LE Movements, ECS and Test Runs 2019

Would I be right in thinking that the afternoon Jacobite service is formed of air braked stock? If that is the case then this is an interesting question as to why not fit them, to provide complete flexibility of motive power.

 

Yeah, which is exactly why I asked the question! If they could afford it, they should do so.

 

Best tell West Coast your ideas then

 

They could be my employer one day if I choose to work on the railway.

 

here K1 62005 departs Carnforth on a light test run this afternoon:-

 

K1 62005 reverses into the U&DGLoop to get on shed:-

 

this evening the B1 Mayflower arrived at Carnforth hauling the ECS with a class 37 on rear:=

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O06251/2019/05/17/advanced
FS South from Inverness.

 

3 steam on WCML today then, time to move.

 

37669 leads 62005 5Z62 to Fort William, dep Oxenho;me 0715. AN

 

Can someone please inform me why suddenly steam engines going from Carnforth to Fort William have to have a diesel pilot as far as Craigendoran? If there is fire risk I understand, but now every time this seems to happen.

 

Negates the requirement to have a qualified steam driver with route knowledge and fireman, instead a representative/s from the support crew can be onboard the steam to tend to any fire or cracking open of the regulator, plus can lengthen the running distance before water is required/shorten the length of water stops due to not as large a refill required.

 

Makes sense actually. Once they get to Craigendoran they can bring a driver down from Fort William who will take the engine up. Thank You.

 

Actually, Johnny, that's not correct - the steam loco is fully-manned but the diesel is there because of the on-going extreme fire-risk in the West Highlands.

The main thing missing up there, at the moment, is heavy rain!

JS

 

When is Galatea expected back.

 

Rain on the way soon James

 

Apologies James, had discussed before and apparent reasoning was crewing. Happy to be corrected.

Rain is certainly missing. Even here on the Central Belt, we were forecast a decent amount of rain to have fallen by now. I think apart from a 5 minute drizzle, I've seen no sign of the wet stuff for the remainder of the day!

 

Can someone please enlighten me as to why there seems to be a trend recently of having a matt black smokebox but having a gloss finish on the door, in 62005's case, it looks as though the whole of the front is gloss? I'm not a fan myself, matt black all the way for me but each to their own!

 

BR 70000 Britannia at Oxenholme .