The Yorkshireman 23/09/17

No, not that @Yorkshireman, the one running from Victoria to York at the ungodly hour of 06:30 ex VIC.

The sun was just about rising, brightening the sky as she passed Clapham Junction at 06:49


LNER A4 60009 - Union of South Africa by Tim White, on Flickr


LNER A4 60009 - Union of South Africa by Tim White, on Flickr


LNER A4 60009 - Union of South Africa by Tim White, on Flickr

The first of 3 VIC steam departures today.

 

Went to film her on Sharnbrook Bank but sadly it was 100% diesel shoveage. Safety valves on 60009 were going full bore though so she wasn't shy of steam.

 

Seen leaving Melton Mowbray - diesel pushing hard at the back.

 

Yes similar on the climb out of Kettering ,by the position of the die block in the expansion link ,must have been down to 15% after a half a mile from the station.

 

An unedited sequence from Souldrop on the climb to Sharnbrook Summit this morning. Click on the image to play the video.
60009 'UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA' Souldrop by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

Clapham Junction. Why did I get up at 4.30 to do this?

 

Crossing Barnes Bridge:

 

hello
some pics at chesterfield and foxlow at www.flickr.com/photos/15931796@N00/? or www.stevebottrill.zenfolio.com

 

All steam tours nowadays over the MML see diesel assistance. Sharnbrook is a good pull, the problem is it's always routed up the fast and they always have an operational stop at the bottom. I have been there twice and I won't go back. Harrowden Junction is better as it would be flat out there and still on the fast.

 

Not all, Liam, Flying Scotsman last week:

 

Not so. 60103 on 15th December had no diesel on the back. Today wasn't just diesel assistance, the 57 was doing all the work. 60103 went on the slow so got a run at the bank.

 

Completely necessary. Any good steam loco with the right load can manage without help.

 

Looks like you were the other end of P4 from me for this shot and then moved to P9 for the ACE (I saw a couple of togs over there).
It was a shame that 60009 wasn't doing much through Clapham, but then again, it's not often they open the taps through the station.
P9 was a bit of a risk with the extra services on the Windosr side wasn't it? Seems you pulled it off though.

 

Harrowden Junction is my usual (as it's convenient) location, but, to be honest, while it offers good views I've yet to see a loco working hard there,

Jon

 

Th

That's a rarity Dave ! Thanks for pointing out.

 

We went further down to make the most of the illumination from the station lights, the original idea was to get the sun coming up over London behind the train from where you were. With the frequency of trains P9 was a risk, I've tried it three times before and failed! Shame the weather didn't play ball.

 

I think it had a bout of priming just before the bridge in the background ,taps open when it came into view.

 

That's a good shout, as they seemed to be struggling with the injector as well, looking at the footage.

 

I did wonder about that but a mate of mine had seen her before the pathing stop at Sharnbrook junction and the 57 had being doing all the work there too.