The Scottish Lowlander, 27th September.

I'm up for a mission. Not only have I booked this one, but I'm going to make a weekend of it and book 34067's assault of the South Wales Valleys the day after, too. Although, I'll probably wait a bit to let my wallet settle first...

 

Link to the page on Six Bells Junctions about the original http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/640926sl.html

 

It certainly is a great offer, but the detailed pathing will indeed be challenging. As Bulleid Pacific has said on another thread, " if it runs as planned, that's 562.5 miles of steam in one day."

I think I need to put the proposal (for that is all it can be at this stage) through some reality checks. Time at Edinburgh is the first pinch point, though running round the Sub in one direction would avoid the need to turn the engine. Next at risk would be the complicated routing round Glasgow to reach the G&SW line, so it might have to be back as outward over the Caley. If time was still short, we might end up picking up the Duchess at Preston, or even Carnforth, and ditto on the return.

So what would we be left with? The Duchess over Grayrigg and Shap both ways, plus the A4 over Beattock both ways. Still a good trip?

As the dog says, oh yes. But let us urge and plead with Nigel, James, Rachel and colleagues to try their damndest to deliver us something closer to the original vision. I hope on the day, they will be saying, "O ye of little faith".

Peter, on a Manchester morning, with a bit of brightness in the sky
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

Looking at actual timings from sections of previous trips ( from UK Steam, although I have not found all sections) it does indeed seem like a very long day. An available platform at Edinburgh could be a problem ( VT's Castle to Scotland). If it has to be shortened and to keep as much of the original route as possible on the return, I would have thought going to Glasgow rather than Edinburgh would be a better option.

 

I agree. I have calculated based on a PMR trip Crewe to Carlisle( 2012) just under 3.5 hours, .5 hours loco change, Carlisle to Edinburgh ( Cathderals Explorer 2012 in the opposite direction) 4 hours so just under 8 hours in total for that section, then servicing and a longer return leg.

I agree something should be tried but this looks too ambitious.

I would like to travel behind the Duchess this year, have not been on the Glasgow and South Western, and would like another run over Beattock, but do not have the confidence to book at the moment.

 

Interesting. Both locos are strong enough to still take a commercially viable load over Shap and Beattock, especially if REG could double as the support coach (though that would be logistically difficult for 60009, at least). What happened to WCRC's water carrier? Did they fix the leaks? If so, REG-VT could become 46233's support coach and REG-WC 60009's, perhaps?

However, several loop stops will be needed on the WCML regardless of taking water, so maybe the REGs offers fewer savings than on some other routes?

 

I had a look inside the VT REG at Banbury last year and its whole floor is covered in water containers to at least waist height. No chance of it doubling as a support coach, according to what I saw.

Peter, on a still-cold Manchester morning
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

Gauging may have played as much a part in that one as a physically free platform, Catles may have only been cleared for 1 platform where more regulars visitors are cleared for a higher number.

 

I thought the problem was that there are only about 4 through platforms at Waverley .

 

Not that familiar with Waverley with all the alterations, but being approved for all 4 would be better than 1 or 2.

 

Transferring the discussion about the route from the general RTC 2014 thread...

The interesting thing to me is the proposal to use the GSW main-line through Kilmarnock. AFAIK, that's very rare steam mileage. Indeed, I was under the impression that there was great difficulty getting paths on this route, since there's an intensive electic service and, IIRC, a section of single track. Has that now been re-doubled? When The Great Britain or The West Highlander have returned via Dumfries, they've been routed through Paisley, Irvine and Mossblown (lovely name!) and joined the GSW proper at Mauchline. Mind you, on this tour, they need to take the quickest, most direct route that they can if they're to get back to Crewe before pumpkin-time.

(Aside - when did steam last work north over the GSW?)