Cathedrals Express to Scotland

I don't have copyright to reproduce the gradient profile here from "British Rail-Main Line Gradient Profile. Ian Allan. E1. (But for educational purposes it might be legal).

But from that, distances approximate, probably within 0.1 or 0.2 of a mile. And I think I am going North, and not going West! LOL.

York. 188.0 to 188.2 . Level. 0.2
188.2 to 189.1. Downhill at 1/571. 0.9
189.1 to 200.4. Level. 11.3
200.4 to 203.6. Uphill between 1/666 and 1/845.
203.6 to 204.1. Level. 0.5
204.1 to 205.2. Uphill at 1/739.
205.2 to 212.0 Level. 6.8
212.0 to 217.2. Uphill at 1/629.
217.2 to 218. Uphill at 1/671.
218 to 221.4. Level. 3.4
221.4 to 222.1 Downhill at 1/853. 0.7
222.1 to 222.5. Level 0.4
222.5 to 225.3. Uphill at 1/650.
225.3 to 226.1. Uphill at 1/490.
226.1 to 226.6. Uphill at 1/690.
226.6 to 226.9. Level. 0.3
226.9 to 229. Downhill at 1/391. 2.1
229 to 229.6. Downhill at 1/342. 0.6
229.6 to 231.1. Uphill at 1/438.
231.1 to 231.7. Uphill at 1/815.
231.7 to 232.1. Uphill at 1/426. But possibly downhill, not easy to see but the grade is shown as easing after the 1/815 up. Darlington.

Summarising, York to Darlington in that direction.

Level or Downhill. 0.2 + 0.9 + 11.3 + 0.5 +6.8 + 3.4 + 0.7 + 0.4 + 0.3 + +2.1 + 0.6 = 27.2 miles.

27.2/44.1 = 61.68%

Which is why I disagreed (only), with your comment that "York - Darlington is very slightly uphill for the most part", (that is the only bit I highlighted in my first response). But I don't disagree that the faster running was usually from Darlington to York. Possibly because after Danby Wiske until before the braking point for York it was all level or downhill. And trains heading North, apart from that short section just after York had no downhill section to help build up speed until Danby Wiske. So harder work would be needed by the loco. Albeit on a still easy grades for an A4 on 420 tons. It's just that damned 75 mph limit that causes the problems with a 37 minute schedule. Love to see the return schedule!

But unless my copy of that book has a large number of errors, or that I have gone totally mad today, ( a not uncommon occurence these days), York to Darlington is not very slightly uphill for the most part.

61.68%, (approx!), is level or downhill.

I'll leave you to point out any significant errors I have made. Or any significant differences in our individual copies of that book.

 

One would not wish to disagree with such an eminent boffin. Seriously. This brother of mine can work out moving average speeds whilst runs are in progress.

DB

 

I never timed steam over this stretch but had a few Deltic runs. My best was 6th August 1966, D9014 on 14 for 550 tons gross. We did Darlington to York in 36 mins 48 sconds, max 106 after Otherington at the foot of the 1 in 629 down and with a trs to 18 after Beningbrough. Net time 32 to 33 minutes. This was exceptional though. 2nd November 1964 D9020 on the 4pm Edinburgh to KX from a special stop at Darlington to pass York in 34 minutes 23 seconds max 98, sustained 92-93, load 425 tons. In my view 37 minutes either way on this stretch with any steam loco on a decent load and a 75 limit is impossible.

Don

 

Just to add to that the gradient profile in the IA book looks like its uphill northbound but the two 'steeper' downhill sections are both northbound

DB

 

Would be a lovely thought Al. But I'll doubt she'll ever be worked as hard now as she was back in the 1960s. Certainly not when around the very high speeds that were being obtained back then. Todays crews with her have shown consistently that they really know how to handle the old lady. But they cannot of course be expected to know how to handle her at high speed. That was something that ended when those 1960s crews walked away from Nine Elms MPD on July 9th 1967. And what I don't know is if she still has the capability of repeating the past. I may be good at maths, (sometimes, LOL!), but my mechanical knowledge is such that I can take apart an object with just two parts. And have one part left over when I re-assemble it.

And whilst I think 35028 is a superb machine it was said at the time that 35003 was the one that should have been bought by the MNLPS. She was a consistently very fast locomotive. For whatever reason. I still believe the only UK steam loco to have recorded 100 mph three times on a normal service train on the same start to stop section.

Anyway. Back to the A4s to Scotland. I will be getting my Yeti prayer mat out for a 60009 in superb condition and a clear road and everything else in perfect condition on Saturday for a run ex York I shall really regret not being on. The return schedule passing Darlington to York is, as I suppose to be expected, shown at present as back down in the time that could be kept by a Class 4 tank if it had a clear road! (54 minutes). But I doubt that time is based on clear road running.

Oh well. Dave Sprackland, one of our group from the 1960s is on board, and I think Big Al is as well?, so at least I shall hear what is happening.

Oh strewth. Look at the time. 17.45 and I had planned to make more progress with my analysis of the BTO ringing data for the Migration Chapter of my Short-Eared Owl book today! And I haven't even opened that file yet. But any excuse to talk about steam locos at speed. Bulleids first of course, but I am told these A4s can get a move on sometimes too! And fervently hope that happens in the next few days.

 

Times from steam dreams Facebook for Saturday:
Edinburgh @ 06:55
Stirling @ 07:43
Perth @ 08:31
Inverness @ 11:34

 

Much better than first feared those timings.

 

Depart Inverness 16:07, Arrive Edinburgh 21:21 from Steam Dreams website

 

Should be racing along between Sandy and Huntingdon by now?

 

Passed Huntingdon 09.09 (5 early), but not exactly "racing" (about 50 mph)

 

A blistering restart from Digswell Jct. and on the main to Hitchin where it was switched to the slow. Saw it at Arlesey dawdling along and even then it was gaining on a very relaxed schedule.

 

Just left Holme a few minutes down.

 

Just noticed on UKsteam that Tornado is now returning from Inverness via the Highland main-line rather than Aberdeen. No path available the other way?

 

Is Bittern using 60163 or 70000 support coach recently? Or has hers been repainted?!

 

Filmed here at Brookmans Park, on the slow. (which is a very tatty bit of track indeed, jointed track, rotten wooden sleepers, a track greaser, and a broken and chipped bit thats been clamped). I assume there is a temp speed limit in place as the driver closed the regulator.

 

Interesting Point about ECML track conditions, a respected poster on WNXX reckons it is in a worse state now, than before Hatfield.

 

Accelerating away from Holme after taking water. Didn't notice which number the support coach was, I was too busy trying to avoid getting smuts in my eyes! Note the new LED headlight and marker light on the opposite lamp bracket. I assume they're for 90mph running.



And one from a bit earlier, heading away from Offord Cluny.