RTC 'The High Peak Explorer: 17/03/18

Well, well, Wellington boots. It was around a year ago that I started the 2017 thread, so where the hell's the time gone? Anyway, I digress.

First trip I've booked on with RTC for 2018 is the 'High Peak Explorer', and I've noticed that there's been a bit of a reshuffle in the proceedings. The ascent of Copy Pit is (interestingly and quite desirable in my view because of its relative rarity for steam) southbound, then rounding the new curve at Todmorden before doing the usual to Stockport, Chinley and Buxton. Then there is the jaunt to the limit of the Ashbourne line at Hindlow before returning via Chinley.

Might do the first Whitby run as it looks the more likely of the two to become fully booked (and I, along with several others on this forum will be distracted by other things on the weekend of the second trip), but it depends on finances. The one thing in its favour is that I just have to roll out of bed, sort myself out and walk 25 minutes to the station to board it- a rare 'cheap as chips' run without challenging logistics. I'd also like another trip behind 61264 if it does it.

Then I'll probably keep my powder dry until more trips are announced in January/February.

 

So you might be interested to know that earlier today (Tuesday), RTC posted an email offering £30 discount on new day trip bookings if made before 9.00am Monday 6th November - subject , of course, to availability. Discount code to be quoted - HALD.

Notwithstanding the fact that, like you, there are some finance issues lurking in the background and, like you the following Saturday is 110% committed to the Big Apple Green Awesome Machine, RTC's announcement today is, for me, the green light to go ahead and push the button on a booking, and the live-now-pay-later consequences can go hang!! And yes, 61264 is a big part of the special appeal of this one. So that settles it!!

 

Indeed, and that was the reason for booking Hindlow now. As it is money I would spend anyway, it might mean less expenditure in one go later on. A couple of mates are on it, and another is coming to York from Swansea to do it, so I guess that's settled. It seems as though a lot of the trips I want to do have been piled into April.

 

We'll probably want a dedicated thread for the High Peak Explorer in due course, but meanwhile …

The current description on the website refers to "both locomotives", which suggests double-headed steam, with one loco moving to the other end at Buxton to top and tail through the multiple reversals, then running round again at some point to get both locos on the front for the run back to Manchester, Preston and Carnforth. Doing it with one steam loco and a diesel permanently on the other end would be simpler. I'm placing no bet either way.

The route as currently described, via Peak Forest in both directions, implies a reversal on arrival in the Buxton sidings to get to the station, another there on the way out (total three so far including the one at the station), another at Hindlow and one more in the Buxton sidings to regain the line to Peak Forest and Chinley. Moreover that would leave the steam loco(s) running tender first towards Chinley, suggesting a need to take the south-to-east curve first for yet another reversal.

With either traction combination, going to Buxton by the LNWR route via Whaley Bridge would reduce the reversals from six to four.

 

Apart from heading to Hindlow, it's mostly been done before, and both locos can remain fixed in top and tail mode when turning at Chinley during the layover to minimise shunting about. Whaley Bridge seems off-limits of late, as we were supposed to do it in February, but we ended up doing Chinley in both directions.

 

When was that done, and how long was the layover? This time there's less than two hours between the quoted arrival time at Buxton and the departure for Hindlow. Is that long enough for the locos to go (with or without the train) into the sidings, reverse, run to Chinley and round the triangle, be serviced and get back to Buxton?

 

25 February, although granted, they had 2.75 hours to do it in. But I suspect the relatively short route mileage might be a factor in how the layover has been devised. However, I don't think I need to wave the 'these are provisional timings' flag, as there's bound to be a fair bit of slack here and there.

 

There is already an RTC 2018 thread see http://www.national-preservation.com/threads/rtc-2018.987950/.
Mod please can you combine threads, Thanks.

 

So there is. Actually, rather than combine them, just rename this one The High Peak Explorer, 17 March 2018, as it is mostly discussing that trip.

 

As thread starter you can do that. Go to the top of the page, click on thread tools and click on 'Edit Title'.

 

I agree.

It would be useful if the RTC, SD, UKR, VT yearly threads were pinned, like the LE movements thread.

 

That's sad. Possibly that bridge at Moston again; if I recall correctly, it stopped steam through Rochdale for a while, although 45690 went through in 2015 to reach Manchester Victoria. Either that or something else on that stretch, or just a general curb of enthusiasm to get a sensible amount of time to shunt about at Buxton. Any ideas what the locomotives will be? Suspect it will be 45690 and something else.

 

45596 would be apt given its association with Stockport and Dinting after, as with 5690 too in the latter case.

 

I wonder in what part of 2018 we will first see 45596 turn a wheel. March feels pretty optimistic.

 

Just received the letter, and gauging is cited.

 

I've cancelled my booking on this one. The original route was interesting enough to justify the two nights away that I would have needed, but the revised route reduces the appeal.

 

Just read on UK Steam that the outward route via Copy Pit is rerouted due to a gauging issue somewhere. Shame as we don’t get many east bound steamers on there

 

Only 6 weeks or so since a Jub went exactly that way so perhaps westbound from Tod curve is where the issue is?