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Northern Belle: 19/9, 3/10 & 17/10/20 + 16 & 17/12/20

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by pjhliners, Jun 11, 2020.

  1. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Whilst network rail still allows vacuum braked trains on it's network, I don't see a problem, but if sometime in the future, its decided that only air braked vehicles can operate on the network, then West Coast will have no option but to duel brake its entire fleet, as will vintage trains,
     
  2. J Shuttleworth

    J Shuttleworth Member

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    Sorry, Alan, on this one you’ve missed the point and are merely digging yourself into a hole! There is no mandatory requirement for air braking, so why add another complicated system (and it is!), if you don’t need it?

    Vacuum braking has never been outlawed (and that wouldn’t be Network Rail's call, anyway) and meets the requirements of the standards for braking at the speeds used - it’s the same blocks on the same flanges, after all. Through air-pipes is fitted to most vac locos, meaning air locos can be used to clear the line, if required.

    As far as 6233 is concerned, like most single-owner groups, there’s no exclusive arrangement; it remains a gun for hire. 34067 is under overhaul.

    JS
     
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  3. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Thanks James.
     
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    All really helpful to know. Now that West Coast has an ownership interest in the Northern Belle, the fact remains that the moment it's planned to run it with a steam locomotive you are into a 'gun for hire' scenario, to use your analogy. I guess that the overhaul of Tangmere you talk about solves that problem so thanks for the clarification.
     
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  5. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    That's great news! Wish more than one like were possible. I know that she hit the headlines on a couple of occasions during her last spell of action for the wrong reasons, but I for one am really looking forward to seeing her back in action in he main line again.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2020
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  6. OldGit

    OldGit New Member

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    And there's another 'like' from me! Looking forward to seeing her back!
     
  7. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    On the topic of the 'Northern Belle', the Railway Herald tours page is still showing a 'Black Five'-headed run on 17 December from London. Does anyone have any information on this? Many thanks.
     
  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    No information other than what you have said. I gather that an air brake '5' became the only steam available after all other air brake steam possibilities had been explored.

    This trip is obviously going to be a diesel assisted trip although, as we know, Black 5s can make plenty of noise even when the regulator is cracked open!
     
  9. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    Indeed! It'll be interesting to see what unfolds.
     
  10. Apollo12

    Apollo12 New Member

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    That would suggest it was more than cracked ;)
     
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  11. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Member

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  12. PJL

    PJL New Member

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    The light engine movement shows as ecs so is it likely that the steam loco plus diesel plus stock will all come down from Carnforth together or is the Northern Belle stock already at Southall ?
    There appears to be a water stop at Rugby and the train is showing as timed at 60 m.p.h. which makes a Black 5 likely to be in the consist ?
     
  13. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

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    If it is still running the Northern Belle is running is East Anglia on the Wednesday and goes to Southall that evening. The return on the Friday might be more interesting as the Friday trip from Coventry and Birmingham is cancelled but is running on the Saturday from Liverpool.
     
  14. Quinton Biddle

    Quinton Biddle New Member

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    Times are in RTT for the Norwich job on 16/12......
     
  15. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    Speeds for timing on RTT are often not to be taken with anything more than a pinch of salt. An amusing example on my (North Downs) line at the moment is the new additional trains from Redhill to Reading which are described as "diesel locomotive with 769 tonnes trailing at 100mph" - they are actually class 165s and the line speed is 70mph! The 769 tonnes presumably refers to the fabled class 769 units when/if they ever appear.
     
  16. J Shuttleworth

    J Shuttleworth Member

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    All rather academic now, I'm afraid, as London going into T3 from tomorrow night, has forced this one to be cancelled.

    Another one bites the dust.

    JS
     
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  17. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    Indeed so. However, 'Northern Belle' has this on their site which suggests that their operations are/would be unaffected from all tiers. I don't see how this squares with now cancelling a Tier 3 departure, although I actually don't see how they could claim that all Tiers' departures would be unaffected anyway. Am I missing something here?


    Screenshot 2020-12-14 at 19.32.15.png
     
  18. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Possibly that WCR website manager probably only works office hours and thus an update will wait for them to be able to do so?
     
  19. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    Yes, I get that, but my point was about NB claiming a while ago that their trains from all tiers would continue to operate. The rules for the tiers haven't changed today or recently, only the areas in each tier, so I was wondering how they could be claiming previously to be operating trains in/from tier 3 anyway. I'm assuming I've overlooked something.
     
  20. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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