VT – The Lickey Double Banker – 24 March 2012

this one is the best of the lot, including videos

 

Having had a play I can knock the direct sunlight into the lens down to an 'orange sunset like glow', not perfect but not too bad at all considering what they looked like straight out the camera.

Anyway, the order of Play:

Lizzie (allegedly) in thick fog heading for Solihull with the ECS: Wadley's Road, Solihull | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The Panniers descending the hill at Pikes Pool: Lickey Incline, Pikes Pool | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The Main event of all 3 attacking the climb: Lickey Incline, Pikes Pool | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

A close up of the Panniers slogging away: Lickey Incline, Pikes Pool | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

Anybody got the 3 engines leaving bromsgrove goods loop please?

 

Is there really a Wadley's Road in Solihull? My surname is Wadley!

Nice photos by the way.

Regards

Dave

 

Thanks once again to Bob and every one involved in the trip yesterday another great day out with Vintage Trains, roll on Edingburgh

 

Thanks 5690 and everyone else who has commented favourably on yesterdays outing. It all went very well, as always due to all of the staff involved be they VT, 6201 or WCR. It has given us all a sense of achievement, as I think (someone will undoubtedly correct me) that it was the first time since 1964 that double steam bankers have been see on the Lickey.

However there is a "BUT". Regrettably the tour has only just covered its costs, due mainly to the fact that there were too few passengers and too many photographers enjoying what was undoubtedly the finest (free) steam show in the Midlands (sorry SVR). I have little doubt that we shall probably receive no £5 donations from any of the photographers taking avail of the opportunity, and as a result it is quite likely that you have all seen double headed bankers for the one and only time for a very long time to come.

Most spectators have to be commended for staying behind the boundary fence, but as always there was the one "professional" video cameraman, unsupervised and apparently on half day release from the local care institute, who was above the rules and consequently was inside the boundary fence near the top at Blackwell. There was also the band of apparent locals with children, accompanied by someone dressed in yellow high vis clothing for the occasion, who were spread out along and inside the four foot on the down loop at Blackwell. Rest assured, stupidity is still alive and well in the area.

Regards
Bob

 

Sorry to hear this. Pity someone from Vintage Trains didn't wander around the fields shaking a bucket asking for a donation. Someone was collecting for Sports Relief in the field where I was, and appeared to be making a fortune!

I would be happy to make a donation to VT if you supply me with details of where to send.

Thanks for what was a hugely enjojable day out.

Regards

Dave

 

There is indeed, quite a nice shot it is too when the weather plays ball.

Sorry to hear thr trip wasn't as well supported as it could have been Bob, I did consider booking earlier in the year, but the Earl to Scotland took a hefty bite out the pay check so I had to be ecomical with what tours I picked to travel on.

In my opinion, I think the addition of the second Pannier probably wasn't that big a draw considering Lizzie had previously been banked on this intinery by 9600 with no trouble so 3 Loco's were obviously going to make mincemeat of the climb, perhaps giving 5043 it's first go at the bank in future may entice more to book as an incentive ?.

 

The response from Tyseley is the wrong way round. It is precisely because it is a rare event, that many choose the lineside. Make it a regular event and, most will do both, travel and, watch. As a one-off, I would always choose the lineside, because you can see and hear so much more. I've travelled on and watched trains without bankers, because they are fairly commonplace.

When steam out of Waterloo was first tried out, with major publicity, there were worries of people being electrocuted all over the place. Now, it is a routine event, often unnoticed by the general public near the lineside.

Run shorter distance trips from Tyseley, via Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction to Worcester, then Bromsgrove, turning on the Worcester triangle. 2 trips per day, with plenty of time at Worcester for those who want to break the day there. An easy day out for the public, without early starts or finishes. Two goes at the Lickey for bashers and, some work for the bankers at Bromsgrove. Roster all the Tyseley main line engines plus, 'guests' from elsewhere, everyone is catered for. I realise there isn't enough stock for this plus Shakespeare as well, but nothing that long term planning can't overcome. Make Lickey steam banking routine and, more will travel and, less will watch because, they can do both and don't have to choose one or the other.

 

In property its Location, Location, Location, In rail tours it Locomotive, Livery, Location.

Taking Lizzy round the back streets of Lancashire probably didn't appeal to many, as does taking a London Transport pannier around the Brum suburbs...
now if you brought those panniers to London... you could probably keep them busy for a few weeks.

Still its always a shame to see a well run tour not supported as it should.

 

Thanks for your kind comments chaps. I got there just after 2p.m. Bill

 

One other possibility for the photographers v travellers problem of course is to run up the incline in the dark!

 

I never thought I'd see a volcano on rails - but that is the only way to describe the sight and sound of 6201 and the Panniers ascending Lickey past Vigo Bridge.

I started the day at Heyford - 20 mins before the train, the fog had cleared enough to get a good shot, but typically rolled in again.

Princess In The Mist | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I then went straight to Vigo Bridge - it seemed silly to go 25 miles home for 2 hours before driving straight past where I'd just left. Anyway, it was a glorious day and there was plenty of company at Vigo all day.

2 shots on the Lickey

The Double Lickey Banker 1 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The Double Lickey Banker 2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!


STEVE

 

Wonderful shot

 

I too would happily donate if asked. The Pike Pool campsite was advertising use of its carpark for £3 a go - don't know how many takers there were for that but I do think if VT had posted someone with a bucket at the stile at the entrance to the field a fair few quid would have been raised.

 

I am very suprised that no one from VT was there with a collection bucket, this would almost certainly have made a bit more of a difference and I feel they missed a trick here. They could probably collect the best part of £1000 in a couple of hours (as well as educating some of the idiots). I am sure virtually all the photographers would have happily contributed, but most won't if it isn't made easy. This is human nature i'm afraid and is not down to lack of respect to the tour operator or deliberate freeloading. Bob makes the analogy with the SVR and the two events are similar. With increasing strains on my finances I can't always afford a rover ticket these days if I go to a gala, but I will always use the cafe or shop to make a contribution. I wouldn't however send a cheque in the post, come Monday life takes over and it gets forgotten about until the next event. With so many people in one place not far from base (unlike most tours where they are spread out), a VT rep with a bucket and some leaflets could have got some good publicity for future trips as well as contributions towards this one.
One thing that struck me yesterday was how many enthusiasts at the SVR gala were completely unaware that there was steam operating on the mainline yesterday, in fact some didn't know that steam operated on the mainline at all. I am not talking about Joe public here either. Perhaps a presence by VT (or other promoters) at galas like the SVR would yield more bookings and interest? The Strathspey, loco society's and Steam Railway all had stands at Kidderminster yesterday and were doing good business.
Unfortunately I could neither travel nor see this one having already commited financially to the SVR gala yesterday and a need to get back to Wales meant Bromsgrove was a little too far. I hope steam is back on the Lickey again soon as it never fails to deliver, from 7325 & 2968's revival back in 1997 to 5690's solo assault more recently, this one looks to be up there with the best. I too look forward to 5043's trip to Edinburgh, that's one to definitely travel on rather than lineside! Lovely shots and videos everyone.

 

Steve

Thank you for this suggestion, but if you go back through Steam Railway far enough you will find that we already did exactly what you suggest some years ago, as we managed to work out the logic of that one. However we found that not many passengers went out to photograph the other train, so we were not exactly convinced on that score. Whilst you cite the example of steam out of Waterloo as disproving concerns, we are not exactly strangers to expanding the boundaries of what can be done, but you do have to know that yesterday was the first time that we have ever managed to run up the Lickey without being checked and warned of trespassers, and it was still not free of idiots. Network Rail tend to get concerned about that sort of thing.

With regard to all the kind offers of donations from other subscribers, if you are minded to, please send them to Vintage Trains, 670 Warwick Road, Tyseley, Bham, B11 2HL.

Regards
bob

 

Bob,

Will search high and low for my cheque book but in this electronic age I think you would make more with a Paypal account - its the electonic equivalent of waving a bucket!