Cotton Mill Express 17th July, 3rd time lucky

Three times with the same loco and train! Everything seemed to be running smoothly. I joined the train at Wigan and we kept to time except it took 35 minutes from Vic to Diggle caused by signal checks on a very tight allowance of 22 minutes. 11 minutes late into Brighouse. The climb to Copy Pit from Hebden Bridge took just 17 mins against the allowed 25 mins so although we could now hear the 'sound'
the performance was excellent. Similarly no problems with performance on the climb to Sough Tunnel and Manchester was reached 21 mins early.
The chap that came and told us it had failed, I think said they were told that they couldn't continue as if perhaps the problem was manageable but I may have that wrong, suffice to say we had to leave the train and a few minutes later I was on a thing they call a train to Wigan Wallgate. I then made the SMS message previously quoted, I used this text message thing about six times from Wigan and hope it was helpful.
I too was confused as to the later message of the Scot up Miles Platting bank and it would have been better if the poster had noted that the train had no passengers. Hopefully all will be well with the loco and it will soon be back.

 

try it again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_qgwsnejmQ

 

46115 and the Cotton Mill ECS raced through Lancaster at 2127 back to Carforth.

Cheers

AN

 

My video from today;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqCvehT3YaM

 

Thanks for the update, it's good to hear that Scots Guardsman is ok to work back to Carnforth.

Neil

 

My footage now uploaded. Not one of my better days
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUL02Gfahdo

 

Pic here of 46115 and the Cotton Mill ECS racing through Lancaster tonight on their way back to Carnforth:

http://andrewstransport.fotopic.net/p66002499.html

Cheers

AN

 

On a light-hearted note, this is getting rather uncanny, because the week after I had a trip to Fishguard behind 5029, it transpired that an oil pipe had dislodged from the locomotive. Now I've had a ride behind 46115 'down south', her gland packings go awry. I hope this isn't nature's way of telling me to stop going on railtours... Anyway, I hope things begin settle down with this locomotive, as she had a sparkling run between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction, and I would like to experience 46115 in her old stamping grounds one day. After all, she is essentially a slightly modified 'Lord Nelson' class after all (well, minus a cylinder and bogie tender)!

 

Gaurdsman on a whole worked superb today but was fated not to make the full day out me thinks. vid to follow.

 

Hi, - thanks for sending the texts - the system is no use unless somebody makes the effort to update everyone.

On receiving your update about the failure at Man Vic I decided to go home and as I drove back near to Man Vic I could hear the loco plodding away up Miles Platting - but it was clear from the exhaust beat/noise that it was being treated carefully and I assumed they just needed to get it out of the station.

thanks for your efforts,


John

 

Video of SG shortly after departing Preston in the morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8zfsp1daBk

Really good to hear she was so readily fixed.

Chris

 

Re, "natures way of telling you not to go on railtours". No. It's O.V.S's way of telling you to travel behind the correct class of steam loco. LOL!

Anyway. I hope this lovely machine does get repaired very soon. I have special dispensation from O.V.S to have ride or two behind her after that rousing climb to Buckhorn Weston Tunnel posted here on Nat Pres a few days ago.

 

No you got it wrong...the error they made was by not putting a diesel on to give assistance....

See it makes sense to put a 33/37 or 47 on the train....

 

This is my video from yesterday of 46115 . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTEVtPWeT94

 

Hi Ralph, my mate from Carnforth told me the problem was a broken middle cylinder piston rod packing and a spare was brought from Carnforth to Castleton and a repair took place Regards Steve

 

46115 seems to be having some rather bad luck this year, when last year she was probably 1 of the fittest mainline engines.

Well done to those who did see her, and liked the videos on YouTube too.

 

The problem was, indeed, a broken piston rod packing, which was replaced at Castleton; the return ecs run took place without further incident.

The performance of the loco was not significantly affected by this problem (despite 'authoritative' claims to the contrary, on this and other forums); our concern was the effect that the escaping steam was having on the lubrication and could have had a serious detrimental effect, had we decided to press on, hence the termination at Man Vic.

Frustrating, given the excellent performances down south, last week. Such is life with steam locos.

JS

 

Thank you for taking the trouble to post that.

I followed her last week on the Dorset Coast trip and was very impressed, a fine engine indeed!

 

Thanks very much for putting the record straight. It's always pleasing to see those at the sharp end giving the true facts. We'll never stop wild 'speculation' but timely postings such as this reduce it to a minimum (I hope).

Thanks again and relief all round that 46115 is ok !