The Border Raider with 60163 - 16/09/17

Fortunately in some morning sunshine (and between Pendolinos) at Stableford on the climb to Whitmore.



And later crossing Docker viaduct



After that the luck ran out and Tornado (-14 min) crossed the late (-8min) in the station at Garsdale, on the plus side by then the light was dire.

Scott

 

First Steam rail tour over the Diggle Trans Pennine route for nearly 4 years saw 60163 Tornado hauling the diverted 'The Border Raider' at Deighton on September 16th 2017 in very poor lighting conditions (just 15 minutes before sunset) running 20 minutes late at 19:03

(apologies for poor quality due to lighting, ASA set at 1600 and lucky to get speed of 1/125th sec)

60163 Tornado 'The Border Raider' Deighton September 16th 2017



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Neil

 

Hopefully we'll get a bit more steam over Standedge now, Alycidon is on for later this year, should sound good up the hill from Dewsbury to the Morley Tunnel.

 

At Preston

 

Reason for that was the need to top the tender with a ton of coal just in case we ran into more pathing issues.

 

It was indeed an impressive run from Stockport: Cheadle Hulme 55; Handforth 68; Wilmslow 67; Alderley Edge 68; Chelford 74; Goostrey 76; Holmes chapel 74; Sandbach 76. Sound carried back to Coach 11.

 

Phenomenal trip, probably one of the best I've been on, despite being stuck in the penultimate coach both directions with a crazy couple playing cards loudly behind me. It was also great to see two other charters, as well as pulling out of BHM alongside one of them on the return. Flawless performance from Tornado as usual!

 

A glowing account of a top class railtour there, surely setting new benchmarks for, planning performance and customer service. The clear determination to overcome any logistical difficulties is truly commendable.
Returning Standedge to the steam route map is a bonus but perhaps this may be TOC dependent if route knowledge has lapsed in other quarters?

 

The coal was loaded long before the watering was complete so it was the water not coal that held us back. Interesting to watch blue bags of prepacked house coal being heaved up onto the footplate.

 

A few over the fence in this video .

 

I clocked these from the 3rd Carriage Steve, there was about 8 or 9 with children too ! Why post the video, deserve's plenty of abuse !

 

Once again the sod you I've got my shot brigade are determine to spoil it for everyone else

 

The Boarder Raider 16 September 2017 – 60163 Tornado hauling 12+POB

This was my first “proper” trip behind Tornado; having done only a Skipton-Appleby earlier in the year. With all the shenanigans earlier in the week this was a trip that might not have happened – so well done to all involved in getting the show on the road, and what a show it promised to be!.


I drove down to Crewe and arrived early despite seemingly endless roadworks on the M6. 60163 looked splendid as she drew the train into the station and stopped in platform 12. I boarded coach H, the eleventh. We departed 6L and made our way northwards through Cheshire on a fine bright morning. We ran in the mid 60s and around 2-3L. Speed increased and we shot through Warrington BQ at 75. Continuing northwards we were checked at Golborne Jn before being allowed through Wigan NW (6L & 35), we accelerated up the 2 miles of 1/104r to Boars Head (42 at the top) and continued to accelerate to the summit before Coppull (52). We were 6L at Leyland (70) and received the customary stop before Preston arriving in platform 6 (10L). Tornado was detached and crossed to platform 7 to fill at the hydrant. 46 minutes had been allowed, so even with our late arrival a RT departure was on the cards. Earlier in the journey we received the information that there had been an incident north of Carlisle and mainline services were severely disrupted; this was a curve ball that Preston found difficult to deal with . . .

Our scheduled departure was 11.02 and Tornado, in platform 7, was ready for the off, repeatedly opening her safety valves. At 11.10 Tornado was allowed north and at 11.22 she coupled to the train. We left a sunny Preston just before 11.26 (24L). We were out of path, but then so was everything else. We didn’t get far, being put into Barton Loop, thankfully for only 2 mins, for a Pendolino to pass. We were now 35L at Garstang. Some hard work from the front had reduced this to 30L at Lancaster where we flew through the centre road at 78. By Carnforth we were 28L and shot past at 70/71 (what would the West Coast drivers and firemen give for a chance like this). We topped Yealand Bank at 61, accelerated and were still doing 70 at Milnthorpe. Then we slowed and stopped south of Oxenholme for 3½ mins before turning into the loop where we waited for another 15 mins.

Three trains passed and we were away, a start on 1/178r and around 7 miles to Grayrigg Summit all uphill (1/178/104/213/124/131/106; always a challenge and especially so from a stop in Oxenholme Loop. How would Tornado fare? We were up to 18 through the station (now 55L), even 11 coaches back Tornado sounded busy, speed peaked at 43 across Bela Viaduct and was 40 at the summit (58L) – very good from a “standing start”. Now for some speed before Shap (fanciful talk from the next table was of 82 before Tebay . . . fanciful indeed!). We reached a max of 71 just before Tebay, this was down to 65 under the M6 and 56 under the Greenholme road bridge and 45 by Scout Green and we held 35 on the final part of the climb. A quick descent saw us through a showery Penrith at 72 (55L) and into platform 3 at a fine Carlisle (55L).

It is Mrs W’s birthday this week; she retired earlier this year and I have found it impossible to buy a card without her being by my side. So in Carlisle I am a man with a mission (again). First lunch; Woodrow Wilson – packed, William Rufus – packed, so off to a cafe in the square. The square was packed with stalls and loud music and roundabouts and face painting and . . ., but thankfully the cafe was reasonably empty (bacon and brie butty). Then off to WHS to buy a very suitable card (IMHO) and back to the station with ten minutes to spare.

We were due out at 15.00 but the effects of the service disruption persisted. It was around 15.07 when 66150 hauled the stock with Tornado on the rear northwards into platform 3. Pandemonium then ensued as it became apparent that the whole train had been turned; nearly everyone was at the wrong end of the platform and it is congested with “the scaffolding” occupying large areas. Eventually everyone boarded and we left Carlisle at 15.16 (16L), in light rain.

Our start was steady and 2 miles out under the M6 we were doing 27 (30 is typical of a good start). By Howe and Co we were 18L but up to 41, Low House (19L & 51), Armathwaite (18L & 54) through the Baron Wood Tunnels at 56/7 (1/220r), still 18L at Lazonby (60), Langwathby (18L & 54). We then gained some time; Culgaith (17L & 62), Kirkby Thore (16L & 62) and instead of the customary water stop at Appleby we flew through at 58 (“They’ll not sell much ice cream travelling at that speed” – Eric Morecambe). 62 before Ormside Viaduct and 58 at Ormside (13L), into Helm Tunnel at 47 and out at 43 (the 1/100r was now biting). We were 15L at Kirkby Stephen (41) where it was now raining, down to 38 through Birkett Tunnel and the rain became heavier. Speed recovered to 45 on the easier gradient at Mallerstang but fell away as Tornado dragged its 13 coaches up the final part of the 1/100, 36 under the road bridge and a minimum of 35 beyond, 14L at the summit. By Garsdale the heavy rain had stopped, through the tunnels and across Batty Moss, then down the other side where there was some fast running with frequent braking. We stopped for water at Long Preston (tanker in car park) 13L.

A quick fill and we were off 10L but this had increased to 14L by Gargrave, then we were checked approaching Skipton (17L). This had been reduced to 14L at Keighley (60) but it now became apparent that we were following an all stations stopper and we crawled along. Things improved beyond Shipley (19L) and we accelerated to 40 at Dockfield Jn and 50 into Thackley Tunnel. However, we were stopped approaching Apperley Jn, albeit only for a few seconds as something emerged from the Ilkley line and we trundled our way towards Leeds. We were 30L at Armley Jn and stopped for a couple of minutes before Whitehall Jn. The 10 minute stop in the UWC at Whitehall Jn was omitted which helped us recover some of the deficit. By Woodlesford we were 23L and running at 52, we slowed for Normanton (24L & 28), followed by a 30 second stop in pl 2 at Wakefleld Kirkgate, we then slowed to 16 as we crossed the R Calder at Mirfield (20L).

Considering the complexity of lines and services in the area we did well to arrive at Huddersfield only 22L. We accelerated through the station from 19 up to 22 and into the single bore of Huddersfield Tunnel then out and into Gledholt Tunnel and out at 24 (both 1/96r). Tornado was working hard and sounded fantastic (even 11 coaches back). On the 1/105r we accelerated to 42/43 at Slaithwaite (23L) but were down to 33 at Marsden (23L) and into Standedge Tunnel at 38 and out at Diggle (61). (The last time I went through Standedge was on The Cotton Mill Express (July 2010) – glad to see that I am still “in gauge” despite adding a few pounds in recent years). Good quick run downhill. As we passed through Greenfield Station there were plenty of cars stopped on the Oldham Road, a couple in the middle of the road with their doors open. It was getting dark as we slowed through Guide Bridge and dark as we stopped for water at Denton (22L). “Idiot of the day” goes to the young man in dark clothing and wearing flip-flops who was lurking with camera and tripod in the trackside bushes as we rolled into a very dark Denton.

The hoped for “quick” water stop did not materialise. We departed 26L in total darkness. There was no pathing problem and we slid through Stockport at 26 (24L) and right at Adswood Rd Jn towards Crewe (new bit of steam line for me). Speed gradually built, Cheadle Hulme (54), Handforth (62), Wilmslow (66) and soon we were purring along in the mid 70s. It was dark, there was little impression of speed and you couldn’t see what the rich people were up to. The fast running had reduced the deficit to 15L as we stopped in pl 5 at Crewe.

My thanks to all who made this trip possible (at all) and those who operated it in what were at times difficult circumstances. It was nice to meet Peter (pjhliners) and I saw several familiar faces. I had good travelling companions, from the West Midlands, and we dealt with a range of topics from the design of the Deltic engine to Asda’s price guarantee scheme. Apologies to Big Al – despite my checklist list I forgot to bring the black pudding. Back up the M6 and home for 10.25. Mrs W’s football team lost, I asked her about the game. “A bit stop start” – I know the feeling!

Am I up for next year? If it’s running, I’m free. I would suggest the original route; too many variables around Leeds and DON’T turn the whole train at Carlisle, the peasants like a bit of chimney music too!

Footnote

So how did “The Beast from the East” (not Swiss Toni) match up with “The Best from the West”? On 7 August 2017 The Dalesman (also 13 coaches) hauled by 46115 ran south over the S&C, a comparison of the upper part of the climb is interesting.

60163: Kirkby Stephen 41, Mallerstang max. 45, Ais Gill 36/35. Time 10m 6s
46115: Kirkby Stephen 44, Mallerstang max. 47, Ais Gill 43/41. Time 9m 29s

46115 ran in warm, dry conditions; 60163 in heavy rain. Mick Kelly had 46115 flat outish?: 60163 probably had a fair margin in reserve.

 

Wasn't sure at first if it was a public crossing but obviously it wasn't plus no sign of a visible wall or fence !!

 

The 'LMS massive' really don't like anything else flashing through their patch, do they? Also, isn't Goostrey on a downhill stretch at that point? If an LMS locomotive needs to make a noise on that stretch of 1 in 335 downhill, then I think it says more about issues with LMS motive power than the lack of noise from 60163.

 

Meh!!!! Just an LNER designed pacific going about her business with no fuss. Goostrey will get over it.

 

I think it could probably do a Tame Bridge Parkway/Birmingham/Wolverhampton/Stafford/Crewe to Scarborough based on its performance up and through Standedge, thus cutting out the problems in the Leeds area, which to be fair is congested at the best of times. I think the extremely smart departure from Whitehall Junction spoke volumes about the need to cross Leeds station's western throat with the minimum of delay- the only time I've done this before was following a similar 'emergency' pathing exercise for the final day of GBIX with 45690. The area's congestion is probably the reason why 'The Waverley' is traditionally run on a Sunday.

 

Being a LMS massive as you call us I don't mind any class of loco up North as 71000,70000,5403,70013 are all noisier than the LNER gang I must admit but it is what it is . A Jubilee will always cough with a similar load to a 8p whatever you reckon .

 

Precisely the point I am trying to make, which is that the 'my locomotive is louder than yours' reaction attributed to LMS fans earlier in the thread is somewhat misleading.