4464 Bittern to do 90mph on ECML - 29 June & 27 July 2013

We were just a few yards apart Barry. It was a lot quieter earlier on. There was just one young man and myself there at 6:40am, both standing within the lines etc on platform two at King's Cross and following the rules. After about 10 minutes a member of the King's Cross station staff walked up to me and asked if I had a "contractor's permit'. I said good morning to him and explained very nicely what we were waiting there to see. He replied: "Well I've no information on that. Nobody told me. You need a contractor's permit to stand here and take photographs." I then very politely pointed out the Network Rail information on their website (via my phone) welcoming rail enthusiasts / photographers to stations so long as it was for personal use, keep to the rules etc etc. He seemed perplexed and then said, "Well that could be any old website." I showed him the evidence again that it was, indeed, the official website (and advice) of his employer and asked him to double check himself if he was not satisfied. He still wasn't happy and said he would be back in 45 minutes, with the implication that it would be curtains for us! I explained (again very nicely) the historic nature of the event and the fact that quite a few more people would be on his platform before long! Adding that I knew he was only doing his job and please would he check for himself, then he would find I was correct. By the time he came back there were dozens of people on the platforms taking photographs (Bittern etc having arrived by then). I was half way down the platform at that stage and one of the first people he encountered. Obviously not remembering me, he asked if I had a contractor's permit before walking past at speed to be met by the sight of many others where I had previously been. It was all a bit Fawlty Towers, to be honest, but I was disappointed that a member of the station staff did not know the guidance - or what was due to arrive and depart on one of his platforms! Of course staff can act if they think the situation may be dangerous but that was definitely not the case today. One British Transport Police officer did walk up Bittern's platform just before the departure and I thought she might be there to control some of the more over-eager photographers. But she took out a camera and captured a snap herself! You can see her in my video earlier on in the thread. Anyway, I guess the moral of the story is to print out Network's Rail guidance (as they themselves advise on their site) and carry it with you.

 

There was someone a bit like that at York last Saturday. After a while a few of us were at the end of the platform but not down the ramp and a staff member approached us and told us to move back and pointed to a sign which he seemed to indicate that we shouldn't have gone past (which didn't say that we shouldn't go any further than that sign but said not to cross the line) then when he done that went along the edge of the platform getting in the way of people's camera's and tripods instead of asking them to move back from the platform edge. I did overhear a couple of people talking (one of whom the staff member walked in front of) about someone at the station who was a bit anti-photographer before this staff member appeared so it might have been the same person. But there wasn't any problem like this on the other platform and a few people were stood further along that platform.

It seems different where I am but its probably because its a smaller station than Kings Cross and York. When we get a tour at Haywards Heath a couple of the staff members get out camera's and phones and start taking photos as well. It happened this morning.

 

I thought this at the time. must of been quite a close run thing, maybe not quite far enough ahead of the schedule to allow enough time to switch to the slow and the braking involved to meet the speed limit for getting into the loops

 

A bit long winded to copy the entire post so I've amended it slightly to highlight the point, The BT police office is seen in the video's quite clearly taking a picture herself, saw this at the time when viewing the video's on you tube and it did make me chuckle!

 

Definitely accelerating!!

 

Our motive power for the return is indeed fresh repainted 90 036.

 

Nice clips. Good to see my location suggestions worked for you.

 

First video near Newark:

 

Brilliant stuff guys, what a breath taking run north!

Now wouldn't it be good to put all these video's together and have one long piece of footage?

 

some great videos on here today......and they're all so SHORT !!!!!!!!!.. What wonderful reports and observations all along....Pete

 

It would be interesting to find out details with respect to how the locomotive was being worked. Good work by the crew in delivering so much without over achieving - so to speak. 4464 appears to have performed well with no over exertion. Text book A4, with good acceleration and gradient climbing complimented by easy high speed cruising. No one will succomb to temptation on the return to London but today just gave the impression of being a little too easy. Here's to the next run in the series.

 

Away 1911 with our 90 to London (I won't get chapter and verse of the return, needless to say we're going fast already )

News from the a1st support coach was that they cannot prepare 60163 for tomorrow, but 35028 has failed with a superheater element problem... Any truth 35028 failed ?

 

Looking at all the film clips,with the exception of leaving Kings Cross there was a very clean exhaust in every clip.Welsh coal perhaps ?
Colin.

 

Yep ... That video says what I was thinking at the time.

Currently the performance of our class 90 is not matching that video of Bittern, we are crawling south of Doncaster circa 30mph, since we left Donny at 1934, there is a 91 on a pax behind us too.

 

I'm so glad that these runs are taking place! It is not that we get to see speeds above the 75mph mark. The way 4464 has been running has been nothing short of brilliant lately wherever she goes these days. Whether it is on the ECML or on the Torbay Express. Fantastic.

I made a playlist 4-5 years ago in which I collected a bunch of clips and put them in sequential order by location. Southern Pacific 4449's cross country trip from Oregon to Michigan 2009

 

Surprised t see a number of people watching for the 90 going back to London.. We're 2 ahead of schedule thru Peterborough, but thru fast no slow, so expect more early.

One good point of today was very few people wrong side of the fence, some of the stations however were packed with photographers...definitely a good turn out

Edit: now stopped in connington loop, due to running 14 mins early.

 

Take their names Wilson.

They will be dealt with later!

PS. They could of course be people who didn't know Bittern was staying at York.

 

BBC coverage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23109971

Tom

 

And the 3rd most read article as well.

 

Thanks for the speed-reports...... here is a still-photo of Bittern passing the gallery at Biggleswade:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steam60163/9165686196/in/photostream

Cheers,
Alisdair