VT - 5043 to Edinburgh - 26/27/28 May

It certainly looks like lunch at the Agricultural Arms - a pint of Jennings and Cumberland Sausage - excerllent!

 

Yep, I'll prob look out the window on hearing the Duchess to be greeted by the view of a uninspiring platform building blocking my view, on a personal view im bloody sick of Penrith loop, I've been over Shap northbound 5 times and been put inside here every damn time.

 

Network Rail have insisted we take a diesel due to fire risk. To be attached at Carnforth.They are worried about Beattock where Diesel will assist.

 

Oh, not the best news but can agree to the need perhaps. This may sound like an odd question, but with today's warm weather, what's the exhaust like? Sadly I couldn't travel today ( only currently left Wigan myself ), so may try a photo but due to the distance can only work with a little bit of exhaust trail I imagine

 

Crap timings, now this. I really feel for VT & the passengers. Knew damn well this would happen.
I don't care what anyone says, but it seems that NR are trying to drive steam off the network via the back door.

 

Setting fire to the greenery around Beattock, the train stalling or even worse a loco failure all of which would disrupt services on the West Coast Mainline are risks worth avoiding in my view.

 

Best stay at home then!

 

Spot on 3855, anything less would be reckless with potentially dire long term consequences. By the way a charter set containing mainly choc/cream and maroons passed great Strickland at about 13.25 top and tailed by type 4s. Has this any connection with this tour?

 

How irresponsible of Network Rail to want to protect its infrastructure, the ownerS of land adjacent to railway property and to minimise the potential disruption to services on the WCML that a lineside fire could cause...

 

Had a phone call from Dad onboard around Lancaster around 12.45, 8 mins down but sounded good. He seems determined to enjoy himself whatever.

 

The reason why spark arrestors were installed and tested under extreme conditions (i.e. night time testing to see spark throw) is to avoid this crazy situation about fire risk. if the spark arrestor is not up to scratch, take the steam loco off the list. In steam days, spark arrestors were fitted around industrial areas where sparks were a danger with perfect success. The King ran Bristol to Kingswear on a Torbay Express a couple of years ago in the hottest summer for many years with temperatures in the 90's. No diesel assistance, no line side fire, no problem.

Trains have run over the past couple of days in exactly the same conditions as today.

The whole thing stinks just as much as that box that will be attached - and probably at the front too.

What with the long extended timings, this will surely rank as the worse tour of the year, Ruined by Network Rail.

 

Regarding the awful timings of this tour, I earlier posted to say that if it were Bunker of Steam Dreams or the late great B. Staite, that they would have banged on the NR's door, if it were one of their tours and get the timings improved.

An now, would you believe it, confirmation from BIG AL that this is exactly what Steam Dreams did when they notice unacceptable timings. They were simply not prepared to sit back and just take the knock.

A lesson to be learned there for sure. But unfortunately, too late for those poor souls out today.

 

A shot of 5043 at Coppull moor as it headed for preston

David Tomlinson photography - David Tomlinson Photography

Dave

 

Reports of a lineside fire at Tebay. Maybe it's related, maybe it's not, but it was reported on one of the gen groups about 30 mins after the Castle was due.

 

Since when were spark arrestors ever 100% effective at all times? With lineside fires on both Beattock and the WHL in recent days im amazed that anyone can seriously suggest taking the risk with a Castle and a heavy load over such a busy section of railway - just the latest criticism of NR on this forum that ignores their wider responsibility for reliably operating an increasingly congested railway network.

Chris

 

Here here.