46233 The Cumbrian Mountain Express 6th Sept 2014

Not seen a thread for this . Been told 46233 in charge with Crewe - Carlisle over the S&C with the return again back over the S&C . Times below from realtime .

Crewe to Carlisle . http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50655/2014/09/06/advanced

Carlisle to Crewe . http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50656/2014/09/06/advanced

 

I hope they use that headboard! I was so thrilled to see it on. Watching the videos come in I'm like YES!

 

You'd think you were from Scotland with a comment like that

 

I like the headboard because it is Authentic and looks great especially when the Duchess is going FAST!

 

Yes, it looks impressive, but it aint authentic

 

Be careful what you wish for, these guys are the original "extra large ministry of silly headboards"!

 

I just like the Royal Scot one.
By the way, is it true that Shap is Northbound this week?

 

S&C both ways this week. Can anyone shed some light on why this is? Can't see any evidence of engineering work on WCML this weekend.

 

Not sure why but I was told 46233 was going over Shap first and the back via the S&C but that changed for some reason .

 

You mean something like this? Tweeted by PRCLT a few minutes ago. Hmmm, a slightly undersized Royal Scot headboard, or this....?

 

They missed off their postal address...

 

Lord or mercy

 

I think you mean "Lord have mercy".............LINK.

 

Thank you, the ever erudite Swiss T. It is their headboard, and the headboard is free advertising for their very worthwhile cause. If they put "Royal Scot" or "Caledonian" or something similar then there might be comments that not all the coaches were BR Standard Mk 1's in maroon, so as an organiser, you probably cannot win.

Personally I hope the Duchess gives a good account of herself as I am looking forward to visiting Holyhead behind her later in the month on a trip with the much criticised Steam Dreams. They have never let me down and I've enjoyed numerous trips with them - they're not perfect but we are dealing with locos that are mostly more than 65 years old, and most a lot older than that, with a volunteer base that is also not getting much younger. I still think we will look back on this past decade as the golden age of preserved steam and for those of us who rode these trains, we will consider ourselves very lucky. Those that decided not to support the trips because it's not a 90 minute timing to Salisbury (see the Cornwall tour thread) or because there's a diesel on the back (see most threads) will realise they missed their last chance. These engines will not be running in another 15-20 years time - get on board any steam trip now and enjoy what there is before it becomes the preserve of the preserved railways. If you don't want to travel because there's a diesel in the consist that's your choice - I'm bored with this argument that changes nothing.

The locomotive preservation movement has done a wonderful job, almost unimaginable from where we were 25 years ago, but you cannot roll back time and the presence of these wonderfully maintained machines on the modern railway is becoming more and more of a contradiction - there are fewer and fewer old railway, steam sympathetic people in NR and the TOC's - that makes it inevitable that running these trains will become more and more challenging. If I were CEO of Virgin Trains or Southwest Trains or whomever, a steam excursion is the last thing I would want - I might love steam and all it represents to all of us, but as a commercial event it is a nightmare. The only upside is it might bring some goodwill and a marketing opportunity - the downside is much longer. So it we are going to keep running steam it has to be: realistically scheduled with loads within the capability of the engine to keep time, with sufficient trained crews, and with backup from tour organisers or engine owners to cover delayed or disrupted waterstops etc so that there is some chance that the planned timings, slow as they might be, will be kept. We need to serve the customers, both regular tour booking enthusiasts in the front coach, and family of four out for an (expensive) day - that's a hard act to balance.

anyhow - seem to have got off topic a bit - apologies

Must be nearly time to catch the paper train in my dreams - 01:30 off Waterloo with a light pacific and a motley collection of vans

Mike

 

That's the most sensible thing I have read on NP for some quite considerable time-well said

 

There can be very few, if any, who joined BR before the end of steam and are still working for NR or any of the TOCs. So steam operations are already entirely dependent on people who remember steam from their childhood or have only met it in preservation.

 

Ah Shep your not gonna start doing sensible, think of your street cred lol




s.a.s really likes this.