The Great Britain VII

During the heated exchanges here last week between those who saw the cup half full for Monday's leg and those who saw it half empty, did anyone think the Class 5 could work that leg on its own?

 

Agreed. There are two clips in this thread of the train on Hemerdon and both locos are doing their share of the work and both sounding good in their own right.

 

With the DL being virtually dead and Braunton effectively the same that must be at least 18 on the drawbar for Nunney, no wonder she sounded good!

But jesting aside, no way either could have managed the train on their own, 44932's performance yesterday was no doubt the real 'saving the day'

 

Am I not alone in not being worried about 44932 on yesterdays train.?
I have a recording of it romping up Sapperton with 11 on no trouble at all.
I would guess the Marches route puts more emphasis on a free steaming engine due to the length not the steepness of the gradients.

Cheers Dave

 

Bearing in mind that the diesel was switched out, that trailing weight over Hemerdon was extraordinary and would have been so in steam days of the 50's and 60's. I do not recall any reference to 16 coach trains leaving Plymouth northbound and so to suggest that Braunton wasn't doing its fair share, is crazy. Although I am a fan of Western steam, dear old Nunney Castle would have struggled with eight on let along taking the lion share of an equivalent 16 coach load.

I had to look twice when I saw the footage of the Black 5 over Filton and Abergavenny banks. It was awe inspiring to see her handle such a substantial load on its own and must have been close to the limit of its pulling power.

Hats off to who ever pulled the rabbit out of the hat as everyone expected a diesel to be on the back and to see it pass Severn Tunnel Junction all on its own was a joy to behold!

 

Going somewhat OT, I went over there Montagu Pass in SA some years ago. Two Class 19 4-8-2s up front. At times the pilot loco was not much more than a "rail dryer" for the train loco. Two locos of the same class yet one was slipping and the other wasn't.

 

I'm glad it did but it was an interesting decision, could have been a different outcome on a wet rail.

 

Seems yesterday is doomed to be damned by the faint praise of some. The fact is the rails weren't wet so well done to NR, the tour organisers and the crews for a damn fine effort yesterday.

 

How is today's train doing?
Or is arguing personal preferences between WCs and Castles or whether a black 5 can go up hills - more interesting for some?

 

I do not believe that anyone thought that the Black V could not work the train over the route given reasonable conditions. Keeping time would be another matter. But given that the leg was scheduled for a much more powerful locomotive if the job was fully within the capacity of a class 5 what was the point of a larger machine in the first place? At the end of the day there was a train to be hauled and a way had to found to allow this to be done. On the day the conditions were good enough for little concern to be raised, and bad coal or poor railhead conditions can catch any locomotive out.
Happy enthusiasts? Not if they can avoid it.

 

Todays leg is currently at Lockerbie and has run more or less on time all the way. 46115 made easy work of the flat level section over the Leven Viaduct this morning; video currently being uploaded.

 

Footage of 44932 passing Leighton Moss yesterday evening & 46115 crossing the Leven Viaduct in the haze this morning

 

Very, very enjoyable. Some great camera work there at well considered locations - very atmospheric. thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Alan

 

Like 'durr' it so is ...
like we can argue about todays train tomorrow or whatever ...

 

Hi Guys ,this is my shot of 44932 on day 3 at Brock,cheers Tony

https://www.flickr.com/photos/garstangpost/14062687641/

 

Stunning scenes over the coast today in beautiful sunshine and plenty of steam coming out the pipe, regardless of the heat. Managed four shots in between Grange Over Sands and Flimby, with the pick of the bunch being the climb through Ulverston featuring a tasty slip. Video to follow tomorrow.

 

footage from this morning Day 4