The Great Britain IX

heading up towards Lancaster, just as a storm was about to pass over............

 

'Galatea' was failed, prior to leaving Carnforth for the Windsor job, with a mud-hole door issue, which is just one of things with steam locos - an immediate show-stopper on the day but easily repaired, although it takes time, due to allowances for cooling down, draining the boiler, refilling etc.

As far as gauging on the Cumbrian Coast is concerned, 5Xs were cleared in both directions, last year, 'Galatea' making its southbound run in February, on that authority. The authority had expired, before the run, a fortnight ago, so a revised assessment, based on updated data, was issued, resulting in a prohibit at Harrington, in the southbound direction, hence why steam came on at Sellafield. Clearance remains northbound.

JS

 

Thanks for the clarification on that issue James! Any chance of an update regarding tomorrow's motive power?

 

45699

 

Most likely that 57316 was 'notched on' where the engine is still idling but the load regulator is providing traction current to the motors sufficient to move the locomotive under its own power only, and hence 'take its own weight'. A little more may be needed on the steeper gradients but the net effect should be to just negate the weight of the locomotive at the rear of the train so the loco is taking load 10. I don't think a class 7 could realistically take 13 over Dainton/Hemerdon and 10 would be very impressive.

 

My shot of 44871 roaring up Llanvihangel Bank at Llantilio Pertholey without any assistance from the diesel. Hope you enjoy.

 

Completely random observation on GB9,but wasnt standard class advertised on this trip quite late in the day?

Have watched lots of the videos people have kindly posted here and all the stock appears to be first class,so did standard ever happen? Or are the lucky standard class ticket holders in a "declassified" first?

 

A couple of sots of 44871 today at Prees and Acton Bridge:

 

Wow. I don't believe it. The diesel is doing nothing on the challenging bank. Amazing. William Stanier certainly produced a beauty in the Black 5.

 

Stainer produced a lot of cracking locos to be honest !

 

LMS 5MT Class 4-6-0 No. 44871 seen passing Arnside outer home on Day 3 of the Great Britain IX nearing the end of its run from Bristol to Grange-over-Sands,
slightly different weather conditions to those experienced down south

 

Cracking shot Shep , just on the edge weather wise !!

 

Well, I got wet this evening (pelted with tiny hail stones), for the first time on this trip, but only after I'd finished filming at Bay Horse. The sun was shining at Narroways Jn in Bristol and over Abergavenny, though not where I was stood on the hillside at Llanvihangel, and hidden by thick cloud at Wistanstow. I should have gone down to Arnside but the rain was torrential as I passed the turn-off and I could hear a cup of tea calling from my B&B...

Where shall I go tomorrow morning? I'm staying just outside Ulverston and want somewhere fairly close by, then up to either St Bees or Parton, depending how much time I have in hand.

 

Galatea over Beattock tomorrow? First time in 6 years since a 5xp has done this route if it happens.

 

A rather frustrating day weather-wise today, with the sun going in moments before 44871 passed Abergavenny, coming out seconds after 44871 left Shrewsbury and the rain lashing down in Warrington.

James

 

Plans for Day 8 Tue 03-May have apparently changed. It looks like 44871 from Inverness via Perth to Mossend Yard, with a Jubilee (?) from Mossend Yard to Oxenholme. 44871 overnights at Dumbarton, and continues to Fort William on Wed 04-May.

 

The coach behind the POB on day 3, is 99723, BR number 35459, a corridor brake standard

 

Unless I am seriously mistaken, a class 5 locomotives will not pull the equivalent ofr 12/13 coaches up Dainton! A class 8 King was only allowed 10. The diesel had to give it a shove of some sort otherwise it would surely have stalled. A class 5 such as a Hall was only allowed 7 without front-end assistance from Newton Abbot. Same with Hemerdon which is a beast of a bank. I have travelled on double headed Black 5's with 13 on and only just got over the top of the bank. All of this said, clearly the Black 5 has done well. Thankfully.

 

I'm talking about the Scot, a class 7 as Al stated. Numerous reports from on board and from members of the support crew said that over Dainton, in both dirctions, the Scot took the whole load with the diesel switched on and ready to assist at the drop of the hat. There was assistance over Hemerdon from what's been reported. I'll let everyone make there own verdict on Dainton, when I post my video later this afternoon.