The Great Britain IX

isn't everybody sick of the colour debate?

 

I doubt it.

 

Thanks Al , I agree it looked like Gordon Hodgson had full control of the train at Lindal with hardly if any help from the can .

 

Looking at the video (which was great BTW) and specifically the safety valve, I would say the driver was being given some very good foundations to do his driving, she seemed to be feathering throughout - I suspect there were some wet shirts yesterday!

 

Thanks B Al!

 

Thank you Ralph

just getting used to the etiquette (or not as the case may be) here ...
John

 

There has been some debate re rules and engines assisting in rear. Rule book module TW1 Train Working, sections 15 and 16 define how assistance should be provided.. What assistance the trailing loco may have been providing is covered by 16. As usual the only caveat is that crews should reach a clear understanding. As I understand drivers and guard have radios over which such understandings can be aranged. WCRC apear to have followed the rules

 

Stroudley improved engine green?

 

Some people here are looking forward to the prospects of Bahamas 45596 next year. Galatea did put on a good show yesterday though. She is the 1st jubilee to go over Beattock since September 2010.

 

GBIX passing Edinburgh Park and bound for Inverness today...

Park perpendiculars by newshot., on Flickr

 

Certainly not me as I travel on 25/30 steam hauled trains every year most operated by WCR, as well as supporting societies and groups with mainline engines. There was only an issue with the weight of GBIX on Dainton and Hemerdon. I still am frustrated for the paying passengers that WCR couldn't have just sent a box to Newton Abbot to assist to Plymouth. Same on the return. The mighty Scot could easily have coped with 10 to Plymouth unassisted on both days. There's also a yard where a box could have been left on the return. Biggest disappointment for the GBIX down south was not letting 44871 loose with 10 on the Bristol-Shrewsbury road. Was going to happily pay to do that leg but again an unecessary box was on the back. I sincerely hope this is not the future for mainline steam. If it is it's not for me.

 

Nobody actually 'wants' the box on the back, but if that's the way it has to be, then so be it. The majority of observers seem to think that it did little if anything to detract from this particular trip. If the alternative is no steam at all on the main line, then I know which option I prefer.

 

But please remember, 44871 failed only hours before the train was due to depart. With this happening at the last minute so to speak, you are looking at making critical changes with only hours to go. With how things have panned out, I'm not sure if there was much else that could have been done?

Going by your suggestions, this would have meant potential crew changes, movements for the diesel itself depending if there were any drivers available for the moves you suggest, taxi's to/from hotels for them also which has to come into consideration. Extra paths to be applied for to NR and so forth, the list goes on. You make fair point's but not with only hours to go!

Under the circumstances it looks as though everyone on board was/is happy (which is the main thing!) and we all know that with Ray Churchill on the regulator, Royal Scot was always going to be worked hard, especially as he knew the capabilities of the fireman too. As 8A has mentioned, one of them holds nearly all the records for that part of the country and is a dam good fireman, thankfully I've had the pleasure of watching him a fair few times and he's taught me a trick or too as well.

Then again, we could always go back to the details of last years tour and start comparing the two.......

 

Thanks for sharing your footage sgt, though I think the Jubilee Roar was only really apparent on one passage, not going fast enough for the majority of the time.
Box on the back may be something we have to accept ( though why it has to be a huge 47...) if we are going to have anything less than class 8 on the front.
What was apparent was that regardless of what the box was doing the steamer was giving it some(yay).
When its a Wisp of steam on the front and a big shove up the arse from a reeking gronk box then that is no longer a steam railtour...

 

44871 filling the station roof in Inverness with smoke this afternoon, as the sun came out.

James

 

You know exactly what the problem is. Please don't turn into another Ralph!

 

Sounds like a good deal.