The Midday Scot, Saturday 11th March 2017.

didn't 46115 manage to at least do one circuit of the cotton mill out of MCV aswell?

 

Good call, not sure whether it got beyond Victoria. So perhaps a first heritage era westbound? What routes did its two 1978 runs take?

 

Guide Bridge - Sheffield - York.

 

Cotton Mill on 17 July 2010 which I photographed at Hall Royd Junction

 

Footage of 46115 at Salterwath before the pallisade fence goes up .

 

Caught her in the gloom at Lancaster, recovering from a signal check.

 

Passing Natland.

 

Sad to see the Scot really labouring badly on Beattock .A.few of us also noticed a clanking sound but the diesel was there to rescue

 

LMS 7P Class 4-6-2 No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' puts on a superb show for the gallery as it approaches Scout Green heading 'The Mid Day Scot' to Edinburgh

 

The Scot and Jubilee at Shap Wells, more of a feast for the ears than the eyes!

 

On-train reportage was that diesel assistance was required from Abington as coal couldn't be drawn forward in the tender under the wires. Unlike 46233, 46115 doesn't have a steam coal pusher, so with hindsight, it might have been better for steam to come on at Preston.

Out of the two runs (comparing with last year's effort with 46233), 46115 had the better climb of Shap, with a minimum of around 25mph during the climb, breasting the summit at around 27mph. However, 46233 clearly made a much better fist of Beattock with a minimum of 29.5mph; it was suggested to me that 46115 slipped slightly about two miles from the summit, with speed dropping to around 17mph at one stage, and the subsequent climb was into the loop was done rather gingerly. All in all, a trip which confirms that 46115 will get you up the hills, even if it does sometimes get hobbled by outside circumstances such as weather, coal issues and possibly one too many carriages in the formation; I think considering it was Beattock, 10 carriages would have been a safer option, as there was a fair bit of space in standard.

My own vaguely embarrassing story of the day was that I overslept my alarm clock by about 90 minutes, having advanced booked the 04:00 York for Manchester Piccadilly and a brisk walk to join the train at Victoria. The original plan was to catch a service train direct from Edinburgh to York, but as the only option was for me to drive to Preston and catch the train there, I had to accompany the special back to collect my car- there was a farce at Carlisle as the 37 which hauled the empty stock into Waverley had braking problems, which resulted in a 25 minute delay. In any case, I'm putting the money wasted down to experience and hope to try harder next time!

 

Excellent run yesterday with SG, up to the Beattock Summit water stop, where she arrived on time.
Alas, we were looped at Abington to get diesel support.
Reported reason was that they had used more coal than anticipated, and they could not sort this due to being under the overhead wires, as mentioned above.
Fortunately, the diesel traction, for the return journey was running ahead of the train, and it was waiting for us at the head of the loop.
Good contingency planning by WCR.
SG and her train then drew up to the diesel, and we were off to Edinburgh, where we arrived about 20 mins late

 

Nothing wrong with a knocking sound from an LMS engine. They came fresh out overhaul with knocks already built in. She is close to the end of her ticket so expect a little weakness and reduction in power.

 

It has been suggested that 46115 will be around until August, so it might get a couple more trips in before withdrawal. Glad I did yesterday as it totted up my mileage to 1,020 behind it.

 

46115 returning home at Oxenholme .

 

Does 46233 still have an operational coal pusher?

 

It was certainly working here, if you can access this Fleecebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/105180429515813/permalink/1374837145883462/

 

Awesome! Thanks

 

Need to have a wooden rake for pulling coal forward!