The Pride of Swindon 5043 to Carlisle via the S & C -16th October

I have just spotted this on the Vintage trains website.

The Pride of Swindon - Sat 16 Oct 2010
Tyseley - Tame Bridge Parkway - Wolverhampton - Crewe to Carlisle
via The Settle & Carlisle line

featuring 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe


When was the last time a Castle went over the S & C?

 

The last time a 'Castle' was dragged off the S&C was on the 12th March 1994. Not the best day for main line steam I may add.

 

I think Edgcumbe has already blown to bits the theory that Swindon products don't do well up north, unlike the 'local' crews used back then, WCRC crews familiarity with the type makes the difference.

 

I think the visit of 5029 in 1994 was a mixture of good and bad. I may stand to be corrected on this, but I think the northbound run was brought to a halt by signals at the bottom of the bank at Settle Junction - any engine in such circumstances will be faced with more or less a plod up to Blea Moor from a standing start, but 5029 put in a good performance non the less. It was the southbound run which caused the serious problem. Having seen 5043 top Shap summit last year, I have no doubt that it is probably a different beast than 5029 due mainly I would think, to it's double blast and I am pleased TYS has arranged the run over the S&C.
Don't knock the then 'local crews'. They were without doubt the best in the business.

 

I agree that 5043 has the edge over 5029, however I think the fact the 5029 was hauling 11 coaches plus a dead 47 that day didn't do it any favours! I think 5043 would struggle with that load too.

 

As one who was there on both trips...a lot of our problems on the return trip can explained by a batch of coal delivered and loaded onto the engine. As we were working well away from home we took advice through our SLOA contacts regarding coal and water. The coal came from a local coal merchant to Upperby who had supplied coal to other locos based at Carlisle, Indeed the arrangment was I believe that we ordered it and it was delivered and loaded during the week as convienient...
Imagine our surprise to find a tender of what turned out to be non flammable rock when we arrived to prep the engine. enquires were made as to the suitability and we were assured that it was Best and had been used recently to no ill effect. so not wishing to kick up a stink and unload a tender overnight to replace the coal, if we could find an alternative supplier, with suitable stock late on a Friday. we lit fire and prepped the engine..

It should be also noted that when we traveled north we were support coach defficient ----but that when we returned south we had gained a NNX --its probably best not to dwell on how this happened but at least it gave those involved some where to hide as the day progressed.

IanH

 

Thanks for that Ian. It is always best to talk to someone who was actually there to find out what really happened. I saw 5029 on its northbound run but didn't see the southbound one but I was aware that a support vehicle had been added to the latter. You never know, 5029 may return to the S&C one day and put the record straight.

 

I won't deny they knew their way round a Duchess or Black Five, a Castle or King is a different beast altogether however, that and unrealistic loads didn't help.

5043 had the right combination of load and familiar crew and the results spoke for themselves.

 

Don't forget crap coal. Also the load on those trains is likely to be heavier than what 5043 will take?

 

A Castle on the S & C....brilliant

 

This one could be subtitled 'GWR 175 oop North'
Given 5043's track record so far and that the Firemen on the day will be Tyseley's own who know the engine inside out coupled with WCRC drivers who know the S&C like the back of their hand, I think we are in for a good day out.
http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/vt2010_1016.htm

 

Looks like a great trip, and with Lizzie running Carnforth - Skipton - Leeds - Hebden Bridge - Manchester - Crewe the same day, quite a few southern gricers may be tempted "oop North".

Does anyone know, at this stage, how much of the tour 5043 will haul? I'm guessing that she won't work it all the way from Tyseley to Carlisle and back. The itinerary on the web-page doesn't say. Crewe would seem an obvious choice...

 

Last time? I remember one of the first times with Clun and it was the infamous rag in the water pipe episode.

 

Timings/Pathing would kill off any idea of steam throughout, though recent experience suggests 5043 may have a Diesel Pilot from Tyseley - Wherever and back again on the tour to save on light engine moves and an overnight stop, certainly 47580 Piloted it back from Crewe after the Shap run.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p5Fvn7b4Z4
my video of that day in 1993
and the southbound run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kErASux0bJE

 

I will definitely be booking this for my first ever trip on the S&C. Go Earl!

 

On the Vintage Website it says 5043 will work Hellifield - Carlisle - Crewe.

 

This may be a silly question, but is she doing the S&C both ways - i.e. coming back down the S&C to Hellifield then Blackburn, Preston, Crewe? As it just says Carlisle - Crewe which suggests she could be coming back down Shap?

Ta

 

uk steam tours states simply 'and return' '