Time for a Black Five gathering??

Only if it is BR green livery and numbered 46201.

 

Cracking idea.

 

Seconded!

 

Huh? Please explain?

 

I already did -- on the previous page. I thought it was mainline rails. I don't pay attention to mainline steam so have no idea what kind of rails are laid in Carnforth.

If they were mainline rails at Carnforth, 5337 wouldn't be able to go because its flanges are too big to clear the points. That's one of the reasons non mainline certified locos aren't allowed on the mainline.

 

I would certainly expect the wheel flanges on 45337 to be exactly the same as those on 45407, 44871 and any other mainline registered loco, or has the specification changed?

 

Alex, I think you are confusing 9F flangeless centre drivers and check rails on Network Rail. Black 5's whether mainline certified or not will not have a pointwork "flange" issue.

Seeing a line-up of Black 5's at Carnforth might have limited appeal, however a sort of "plandampf" operation in the North-West might just be possible on a secondary line, but at what cost?

However if David Smith, Ian Riley, and a tour operator all found a formula that was both possible, and acheivable financially, it might work. Somehow I doubt it in these difficult times.

 

Ah, my bad. I seemed to be under the impression from my fellow railwaymen that part of mainline certification was shallower flange depth.

 

well thats the first ive ever herd of flanges being to big? i can understand the tyre profiles need to be correct and decent as they should be for heritage lines also, even with the slower speeds on them, still a nice line up of lms/br and br standard locos at the old steam town would certainly be an event not to be missed

 

7 or 8 black fives of 67/68 fame lined up at one of the last 3 steam depots. Limited appeal??? Coal tower, Ash tower and a 6 road shed, what more could enthusiasts and photographers want? Operationally the Blackburn-Hellifield circuit is probably the easiest thing to operate. It would certainly be the cheapest in terms of ops costs. No ECS, No light engine moves etc etc apart from the moves to get the locos there of course.

To the majority who couldn't afford to travel around watching steam in the late 60's the end of steam was all about black fives and 8Fs at Rose Grove, Carnforth and Lostock. Looking over the fence at the end of an era. For it to be even possible to re-create is nothing short of amazing.

 

Mike, yes indeed the cheaper option, but we would all need to turn up and support the event, assuming Carnforth was the venue. Maybe with the odd steam special thrown in for good measure.
Others are right though, maybe widen it out to a "London Midland" gathering, most of the elements are there, 8F, Jubilee, Scot, some Standards, the East Lancs Crab, 43106...?

 

Gosh, I was thinking about old Hornby style with the deeper flanges. Glad to see progress in the real world too...

 

Well, as has been said in passing earlier on here, the NYMR will be able to stage a lineup of 5 black 5s (all in BR livery) at its spring gala, and it also has a couple of standard class 4s, a 9F and 71000 due to be on the line at the same time - it's just a question of where to put them all for the photo!

 

Up date to the last post, it now looks as though 42968 and a Standard 4mt tank might be present as well!

 

Problem is East Lancs doesnt have any place you can walk around the locomotives, Buckley Wells is off limits and there' not exactly keen about photographers either.
Its much more exciting having them doing loops around the mainline than a 25mph trundle and with 45305, 44871, 44932, 45407 and 45231 all with mainline tickets.. it's a much more exciting prospect.
That said WCRC would need to do lots of site preparation, but still if they had a running line open in the shed and some combination of Barrow / Helifield operations.. maybe even a top/tail run to Morecambe / Heysham and runs to /from Manchester i'd imagine it would pay for itself.

Adding a Standard 5 and a few std 4's even a 9f on shed would be good...
but putting my financial head on... bringing in 5 main line railtours "on the day" a-la Wolsztyn style with Black 5s on the front could pay their costs but the costs of bringing in 10 non mainline runners to trundle up/down the shed may not be a financial proposition... unless it was done for say a month in August... but then how many railway will spare "BR Super power" in the summer ?

Maybe Cheddleton once the mainline at Stoke is in place... combined with Crewe Heritage centre ?...
Gives a mainline run, preserved line run and a chance of 2 shed line ups ?

 

ADB968008, you've missed my point. The reason I was celebrating was another engine in something other than BR livery. I do not remember BR steam, so the livery does not have the emotional attachment for me that it does to many in the movement.
Consequently, I like a bit of variety, and a bit of celebration of the real glory days of the railways - pre-WW2. An LMS livery themed gala would suit me down to the ground - 13065, 5337, 5690, 6201...

 

Sound like a super idea, although in the current economic climate I imagine it would be somewhat unlikely, but you never know!

 

Has Mr Shuttleworth seen this yet? Before everyone starts arranging things on their behalf it might be an idea to talk to them.

 

I was jist about to.say this. The plan is to have 60 mph running on the stoke to leekbrook and then climbs on the cauldon section and main line would.be excelent.

 

That is interesting. The maximum speed on the Stoke to Leekbrook section in BR days was 45mph.