VT – The Lickey Double Banker – 24 March 2012

There seems to be a trend that tours that are a success one year will not be a success when repeated within a short space of time (the Lickey & Copy Pit tours come to mind), from an Enthusiasts point of view, once you have experienced an intinery, you usually look for something different the next year.

Im not saying tours shoulden't be repeated, but perhaps a longer gap should be left between them for the 'desire' to build back up again and new and different intineries tried in the intervening time.

Of course I exclude from the above, the itineries that are popular with daytrippers such as Chester & York as these are as near as you'll get to definate profit in the railtour business.

 

Agree with your comments and suggest alternative routes and destinations

1. Tyseley- Kidderminster - Worcester - Moreton in the Marsh with set downs in Oxford and Didcot and return but via Lickey.

or

2. Tyseley- Kidderminster - Worcester - Gloucester - Cardiff and return but via Lickey.

 

Option 2 was what 5690 Leander did when it went up unaided, despite being a Jub on home ground that wasn't overly supported as it was only load 6.

Option 1 is interesting, Oxford MAY work as a destination for a daytrippers (to make the trip viable) coupled with the longer day out via Worcester & the Cotswolds.

 

IIRC, the load was deliberately restricted to 6 so that the Jub. would not need assistance, even if conditions were less than ideal. I heard that all seats were sold that day - unless you know differently?

 

I was on that tour (lucky me) and my understanding it was it was originally down to be banked by 4965, but a paperwork issue (!) prevented the Hall leaving Tyseley that afternoon and the load was considered light enough to 'have a go'.

 

David

I was on the one with 48773 when we almost came to grief by the cemetery the driver put his hands up to that one as he should have cleared his sanders prior to using them.
Seven on did not seem to faze the 8F once she settled down she actually accelerated gradually all the way up.
The one trip that really impressed me was 44871 & 70013 with13 on and no banker.
Even in steamdays I never saw anything like that, it took my breath away.
I thought the load was way too little for lizzie and two panniers it almost seemed that lizzie was trying to leave her bankers.
I hope nobody thinks I'm knocking VT I certainly am not I have had some great trips with them and am looking forward to the Cornishman.
I would guess it's swings and roundabouts from what I gather from this forum victory was snatched from the jaws of disaster on the Carlisle trip and a wonderfull run over the S&C was the result.
7029 was one of my favourites but 5043 is catching up fast.

Cheers Dave

 

6201 Princess Elizabeth at Standish Junction, Stonehouse 24/03/12 - YouTube

please rate and watch my effort at Standish Junction, not quite the same as the Lickey but still some nice sounds as speed

 

Apologies for the delay - its taken ages to get round to these.

As normal service has been resumed this Bank Holiday weekend and the weather has
gone downhill, I processed some of the backlog of shots from my camera.

Here are a final 2 views from Vigo bridge on the Lickey - NOTE links to single
shots only

View them large for best results

The Bankers Descend | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The Double Lickey Banker 3 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!


STEVE

 

Well it was worth waiting for those........particularly the one with 6201...........that must have been some sight....many thanks for sharing...

 

Thanks - it was a great day out, a real experience. The Panniers on the back looked like they were having to work hard just to keep up with the Lizzie

 

uksteam.info indicated Load 7 Times and Load


Penguin Web Solutions: Railway Photographs, LMS 48773 Lickey 2

 

Over a year after the event, here's a video of this marvelous piece of steam theatre. Four locations but only 3 cameras - the fittest of our team ran across the top of the hill to get the final "going away" shot. Many thanks to the Tyseley team and all who worked on this train.

 

It was well worth the wait Steamage. In the first distant shot of the train it looked like a volcano was on it's way up the Lickey.:madgrin:

 

Nice video. It was a great day. Having spent the entire day at Vigo standing by the crossing I can only thank the sun gods that the weather was so good. I hate to think what it would have been like to endure had it run same time this year

STEVE