SLS Special 14 Nov 2009 (9600 & 9466)

Good news for those of you who tried to book on this one only to be told it is sold out.
More standard class seats have now been added. http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/vt2009_1114.htm

 

Nice one Kevin - you beat me to posting this!

It should be a fine trip so let's hope the last few seats can be filled.

Bruce Murray

 

Whats the load then now?

 

I see 9600 is "on trial" in the evening of Wednesday 4th of November.

Tysley - Stratford-upon-avon £20

I'm no basher, but I'm tempted if that's return. All I need to do now is get the wife to make her own way home from work!!!

http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/vt2009_1104.htm for more info.

 

It's £20 return from Shirley to Stratford.
We have to reverse the train out of TLW and then access the mainline via the Tyseley carriage sidings goods loop so we aren't allowed to carry passengers from Tyseley.

 

I wonder why they don't have the passenger pick up/set down at Hall Green?
I remember travelling to/from there on a Christmas special to Stratford with 6024 & 46203 a few years back.

 

Times for the test runs for 9600 www.uksteam.info/tours/t09/t1104a.htm
and for the main event www.uksteam.info/tours/t09/t1114a.htm

David

 

The station car park at Shirley is too small to accomodate the cars for all those wishing to travel on the steam special. With a 5 o'clock departure it will still be full of the Birmingham commuters cars. When 9466 ran the North Warwicks Line Centenary Special the car park at Shirley was too small to accommodate all those who wanted to travel on that train and mayhem broke out even though most of the commuters had gone as this train was in later timings. Shirley car park only holds about 25 cars. To arrive by train for those who have come a distance is not feasible as should there be a delay they could not get home. I really do think if Vintage Trains wish to encourage people to travel on this train they need to address this problem whilst they still have time.

 

It is not vintage trains is fault. network rail proved the free paths they have got and the timings shown that 9600 can have a fabulous not stop run proving it keeps to time. what can 9600 reach speeds of? and being on mainline surley have got to be at least 60mph.

 

9600 is limited to either 35mph or 45mph I think

 

Edit: double post

 

9600 in her previous mainline stint had a maximum speed of 35mph in either direction, there was a plan to try and uprate this to the 45mph that 9466 is registered at, whether this was sucessfull or not i do not know.

As for having Hall Green as a pick up/set down point, i think the regular Traffic patterns on the North Warwick may be what prevents that, for every train that works the full length down to Stratford, there are another two that terminate at Shirley and reverse so the Tyseley - Shirley section is much busier than the southern bit of the route.

I do agree with the point that the timings are not ideal however, the previous 7pmish times were much easier to do after a day at work, though i appreciate this may be out of Tyseley's hands, luckily i can pull a few strings but many are not so fortunate.

 

I managed to park ok at Shirley for 9466's test run. Must have been lucky! Really enjoyed the evening run with the Pannier.

Its a shame there is no booking for this trip, not even a reservation system for tickets by the look of it - I now have to decide if I risk taking the day off and driving the 220 mile round trip at the hope of getting a ticket on the night!

 

9466 had work done to upgrade it for 45mph running and gain derogation to operate above 35mph. 35mph is the limit normally for panniers due to wheel size.

 

I was under the impression someone thinking the heavier Hawksworth boiler giving better stability was the reason for 9466's higher speed ? certainly not a huge amount of difference chassis wise.

 

At a guess I'd say what with the short notice given by NR that passengers can be carried (yes permission has to be obtained to carry passengers on test runs) and the industrial action at Royal Mail means that tickets could not be guaranteed to arrive on time.
Not sure about the load required but I'd guess BSK, BFK plus four TSO's.

 

I do not know to what you may be referring as 9466 had no “work done to upgrade for 45mph running”. From its original restoration in 1985 the locomotive has always been maintained to main line standards even though the all important actual “ticket” was not pursued for a number of years. Remember that the loco had a main line ticket in the 80’s and early 90’s and operated many Steam on the Met events – the last one being in 2000. LUL used the “main line” requirements valid at the time as a basis to determine the suitability of locomotives to operate on their lines.

During the last overhaul between October 2001 and May 2004 all the work on the locomotive was, for the third time, carried out in accordance with Railtrack/Network Rail Group and Company Standards. This included the necessary inspections by relevant competent persons, keeping a full log of work done, and keeping a register of suppliers and materials used along with certificates of compliance/conformance as necessary.

The derogation application to run at 45mph was based partly on the fact that evidence was available that the 94xx panniers regularly ran at these sorts of speeds in everyday service. More importantly the derogation application also included evidence that we were able to demonstrate that 9466 regularly ran at speeds of up to, and beyond, 45mph on Steam on the Met with no adverse effects to the locomotive, rolling stock or permanent way.

I trust this sets the record straight.

Regards to all,

Bruce Murray

 

I understand from VT at the Tyseley open day today that tickets are available pre booked. Ring 0121 708 4960 and they will reserve your tickets which will be available to collect from the VT rep at Shirley before the train arrives. You can pay by card when you phone. Pay on the night is apparently first come first served.

 

http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/vt2009_1104.htm confirms that you can ring up to book tickets