61264 Hits Buffers At Norwich

Anyone seen this fine bit of driving from 2004 ?

 

This came up on the YouTube app on our TV the other day. Googled this incident after watching the video. Couldn't find a definite explanation for what happened but comments on another forum say the brakes failed and the B1 was put in to reverse to try and stop the loco. The RTC trip was abandoned while an investigation was carried out and the B1 was inspected for damage.
More details here:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...IQFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3iEymr7rFxgayqSPfWacbu

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/040410rt.htm

I seem to recall whoever was driving applied the train brake, rather than the loco brake, but it was 17 years ago and I can't remember the details! I know I was stewarding that day, and most of the passengers went home on the first available Anglian service. A few stayed behind and had 8 hours in Norwich. A few 37 bashers turned up as well, as a 37/0 up the GE wasn't a common occurrence. Good run back - passengers on the platforms were stepping back as we came hammering through!

 

There was another trip with 61264 which I was travelling on that did something similar at Norwich and we ended up with a 67 taking the train on to Lowestoft. Can't find the date (or the photos) at the moment. The return to London was made rather more interesting by someone working in Control sending it via various obscure loops on the way back, including the one behind one of the platforms at Ilford!
Certainly wasn't the one shown in the video as I was at a historic vehicle rally in Bendigo, VIC, that day....

EDIT:- It was 10th November 2001 and the B1 had a hot box and was failed when we got to Norwich. 67 024 did the honours from there, though the return journey had to be via Norwich as 67's weren't passed for the East Suffolk...

 

Down passenger loops in the up direction was fun! BLS would've had a field day with all the crossovers and wrong direction running.

 

I think a number of people abandoned the train at Norwich after the B1 was failed, but there were still quite a few on it through to Lowestoft. I remember positioning myself right at the front of the train and making a quick dash to the rather good Chippy just round the corner from the Station (since closed, I believe). I said to the staff there, "you will have a few customers in a minute" and by the time I left the place, the queue was out the door and round the corner towards the station!

 

That's a bit of a clunk, did she escape unscathed?

The whole move seems rather uncontrolled, both the running into the buffers but then the vigorous move backwards towards points which were in an unknown position for the crew and/or the stock.

Thank god NP wasn't in existence at this date it would have been quite the bun fight!

 

I think the precursor to the present incarnation of NP existed. I don't remember what the rows were about then. Diesel assistance most probably!

 

Ah I remember those innocent days.

 

The driver reported that the brakes had failed on 61264 for the reason he hit the buffers. I was on the support crew and the engine was taken to Crown Point depot,where the brakes were tested and found to be perfect. The boiler sustained a lot of damage to various firebox stays and was repaired at Carnforth after returning in light steam behind a class 37 from Norwich.

 

I wonder if the quote should have read "applied the loco brake rather than the train brake"?

Wouldn't this have resulted in a much reduced application?

Edit: Cancel that. Light engine movement...

 

On the subject of 61264, is there any news about her current status?

Saw a picture of her separated from her tender at Grosmont from the gala, and some mention of firebox problems?

Regards

Chris