The Waverley - 11/08/18

Is steam staying on for the full return or coming off at Hellifield?

 

The RTC page blurb for this currently reads it will be diesel between York and Hellifield both ways, but I suspect this is wrong at least for the outbound as Leander as I understand it is now at York.

 

This path suggests it's coming off at Hellifield on the return:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55251/2018/08/11/advanced

 

There's a move for the morning from Carnforth to Hellifield also though:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55247/2018/08/11/advanced
Neither may get used...

 

As the only proximate 1968 withdrawn loco available, the 8F would be most appropriate to the date being recognised ......

 

If I’m reading RTT correctly, the southbound CME and northbound Waverley should pass each other tomorrow.

I know all three trains will be assisted, but isn’t it fantastic that three separate charters will grace the S&C within hours of each other?

Bring it on.


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Do we know what locomotive is on the front today

 

AFAIK Waverley = Leander and CME = Galatea. AN

 

45690+maroon 47+11 maroons left York about 20 late.

 

All three trains on time right now, one at Castleford, one at Crewe, one at Preston.

 

You have a very odd mindset if you think that anyone suggesting cancellation or diesel haulage would be in the least "satisfied" if either option were chosen. They are just both better choices than a show pony, which whatever your protestations, is not remotely steam haulage as well as being potentially damaging in the longer term.

 

Not aimed at you specifically, but can we quit the mud-slinging for one day and take today for what it is please? The fact of the matter is that three steam-hauled trains will run over the S&C 50 years to the day since the last BR steam-hauled service ran, plus several others will be running on preserved railways.

That is fairly remarkable in my book. Unlike the majority of people on this forum, I wasn’t born when steam was running on the mainline so the fact I - and thousands of others each year - can still experience proper steam is fantastic.

Let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture. Yes, it would have been nice to see three unassisted charters run today but this is 2018, not 1968.

And contrary to some of the bizarre conspiracy theories on here, NR is fully behind steam on the mainline. And it - quite reasonably - doesn’t want anything untoward to happen, hence the situation we’re in.


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There isn't any mud slinging its simply an exchange of opinions over what constitutes a satisfactory commemoration of the events 50 years ago. You think what happens today is good, I don't but its nobody's fault decisions had to be taken even if there is a difference of opinion over what the right call might be. I wasn't born either when steam on the mainline finished but I'm genuinely pleased you are able to revel in today's trains - enjoy.

 

Sorry Daniel but they do not constitute Steam Hauled Trains unless the diesels do not assist.

 

I do wish the usual suspects would, to coin a phrase, 'wind their necks in'.

I won't re-rehearse the arguments about the alleged 'show ponies' except to say that, apart from a few on here, at least some of which would never have been any of these trains anyway, I am sure most passengers understand that the dry weather means compromises are necessary and would definitely prefer that their day out runs as planned, albeit with diesel assistance.

As @IamDaniel says, given the date, surely this is even more important - steam didn't die when it looked as though it did - it have been reborn, different, recreated in a new form and that is what is rightly being celebrated today, in the only way that, in the circumstances, is possible.

I, for one (and I would never have considered travelling on any of these trains regardless of diesel assistance for a variety of reasons), am grateful that steam is still able to run on the national network and the preserved lines and that the date and this fact - steams 'final victory' - that it need never truly 'die' - is being celebrated!

Steven

 

Well what would you have done if you were making the decisions? C'mon, tell us.
We can't control the weather, we can't control the conditions and we can't control the fact that it's the 50th anniversary.
People who were/are making the decisions are making the best of a difficult job and I for one am very glad they are. I'm booked on a tour shortly, steam, (Tornado actually), I'm going to be gutted if Tornado doesn't show up, but i'm not going to be demanding compensation, I'm not expecting the tour operator to change their published advertising, I/we ARE going to enjoy our day out

 

Waverley around 6 late at Cononley, apparently due to a lineside fire! Not caused by 45690 and not even directly on the same line. The fire is in a waste depot at Frizinghall, which I believe is the former Frizinghall goods depot. Although on the line out of Forster Square any disruption on this line tends to affect all traffic through Shipley.
Anyway, Leander opened up a bit as a signal cleared, and 47237 seemed to be idling. My eyesight is not the best these days but the train looked very empty?

 

Please don't conflate any dissatisfaction with choosing the show pony option with a lack of appreciation for the continuing tolerance of steam locos on the network 50 years after they were supposedly finished, nor the monumental achievements of the doyens who created the legacy we still enjoy. My view is that the present custodians of steam on the network have a duty to maintain the integrity which makes it special and appealing because of the reasons you cite. Yes the circumstances have created problems but opting to solve them with a pale imitation of what was expected to be lost 50 years ago does that legacy few favours.

 

Watched on Horton Webcam. Not much if anything from the Jubilee. Bit of smoke at Ribblehead but seriously? What an awful way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the End of Steam on BR.