York Yuletide Express 26/11/22

Times are up on realtime Two comments on the above. The outward with the diesel on the front ,no doubt due the ASLEF strike ,the train stops on the down main at Kettering, the first steam to stop on platform 4 for many years. Water at Leicester.
Coming back, there is no water stop mentioned on the way back, but a clue is the booked 27 mins from Kettering South jnc. to Harrowden jnc. the distance of 3/4 miles. It's still a very long way from York to just outside Wellingboro'.Maybe there is something we don't know at the moment.

 

Devil is in the detail. There is a lot of slack around Barrow Hill. Also interesting to see the return is via Leeds

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66369/2022-11-26/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66371/2022-11-26/detailed

 

Shows a passenger pick up at Mill Hill on the way out, but no drop off on the way back. Long time since an RTC tour used Mill Hill and no mention on their website either, maybe an error in the system.

 

Why would the diesel on the front be the result of Aslef strikes? As far as I'm aware, West Coast doesn't have Aslef representation nor would a strike in such a scenario where they do would see a change of motive power vice full cancellation in response to industrial action.

 

I believe the RTC website has said for some time diesel on the front of the steam to Humberstone Road. I guess something to do with avoiding a LE move when the Duchess is already doing a Cardiff trip tomorrow.

 

If you read my post correctly I was referring to the stop at Kettering on the down main,plat 4 .This is now possible due to all the MML trains being cancled.Otherwise it would have been put on the down slow at Kettering South Jnc. to let expresses past.

 

Not really steam-hauled, then (unless the diesel is 'dead'?).

 

Possibly taking water at Barrow Hill,as nearly 40mins allowed from Tapton Jct. to Chesterfield, which is only a couple of miles. Nice to see it going Harborough way for a change instead of via Oakham. Nice climb of Braybrooke bank, pity it's not daylight.

 

Not sure if trains can cross from slow lines to fast lines north of Kettering station. That is probably why the special is using platform 4, and it's going via Harboro' anyway. Also it's not taking water, so no need to use platform 1.

 

After stopping at Alfreton to pick up passengers, a lucky patch of sun sees Duchess of Sutherland getting away in some style past Westhouses. Little remains of the former shed which was to the left of the picture.

 

The reason for the Diesel pilot to Leicester is because there is no suitable place to water on the MML . We always watered at Kettering, but the new EMR timetabled Corby services don’t allow a margin for a water stop. I can assure you the Steamer did its fair share of the work to Leicester. On the return we are watering between Burton Latimer and Harrowden.

 

I managed to get a return trip to York in today on one of only 4 Trans-Pennine Express services that were working today between (Manchester) Huddersfield and York due to ASLEF strike, to see

6233 Duchess of Sutherland with 'The York Yuletide Express' (Railway Touring Company) arrive at York

6233 arriving at York with a very low sun just to the left of camera

https://tinyurl.com/muhpxhph

 

I live in Kettering, and i am sure there has been steam on the Manton line since electrification. Corby trains are only every hour i believe, and the line has been redoubled, so trains do not have to wait at Kettering any longer.

 

6233 Duchess of Sutherland flies across the floods at Ozendyke viaduct south of York, the loco taking full advantage of its 75MPH limit on the East Coast Main Line.


6233 Duchess of Sutherland on the RTC York Yuletide express. by Phoenix Images, on Flickr

 

Please find attached one photo taken at Kettering North Jnc this morning.I heard the 37 leaving Kettering Station about 2miles away .The 1 in 125 was certinaly make it cough.
There appears to be a bit of confusion about what happens at Kettering North Jnc.From earley morning to 1.00 am there are two trains per hour from Kettering to Corby and vv ,more if the couple of diesel trains to M/Mowbray are counted'.
It IS possible to get from slow to main(Leicester line) , and vv ,its done by several freight trains per day.Its not possible to get from the Corby line(southbound ) to the main ,south jnc is the first place.The only other steam since the electrics started in May 2022 was last June 45596 ,out via Corby ,back via Leicester..Last November 6233 the same,before electrics.
Any how,Down to the station in a couple of hours to see what happens.

 

The outward run, passing Syston station on the Midland Main Line, a few minutes after the water stop at Leicester.

 

As mentioned ,two from last night at the Kettering stop

 

Garforth.
"The York Yuletide Express", 26/11/22.

 

I live in Kettering, and am certain the electrics have been running way before May 22. I have a couple of photos taken at Glendon junction in October last year to prove it. Steam has certainly been on the Manton line since electrification, including taking water at platform 1 at Kettering as far as I know. As I said before, their was no need to use platform 1 yesterday as it was routed via Harborough, and watering at Humberstone Road.