6023 + 6024 Double Header to Plymouth - 10 March 2012 - UK Steam

From the Dukes Facebook Page

Phoenix Heritage Rail Ltd has withdrawn 71000 Duke of Gloucester from Steam Dreams London-Plymouth-London charter with 60163 Tornado on March 10th. Until investigations have been conducted regarding damage sustained during an incident at the East Lancashire Railway on Sunday 26th February it not possible say how the rest of the locomotive’s 2012 programme will be affected. Updates will be posted as information becomes available.

 

Not valve gear related I hope, Caprotti gear (pro's & con's) discussed at length on the 72010 thread.

 

I hope the Duke is fixed soon and the problem is not too serious. I seem fated not to see 71000 on the mainline again. Last time was March 1990 !

It begs the question - what (if anything) will replace 71000 ? Do the timings/load require two class 8 locomotives ? I notice from UK steam the tour is fully booked, so no opportunity to lighten the load.

STEVE

 

6024 has been made available. Confirmation expected in next few days.

Andrew

 

Thats good news, I suppose the King and Clan Line were the only engines that could be used being a DBS turn.

 

Thanks - should make for an interesting noise combination.

STEVE

 

A bit off topic, but whilst talking about 71000 it is mentioned on their website that the cabside numbers are now painted on instead of the raised brass numbers.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VW4ouPpK7lY/T0ZXiUrOmhI/AAAAAAAAAGk/9RisLPktQMY/s1600/22022012250.jpg

 

Hmmm. Any confirmation where 6024 will be double heading from ? UKSteam appears to indicate 60163 solo to Taunton, then double headed with TBA to Plymouth and back, then 60163 back to Padd on its own.
Railway Herald is showing 60163 and 6024 from Padd to Plymouth and back to Taunton again, then 60163 back to Padd

STEVE

 

I'd like a trip behind "TBA" - I don't think I've seen that one!

Serisously I doubt that 6024 would start from Paddington as its previous trip (3rd March) finishes at Bristol. I would expect it to remain at Bristol Barton Hill or go to the WSR. There shouldn't be any need for double-heading from London to Taunton should there?

 

Not needed, but double headed steam over the Berks and Hants is quite rare

 

Locomotive x added at Taunton would be at the lead of the train? just hoping.

 

No. The first significant incline is Whiteball which is just to the west of Taunton. <BJ>

 

Depends if it brings its support coach along for the ride. In which case 60163 would run off, while TBA and coach back on, then 60163 attaches back onto the front. This is what happened with 6024 and 5029 at Exeter a while back where 5029 came on at Exeter with support coach and ended up as the train engine.

 

Surely thats the right, the pilot getting tucked inside.

 

Eh ??? Me not understand the comment !! ??

 

Great Western practice was, as I understand it, for the pilot locomotive to be attached between the train engine & the train itself

 

absolutely correct.

 

GWR argument was that the driver of the main locomotive was and should remain the man in charge of the train and therfore should be at the front of the consist and so the point is not which locomotive is at the front but which driver was in charge.