The Great Britain IX

Just hammered through Cark RT, cold weather meaning lots of steam and very happy 3 year old.....

 

Got carried away with Black 5's. Apologies. Of course, it was Royal Scot, a class 7. But even so, 12/13 load over Dainton is an amzing feat and would not have happened in BR days of the 50/60's. Even Warship diesels would have a locomotive on the front for this load.

 

I agree, 12/13 over Dainton would be an amaing feat and it is likely that the diesel did take it's weight. Even so, 10 coaches is still remarkable ! I would like to see the timings of 70000 up Dainton on the Royal Duchy last year, with load nine.

 

Could have sworn you were older.

 

LMS 5XP Class 4-6-0 No. 45699 'Galatea' in charge of GBIX Day 4 works passed Park South Signal Box en-route to Edinburgh

 

Only Mr Churchill (and other drivers)? A footplate crew consists of at least two people and one cannot work without the other! Yes, I am biased after all but without the firemen putting in their shift, the driver would have now't on the regulator regardless how good he is. However, a driver has got to make the best of the situation with what he has been given and I acknowledge, some may do it better than others. As for the climbs over Dainton (& others), I am sure I will find out in due course. )

 

I type very well for my age

Actually I cannot be 3 as I drove King George V when I was 4 and that just doesn't add up!

 

Usual standard from you Shep, hope Trooper didn't get wet .

 

Black five just set off north from Carnforth with pob and diesel on rear.

 

Not today but drowned at Arnside yesterday!!

 

Appreciate your comments but could have done with some of your weather up here lol

 

Noticed from Facebook pictures of 45699 at Carlisle, that she lost the headboard between there and Carnforth this morning with the ECS.

 

It's times like this that I regret not bringing my video camera, microphone and tripod with me on this trip. The noise from Galatea leaving Carlisle just now was astonishing.

James

 

Hopefully the info is here with MPs/grades/Split times/Speeds. Can't create pdfs.

Royal Duchy 6th September 2015 7000+POB+8 (350 Tons)

Westbound (Time from Exeter)

Newton Abbot 214 level 24:15.36 58.2

214 1/4 259 24:30.07 58.2

214 1/2 259 24:45.57 59

214 3/4 259/lev 25:01.06 58.8

215 level 25:16.42 59.1

Aller 215 1/4 level 25:30.61 59.5

215 1/2 502/247d 59.7

215 3/4 98 26:01.69 59.8

216 98/57 26:16.30 58.1

216 1/4 57 26:32.25 55.8

216 1/2 57 26:49.47 52.6

216 3/4 71/46 27:07.47 49.1

217 46/56 27:25.94 44.7

217 1/4 56/41 27:47.13 39.9

217 1/2 41/49/36 28:12.26 34.6

217 3/4 36/44 28:40.89 28.4

Dainton Tunnel in 217 63c 84 28:45.01 25.4

Eastbound (Time from Plymouth)

Totnes 222 63c level 30:02.25 56.5

222 3/4 66d 30:11.15 55

222 1/2 level 30:27.09 55.4

222 1/4 level 30:42.98 56.9

222 level 30:59.09 56.5

221 3/4 lev/254 31:14.98 55.4

221 1/2 254/118 31:31.32 53.6

221 1/4 lev/153 31:48.17 53.8

221 153/78 32:05.05 53.1

220 3/4 78/205 32:23.05 52.7

220 1/2 120 32:39.17 52.8

220 1/4 120/227 32:56.05 54.2

220 86 33:12.36 56.5

219 3/4 lev/206 33:28.23 55.4

219 1/2 206/76 33:45.25 52.6

219 1/4 76/105 34:02.23 51.3

219 105 34:20.28 47.5

218 3/4 55 34:39.54 44.4

218 1/2 65/38 35:01.11 38.2

218 1/4 38 35:27.11 31.9

218 43/37 35:52.50 28.2

Dainton Tunnel In 217 76c 130 28.0

 

I don't know about ranting about it Al but I must admit to having concerns about the Southern Legs of GBIX. WCRC were instructed not to load more than 11 coaches behind Class 7 locomotives yet here we are if passengers are to be believed with 46100 taking on Savernake, Whiteball and the South Devon Banks with 10 plus a 'ticking over' Class 57 where the loading gauge for a Class 7 is accepted as being 8, though Duchys in recent years have taken 9 as we know. This from a TOC that only had it's Prohibition Notice lifted on the 23rd March. BR, Railtrack and Network Rail as you know - and perhaps all contributors don't know - have only allowed 2 locomotives to take on the South Devon Banks unassisted with 10 coaches, 46233 Duchess of Sutherland and 60163 Tornado. Haven't WCRC promised to play by the rules? Wonder if the ORR have been monitoring the posts here and elsewhere. I really hope not.

 

If the diesel is ticking over ready to give a shove if required, whats the problem? If the ORR do monitor posts I really don't think it's helpful to draw attention to what is perceived as a breach of the rules!

 

Nothing like a good diesel debate to distract from the astonishing achievement of steam going from Penzance to Wick in 2016. Sometimes I do despair with NP..
Please can we concentrate on the fantastic achievements of this railtour running, which looked very unlikely only a month or so ago. If you want to debate the 57 there is a thread elsewhere. For most of us (including passengers that have posted here) it doesn't appear to be an issue. From a personal point of view, I personally don't want to trawl through pages of old arguments and hot air to find out how it is getting on!