WCR 2024 Railtours

It is also demonstrating how a steam loco can have something wrong but still be perfectly capable of pulling a train.

 

When was the last time 34067 took a tour unassisted on the main line? I'm guessing 26/9/15, Cotswold Venturer.

 

Railway Herald reports that the West Coast 'Dalesman' tours of 20th June and 2nd July have both been cancelled. <BJ>

 

Indeed. Nothing showing in RTT for today. Seems rather sudden.

 

Good job I decided late last night not to go today. I'd have been on the road about three hours ago!

 

Maybe 34067 is sulking after not getting down to the incredible Bulleid-Fest at Swanage.

 

Heard yesterday it was cancelled plus another source said it was known about a week ago .

 

Why no mention on their website?

 

Good question and one I can’t answer sadly Maybe the passengers were informed via email who knows ?

 

Bulleids can sound off beat with certain combinations of regulator and valve gear. I remember 34057 creeping over a severe relying slack at Walton/ Oatlands on the 530 pm down with Gordon Porter driving sounding most odd as it started to recover but then Gordon put the regulator in the roof and I got the most amazing tape recording as we accelerated up past Woking at 70’mph. Gricing Owl will remember it

 

Nothing to do with Bullieds, but you are right about the combination of regulator and valve gear settings. My parents house was about 100/150yards away from the MML ,nearly a mile north of Kettering station. I could see the trains from my bedroom ,but just not near enough to get the numbers.
I regarded my self a expert on loco ' sounds .But even so, now and again I got mixed up between a 5x and a Black five climbing up the 1 in 125. A 5X and black 5 being driven on first small valve and a long cut sounded much the same .A 5X with full regulator and shorter cut off sounded ,at times, as if it was well of beat.8F s also sounded much the same as a Black 5 when pulling at speed.
The best sounding loco for me was one of 20A Leeds Caprotti double chimney Black 5s.They often used to send one for St Pancras to Bradford express ,6.25 pm out of Kettering. I used to pace it on a push bike on a parallel road on my way home. It sounded like a mate of mine used to say "he's chopping them off." That is on a long cut off. They were noted for being a bit sluggish.

 

Hello, Thankful that 34067 was overhauled. Good strategy to keep it near Carnforth. Certainly hope that dual brakes is being considered for 1 more locomotive.

Hope that coaching stock work is being carried out. Keeping comments short.

 

Yes they had that reputation in Scotland though I had some very good runs with them on the Dundee to Glasgow 2 hour trains

 

Given they only have 1 rake of MK2 CDL stock it can't be in 2 places

The Dalesman as I understand would have finished late evening at Chester on Thurs

Then didn't the ECS for the RTC tour on Sat head down to London on Fri

Therefore very little time if any to empty the retention toilets, refill with water, clean and service the stock before sending to London

So maybe cancelled the Dalesman as a result

 

Whilst out for a walk on Monday I "tweaked" my knee, the good one not the arthritic one. I was hobbling badly on Tuesday but less so on Wednesday, I was fearful that I may have to get a sick note from Mrs W for today. However, Voltarol and paracetamol did the trick and Oswald passed a late fitness test - but only just. No long walks and hopefully no standing about for extended periods. In such circumstances I'd probably have headed for Horton in R where the car can be parked only a few yards from the platform, but as I wasn't sure of accessibility with the ongoing construction works, I decided to go to Helwith Bridge instead.

I did decide to call in at Hellifield to see which loco 10A had allocated (joke). It did give me a chance to see who was on the footplate; Steve Chipperfield driving and Martyn Soames firing. I had a brief chat with Martyn who was complaining that he was getting too old to be firing, but I later found out that he had a trainee with him to lighten the load. After a few minutes mooching about I headed for Helwith Bridge, arriving around 45 minutes before the train was due.

There were already 5 or 6 cars parked and a couple of photographers on the bridge. A check on RTT showed that the train had accumulated an ever increasing delay from the Leeds area which culminated in a 33L arrival into Hellifield GL. Ordinarily, the 46 min for the loco change might have been used to significantly reduce the deficit. However, an Arcow Quarry bound train was behind the Dalesman and passed it at Hellifield. The quarry train then had to stop just beyond Helwith Bridge before reversing/dividing the train into the quarry sidings. It was not until this was complete and the main line cleared that the Dalesman could leave Settle Jn. With the Dalesman being delayed the next problem was a southbound stone train that might completely obscure Tangmere. Thankfully as the minutes ticked by the stone train headed south.

A few minutes later Tangmere appeared. She sounded (to me) in fine fettle with more than a whiff of steam at the safety valves. Tangmere was certainly motoring, the wheels were fair whizzing round - "Beware low flying Locomotive!". This is usually the slowest point on the climb - but possibly not today. 14C (with a cool northeasterly breeze), 29L & 57mph. (I checked the speed a few times using a couple of different methods and it seemed to be correct.) I wonder if the diesel was pushing, mmm? I wonder . . . ?

 

Overcast conditions again on the S&C as No. 34067 'Tangmere' speeds through Helwith Bridge with the late running northbound 'Dalesman' 1Z43 to Carlisle with Steve Chipperfield driving, Martyn Soames on the shovel and Roly Parker Guard



Seen from St. Andrews Church, SR BoB class N0. 34067 'Tangmere' works across Crosby Garrett Viaduct with the return leg of the 'Dalesman back to York with David Blair driving, Rob Russell on the shovel and Roly Parker Guard

 

34067 seen crossing Ribblehead Viaduct with a couple of scenic shots then on the return overlooking Birkett Common and from above Birkett Tunnel.

 

Excellent.

I love those Birkett views. Beautifully worked.

 

Thanks Alan, The first time I filmed that high up shot at Birkett was twenty one years ago and you could near enough see right round the curve which is sadly lost with the trees now.