The Great Britain XI - 2018

So after today, all three members of the class that have run mainline in preservation have at some stage worked over the S&C

 

S and C any advance on 1/4/89? 35018 looked fabulous yesterday, brought back memories of seeing her rebuilt for the first time at Raynes Park. What's that.....? Off to see her at Newlay now.

 

I would have thought,you of anybody would have seen the promise of today's trip, it's a cracker so far, watering at Hellifield now, 35018 looking and sounding superb, you should get to see the result not long after we experience it, should imagine that will REALLY rub it in....
Andy

 

45690 leading 45699 away from Carnforth 1340 to Carlisle. AN

 

45mph at Horton, no discernable effort from up front, playing with it...

 

Looking at RTT shes already made up 3 minutes between Settle Junction and Blea Moor.

 

And some say Bulleids cant climb hills

 

Speed maintained, eased for Ribblehead, immediate response from safety valves, obviously driven by the Speedo and not by power availability, superb climbing.

 

Not my video but leak seems to have gone (Although possibly as its very warm?)

 

though out the run from York so far, British India Line has never been more than 5 mins down at any point, she must by now be approaching Carlisle a very good run by the looks of it , and it looks from that last video that the leak seams to be very much reduced

 

An resplendent BIL pausing at Hellified for water......

 

Excuse the lack of quality- phone shot of a still from film... but couldn’t be more pleased! 35018 looked in fine fettle in pure sun making easy work of the long drag past Selside.

 

Looked magnificent in Leeds this morning, a bit light footed moving off (just slight, easily caught) and the only steam that I saw leaking was when the valves lifted.

There has been a lot of 'ill informed comment' about BIL over quite a long time but this old lad is here to tell the 10A folk.................you've done a marvellous job with that loco, it's had a run over the S&C early in it's new life (not for the faint hearted) VERY well done to you lads that have made today happen.

 

Totally agree Victor. The infamous steam leak (and all the wibble it produced) appears much reduced in warmer weather, as a few said it would be (not that some wanted to listen). A superb restoration and the run today puts her in a nice position to earn her keep as a future star of the mainline! Well done 10A!

 

and she arrives 1E into Carlisle so her first trip over the S&C started 5L at Settle and ended 1E at Carlisle cannot do anymore than that!

 

My footage of Day 2 of Great Britain XI, enjoy.

Kind Regards

Andrew

 

Scotsman's whistle sounds better than it did...but not as good as BIL's!

 

That's true I'm so glad I got BIL first time I ever seen her. Kind Regards Andrew

 

35018 sounded effortless accelerating up Micklefield Bank this morning. Looks like she's going to be a top performer.