RTC 2024

I doubt if many of those parts originated on 34073, it was normal to exchange various parts on overhaul. Tangmere is running with an MN tender btw.

 

Praise indeed, how great it would be if the same team could get weaving on fitting CDL to a few of those pesky Mark 1 coaches mouldering away in the Carnforth sidings....

 

So no praise from you then.

 

I mean I’m not quite sure how much praise is expected. What they’ve done is effectively carried out exactly what BR would have done, and used one loco to keep another going. However, that has almost condemned that 2nd loco to a life as a donor now, with an infinitesimal chance of steaming again.

Where WCR do deserve praise is for running the vast majority of services that they planned to run in 2024, despite the huge challenges faced. Some will likely say they set themselves up for a tough year, but even so they’ve come through it. But then Mr Riley’s also deserve that praise too!

 

Mr Riley deserves all the praise without his engines WCR would have problems big time.

 

Agree Henry, 44871 has been all over the country knocking up a huge mileage with 100% reliability. The West Highland Line knocks an Engine to bits over a season but I did a few days of cleaning 45407 at the depot in Fort Bill at the end of the season and it still looked the business.
On the flip side Bahamas has had no steaming fees from work out of Southall this year, let’s hope something is done about the Mk1s before the 2025 season

 

If any Mk1s are fitted it will be for Jacobite services in 2025, not anything else. The decision to acquire the Riviera trains stock was a very telling business decision and for me effectively ended any chance of wholesale fitting of Mk 1 stock. Someone at West Coast looked at the cost and decided acquiring ready fitted stock was a more cost effective option - I can't say I blame them.
My prediction is we will see a gradual disposal of Mk 1s from Carnforth in 2025, some are already on hire to heritage lines.
For any non air fitted locos there remains only one option for mainline work now and that's Vintage Trains. For me there is a business decision to be made there for these loco owners. Another black 5 entered the Riley group in 2024, clearly a strong business case for more air fitted, go anywhere locos!

 

Option 2 would be fitting equipment to work air braked trains

 

Option three would be to be included under the LSL safety case, but with use on the SRPS dual braked rake.

 

Good point, Carlisle is also a bit closer than Southall.

 

Does their safety case include the operation of vac braked trains. The other potential problem is how much work would they get with the expanding LSL fleet of locomotives.

 

Nope. Just an astute observation on your previous post.