46233 to York: 10/12/16

Spoke too soon there Peter - 105L at Retford. Wonder what happened between there and Loversall Carr Jn?

Regards,

Dan

 

After recovering to 77 late at Loversall Carr, she's dropped back to 105 down at Retford according to RTT. Let's hope there's scope for recovery in the water stop.

 

Ah well, I suppose it was too good to last.
As you say, 1Z36 arrived at Retford Platform 1 at 18:29 [105L] - presumably water stop and pathing (but originally scheduled by NR to take 48 minutes).

 

Looped for op reasons!

 

Where's the A1 when you need one?

 

Inside at ranskill

 

A quick splash and a dash and she's away from Retford 81 late. Quick work by the support crew there.

 

We tend to forget that, despite their power, the big Pacifics have less adhesion than a Class 20.

 

Great watching progress now that it appears on: http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/ecm3
Nearing Newark as I type.

 

67 late at Claypole so clawing back the deficit.

 

Not drivel IMHO ! The punters have paid for a day out which has been reduced because certain parties don't want the presence of a diesel at the rear. In the conditions of TDMR (Today's Modern Railway) I consider that diesel on the rear as insurance so if the steam loco has a problem - and the greasy rail on the Hertford Loop seems to have been a problem - the assistance is readily available to reduce delays. I accept that some charter participants may wish not to have this but - accepting that insurance is a cost that one pays to reduce the potential cost should incidents occur - any effort that can reduce costs whilst helping reduce costly delays must surely be the lesser of 2 evils.

Given the delays incurred by today's charter it would be interesting to know (a) what delays were incurred (b) what was the total cost (c) whose is liable to pay and (d) to whom; it would then be interesting to know (a) what would have been the extra cost of providing a diesel on the rear and (b) what reduction in delay cost would have accrued. Whilst I value steam haulage I also note the rising cost of charter fares; in the last month I have seen the Tin Bath rise from £69:00 in November 2015 to £109:00 in November 2016 and a Southport - Edinburgh charter (dining service) rise from £169:00 to £199:00. I consider that some of that reflects increased costs incurred by charter operators seeking to pass on some of the additional expense caused by charter delays but which can be reduced by the availability rear-end assistance. My fear is that delay costs could reach the point where either Network Rail restricts steam operation to specific routes in specific weather conditions or charter operators elect not to continue main line operation to avoid the increasing level of hasslement that the operation of steam traction on the main line generates.

 

Are you trying to say that the NP "I don't like boxes on the Back" brigade are responsible for the 47 not assisting northbound today? NR were obviously happy for it to stay behind and you may like to note that it followed 46233 rather than shove it.

 

Stormed through a wet Newark station out of nowhere ! I was expecting it a bit later but Luckily I checked RTT in the nick of time and just about got my camera on my tripod.

 

*Speculation alert* I wonder if the shunting from the rear by a diesel had any influence on the buckeye failure? Years of violent movement would probably take its toll eventually. Might also be an issue with HST rakes.

I've noticed that WCRC are really going for a Pullman makeover. Never seen 'Tanzanite' before Thursday's trip (presumably a new name to follow the precious stone theme), so hopefully more will be repainted over time. Also noticed that they had added a generator car to the consist for ETH. So providing it works (was informed by friends of mine on the tour that it conked out), then a diesel in the consist would be for operational reasons.

 

In Peterborough platform 3, arrived 50 down.

And out, 37 down!

 

On-the-day specifics -
If the stock was (allegedly) the wrong way round at Southall then the delayed KX departure would be down to the train operator I suspect.
Subsequent delay minutes claims would be down to NR - OHLE wires down around Stevenage area I've heard.
Apparently the crew signed the Hertford Loop and, as mentioned above, NR agreed to divert the train to circumvent the problem.
However, 46233 was unable to master the combined curvature [sharpish 's' bend] and gradient up the the flyover opposite Bounds Green Depot. There are some interesting aerial shots on: http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/haringey-aerial.html [AWJXJ2 (RM) and AWJXJ8 (RM) show it quite well].
By the time WCR's diesel arrived, and arrangements made to set-back/pull back to provide a 'shove' the ECML had re-opened so the Duchess set off Down the main as originally scheduled.
The next ECML delay payments committee meeting will have a fine time negotiating this one I suspect.

 

Looks like she's been looped for a couple of 125's coming up behind, was doing so well but hope it's not the hour on the schedule!

 

Opentraintime's "moving map" showed her on the main all the way.