The Lindum Fayre.

SIR NIGEL GRESLEY was out again today running a special to Lincoln. I saw her at Offord running some 30 minutes late. The westerly wind was blowing the exhaust low over the train so it's hardly a master shot, but, if anyone's interested to have a look, here's what I saw :

http://ronfisher.fotopic.net/p62415317.html

and

http://ronfisher.fotopic.net/p62415356.html

As usual, they're currently in the 'Stop Press!' collection in the 1st Gallery with other recent pictures. In due course, however, I shall move them to the Main Line Steam collection in the 2nd Gallery and they will then be here :

http://ronfisher2.fotopic.net/c1354436.html

Does anybody know what caused the delay?

 

I was at Welwyn Garden City station to see this one. The cause of the delay was trespassers just north of Welwyn Garden City station. All trains were stopped and a police helicopter buzzed the area for some time. I hope this incident had nothing to do with the presence of the steam special...

 

It possibly did. Most likely it was the few mindless morons who think seeing and/or photographing a steam train necessitates being close up to it on the wrong side of the fence. No offence to all the decent photographers who do abide by the rules and get just as good or even better results.

Cheers
Dave.

 

The lighting at that spot can be a bit difficult, especially in the winter when the sun is low in the sky and the trees are throwing deep shadows across the line. I tried a couple of test shots on passing East Coast electrics, but these came out too dark so I purposely opened up another half a stop to compensate. However, 60007 was on the slow line and out of the shadows, so I had, in fact, over compensated. I haven't had this camera long and am still learning how to get the best from it.

I reduced the brightness on the computer, but maybe my screen is set a bit darked than others as I though it looked o.k. I sometimes think that other peoples' pix look a bit dark, so maybe my screen needs adjusting a bit?

I have since reduced the brightness a bit more and cropped the sky as it was somewhat featureless - you will have to let me know if I have improved it! (I said it was hardly a master shot!)

 

Im not so sure, a Police Helicopter seems like overkill for that!.

Where lighting is difficult i find it better to err on the side of under exposing than over as you can always brighten it later, no one gets it spot on every time mind.

 

Just back from the tour. 50 minutes late into Kings Cross after a very interesting move to get out of Connington Loop, I'll let someone who understands why it needed to do that explain the full story.

 

Didn't you have a failed train in the loop in front of you?

 

A pair of 365s failed just south of Connington, blocking the junction where the up loop joins the up main. Eventually they moved back into the loop, and all the EC services and one FCC service that had been stuck behind it were allowed by.

The 47 then dragged the charter back from the up loop to the down loop/down slow, after which up and down EC services passed. We then set out back over the crossovers with No. 7 and joined the up line. The reason for the up loop to down loop move would appear to be because of the signalling from when Connington tip was still in use.

The restart from Connington was something special. To hear No. 7 working what was virtually a 16-coach train up to 75mph was incredible. Amazingly we had the fast line all the way back to King's Cross, despite being booked slow line for a lot of it. Unfortunately it seems the 47 pushed from Stevenage to Potters Bar, but this may have been because the crew were worried about coal and water at this point, as well as trying to make up some time.

Incidentally, for those of people who cannot stand having diesels on the back of steam tours, look at today's trip. Yes, the diesel on the back meant a lot more coal and water was used than necessary, and the steam heat was on all day too. But, if the diesel hadn't been on the back, there would've been no chance of getting out of Connington loop until another loco came on the back, especially once the failed units had drawn back into the loop up ahead.

 

Well it seems on this occasion having a diesel on the back of a train has got the whole railway out of a jam.
I personally will not travel on a train with a diesel helper in the formation,weather its there for heating of to save money for the TOC on light engine movements.I regard travelling on a train like this as a total waste of money.
Please don't respond about this as you will not change my mind on the subject.I don't propose to post anymore about Diesels on Steam tours and will leave it by saying that as long as this situation prevails proper steam hauled railtours are all but finished!
Good luck to those who stick with it.I'm moving on as they say.

 

Was that a toy I saw being thrown out of a pram there?

 

I don't like paying insurance premiums. However, on the odd occasion when I've had to make a claim, I've been very glad that I did...

 

Deary me, why did you keep bringing it up then? As has been pointed out numerous times before, they arent there as a fashion statement or to wind you up, they are there for a whole host of operational reasons. The cost of eliminating it, both financially and in terms of the reduced number of potential destinations was, isnt and never will be worth it to satisfy a handful of people who would probably then complain about the Mk2's, air braking, ETH etc etc... This is steam on the modern, rationalised, busier-than-ever multiple unit based railway and most people realise just how lucky we are, whether there's a diesel on the back or not.

Chris

 

Your opinion and you are welcome to it.

We will respond but have already realised that your are not for turning.

So what defines a 'proper' steam hauled railtour? The view of a few hard liners who will not tolerate the use of a diesel under any circumstances, or the vast majority of enthusiasts and job public, who enjoy the experience of a steam loco on the front getting on with the job.

 

Change the record PG, if you know of any Mk1 Genny vans in decent condition that are for sale then i suggest you point WCRC in their direction, until then they are forced to use 47's for train heat.

The 47 did come in handy on the day but if it had not been there im sure special dispensation to propel back out the loop would of been given.

 

Palace Gates, you say you are moving on from steam haulage with a shed in the consist. Pray enlighten us as to the answer you have found to this problem.
Or are you one of those strange creatures that lived under the bridge that the three Billy Goats Gruff tried to cross?
For you young people just go to Youtube and type in Billy Goats Gruff.

 

I was on the trip as well and left my missus with the paper to have my head out of the window for the start at Connington. It was quite superb, made the whole day worthwhile. Nothiong like steam at speed under moonlight.

 

It is also true with the extra 115 tons of diesel 60007 was loosing time, not to mention the need to provide steam heat. In this case the diesel 'saved the day' but also caused us to run late. As we saw last weeked 60007 can run uphill with at 75mph with 500 tons but make that circa 600 tons and you can't make the same rate of progress...