thanks.

 

For reference, the VT train to Euston with 46233 had the equivalent of 15 on with the water carrier and 47773 hanging off the back, at no point was assistance required or given.

 

Was thinking that myself, although I get his point, 40 is flying regardless of load.

 

Will tomorrow's train include a water carrier ?According to the loco's owners 46233 uses 45 gallon per mile and has a 5,000 gallon tender ,its near enough 80 miles from Rugby to Euston ,that's 3600 gallon. All okay for a steady run and no long delays.
When the return to steam was okayed by BR in the early 1970s, one of the conditions ,that I remember, was that a loco' must be booked to stop for water after using half a tank of water. This was in case of long hold up ,e.g. a train had broke down in front . The Settle and Carlisle had water stops at both Garsdale and Appleby when the route was passed for steam in the early 80s.
Presumably this rule has been relaxed .I wonder when and who by.

 

Even with the Pendo

There was no prying eyes on West Coast back then & if my memory serves me correctly, the tour ran to time & non stop, so no need for assistance. My only concern for tomorrows run is that if they fall behind schedule, they'll use the diesel for a quick getaway from pickup points & operational stops, in turn making up lost time. Happens all the time with WC trains.

 

She strode up Camden bank like the long legged lady she is ! Effortless......

 

47.832 at the rear today, presumably hanging on for dear life . <BJ>

 

passing through Sutton Park

https://www.flickr.com/photos/31339850@N06/22612413049/in/dateposted-public/

graham

 

Hello
Tearing through Marston Green
www.stevebottrill.zenfolio.com
Regards

 

....sort of tearing through Apsley.

 

Never seen the Duchess with such a small load, nine on the hook for today's trip. The diesel was switched off & unmanned, that was until they reached Bham Intl, where the 47 was then in power. The box was used heavily at Tile Hill, as the tour hit yellow's, and started to accelerate away, shame it was behind a stopper on route to Coventry. Managed to miss all the bad weather & even managed a shot in the sun !

 

You did a lot better than me...missed it at Sutton Park, caught it at Stechford but then got stuck in the roadworks on the A45 just outside Cov for 40 mins (!)
Oh well, all being well I'll see it on the way back in the dark (and rain).

 

At Hemel

 

Better luck for the return ! Hopefully the rain will have eased off ! Managed five locations on the outward.

 

Nice! Look forward to watching it.

 

Full coverage of yesterday's wet & windy run to London !

 

My video from Portway, Walmley and Bradnocks Marsh

 

Got a video of the Duchess crawling through Coventry on the way back, and a shot just before she departed Birmingham Int. Saw her at Water Orton too, didn't have time to grab the camera as she was 20 mins early - shame as she was accelerating through the station nicely. Oh well, not the end of the world.