70013 on The Easterling 17 June

Was thinking of booking on this one,but wondered if anyone knew if 70013 was likely to be fit by then?

Many thanks

 

Last year Brittania replaced Ollie. Maybe that could help you to proceed.

 

Two points here;

1) I do not think you can rely upon 'what happened last year' as any form of indication as to what will happen this year.

2) Has anyone actually confirmed 70013 will not be available?

As a serious answer to the op, have you tried contacting the RTC. I accept the problem here is whether or not the promoter has briefed their front line staff?

 

Still no detailed times on uksteam.info but RTC showing actual times of 0851 dep.Liverpool Street and 1032 dep.Colchester and returns Colchester 1856 so I can estimate my Manningtree times fairly accurately.I hope 70013 will be fit.
Colin.

14-06-2012.Times now on uksteam,thanks David.

 

Well times are now up and Ollie is still the designated locomotive. Maybe a good sign.

 

Locomotive is black 5 44932 London Liverpool Street - Norwich and Lowestoft - London with a diesel doing the Norwich - Lowestoft leg because, according to RTC, Lowestoft sidings have closed, so there are no run round facilities. This suggests the diesel is going to be on the back all day and with load 10 plus the weight of diesel itself ie an equivalent to load 13, suggests tthe train will be overweight and the diesel it will need to give assistance.

 

Plus now limited to 60mph.

 

Wishful thinking on my part.

 

Little bit confused here as 70013 is showing as doing a light engine move to Acton Lane on UKSteam updated 13/6.
t0616r.htm

 

t0617a.htm

times on UK Steam, showing 44932.

compare the timings for 44932 in September 2010.. same railtour..
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t10/t0918a.htm
44932 passed stratford like a bat out hell on that run (failed in Norwich though).
the 2012 run arrives in 30 minutes less time, however the 2010 run had nearly an hour for water, compared to sundays 13 minutes.

i reckon its good for the job.. 44932 has lifted some fantastic loads around london, unassisted.

 

If that's true about the sidings now being out of action that's a real shame. I was on the September 2010 trip to get steam to Lowestoft and back but 44932 failed at Norwich. Might not get the chance now!

 

Just got a message black 5 has failed deisel top and tail

 

47760 & 47500

 

Oh dear. Any idea of the problem with the 5?
Almost booked on this but glad I didn't.

 

Doesn't like East Anglia that class 5 does it ?

 

Seems not. Got to feel sorry for the passengers.

 

Whilsts it's a small consolation, I wonder if there could be scope to have a preserved diesel placed at some of the steam depots, so if a steam loco fails at short notice a 40, 42, 45, 46, 50, 52, 55 etc could be a last minute substitute instead of the WCRC diesel ? I noticed even 47580 gets a good reception when it shows.. Today could have been appropriate for it.

There used to be a number of preserved diesels registered for mainline but lack of demand versus cost saw off a bunch, this may make it a bit more viable and give a bit of good PR when it goes wrong for steam.
I know in Germany it's often a historic diesel that substitutes last minute, rather than a "stock" diesel.

 

Other than a Deltic, I'd be pretty miffed at getting any of the others you mention. I know failures happen but I don't book a steam tour to travel behind a diesel.

 

True but when a steam loco fails on the day, there's not much you can do.

I wanted to book this tour, and whilst on this occasion I wouldn't need a hotel, I'd rather "something" than "nothing". A canceled trip on the day is annoying and possibly expensive, next to that is usual stock diesels for a day out, if a bit unexpected showed up.. It's better than nowt.

Only other option is ponying up the fares to have a stand by steam loco, 71000 in lieu of 60163 shows it could be done at short notice, but the notice in that case was luckily not too short.

 

Funny thing is that on that whole Carnforth's loco fleet (with the exception of the 8F) don't seem too reliable.