The Scottish Lowlander, 27th September.

Even so, that's fast for a bus on rails... Funnily enough, I remember doing a trip behind 46115 on its only foray south of the Thames and the person in the table opposite was wondering why his GPS was consistently 7-10mph behind everyone else. I had a look at it, chuckled, and pointed out that it was set to record the speed in knots.

 

I certainly don't want to be in a 142 doing 200kph! Saturday certainly featured some 'vigorous' running from both 60009 and 45699 at times and, in reality, the full tale will have to remain with those on board. Incidentally, I am a somewhat shy person who is not given to speaking up on steam, since everyone around me always seems to know far more than me, but I was sat just near the Patriot crew on Saturday and it a pleasure to listen both to them and their visitors and other knowledgable fellows nearby.

 

I don't want to be on one of them full stop!

 

Not being overly concerned at what precise mph we were doing at any point - and certainly possessing no interest in electronic speed recording gizmos ... or Class 142 'Nodding Donkeys' for that matter - the 'stack-talk' from all three engines utilised ("Pay for Two - Get a Third One Free" ... I liked that!!) certainly brought back many memories from times now sadly departed.

For various factors (and, of course, as a result of subsequent line closures), aside from a relatively short stretch between Mauchline and Carlisle, unfortunately the circular gyration around Southern Scotland was unable to utilise any of the tracks originally traversed. Indeed, some criticism has already been suggested earlier in this thread at the initially proposed itinerary as being somewhat over-ambitious, but it was ultimately the Ryder Cup golf tournament that proved to be the reason for preventing access to Edinburgh, with any spare platform capacity allegedly being allocated to additional services being operated between Waverley and Perth.

Nevertheless, Peter Walker of West Coast Railways (and driver of No 60009 on the day) has since been in touch to advise that it is equally important to consider one additional major factor there and which, he openly admits, had taken him personally completely by surprise. There were actually several very last-minute prohibitions placed upon No 60009 and which effectively totally precluded the loco from passing through the Edinburgh area anyway, and thus conspiring to defeat the originally planned route being used. These were on the Edinburgh Suburban line, at Morningside Road station, then at Falkirk High platform, Barnhill platform and Bellgrove platform.

Nevertheless, both tours did achieve their major objectives in providing haulage by a ‘Duchess’ in both directions between Crewe and Carlisle via Shap … and, surely, for most of us, that was all that really mattered!

With those who rode on the 1964 tour, probably running at most only into single figures, this had still been a day more to do with the nostalgia of the occasion and the sheer spectacle, than with locomotive performance. It was certainly to the credit of the RTC, ably supported by West Coast Railways, that the two were bold enough to attempt something that was always going to be problematic and then, despite those unavoidable last-minute alterations to the advertised itinerary, still to pull it all off with aplomb and style. The catering and standard of service in Premier Dining Class was faultless and far, far better than than that afforded by "Travellers Fare" on the 1964 tour.

As half a century previously, it had certainly proved to have been a day to have been a passenger aboard the train, rather than to have been merely an observer at the lineside and I, personally, was extremely grateful to WCR and RTC for making it all possible!

 

Well spoken young man.

 

Glad folk liked my efforts at Carlisle, 57 photos of the tour can now be seen here:

http://andrewstransport.smugmug.com...-2014/44686690_DBrJkt#!i=3578643145&k=BRDBxxZ

AN

 

Mr W, I don't think that, at any point, I was "counting you off" and, indeed, were it not for us "pre-'68 veterans", there would be nobody around to tell others how it actually all had been and that, so many years later, the smallest detail should not be forgotten. Indeed, as, I think, I mentioned previously, you may very well have noticed that, although our train was identified by the timetabling office as '1Z75', 46233 actually bore a '1X75' reporting number AND that this had been slightly 'cocked over' from level ... exactly as it had been done on 46256. Further to that, the boards used on the outward and return journeys over Shap were of differing types ... again, precisely as had occurred in 1964.

And, for the record, the fireman in question was actually sat on the other side of the aisle to me and, in fact, within our own party, there were only four who had actually participated in the 1964 tour ... the other two being the ladies accompanying us. Add to that your brother and yourself seated nearby and that makes six. I would be very interested to learn who the other half dozen (in our coach A) might have been, as the 1964 tour organiser himself - who was, in fact, sat right opposite me - seemed to recognise no-one else nearby and, following his own stroll down the train, it was he (not me) who later came out with that observation! It was a pity that so few friendships came to be re-acquainted that day, as I feel sure so very many of those who had accompanied us half a century previously are still around. Admittedly available cash is very much at a premium today, especially amongst us pensioners, but I suppose that, with inflation, the £129 asked in 2014 was good value compared with the £3.7.6d for a ticket in 1964 ... the latter then being nearly half of the weekly wage of many.

In fact, I did notice at least one other '64 participant at the lineside and, as linesiding is usually (but not always) my own preference, as with my friend that I had spotted, personally, I like to think that I have "many more years left"! (See you all aboard the next 3-engine trip, perhaps ... which, of course, will be the 'gruelling' Autumn Scottish Steam Bash?!!)

Finally, again for the record, the fireman that you mentioned was actually Brian Fare, now a very sprightly 72 yeaar-old and Brian was one of three Preston-based crews that worked various legs of the original "Scottish Lowlander" - his own stage being that between Crewe and Preston. (I understand that there's likely to be a picture of Brian appearing in next week's 'Steam Railway'.) Despite some earnest enquiries having been made (and, although no-one seems to recall the identity of the Upperby crew involved between Carlisle and Preston), Brian is now felt to be the only surviving footplateman from the 1964 special. During our very long day out, there wasn't a moment a moment when we failed to be entertained with a whole succession of lively banter. He certainly regaled us with tale after tale from his own days at Preston and Lostock Hall sheds ... including the one where he came down Shap on the footplate of 45678 'De Robeck' - touching 98mph at one point! No 46256 being one of his favourites, his own personal dislike? ... The 'Britannias'!!

 

Aye, but are the rods down??!

 

I have often wondered who it was that decided that having the rods down was the accepted format, for me with the rods UP it looks a more powerful proposition

 

Sure to be rods up in your area especially in the vicinity of sheep

 

In my opinion an engine with rods up looks as if its going backwards
Rods down looks so much more uniform and forms a cylindrical vision, why spoil a picture with rods up

 

Trust you to lower the tone, all we want now is Swiss to join in lol

 

Ah a threesome

 

Rods Up, Rods Down.

Wow, that is posh.

I'm still trying to get the engine somewhere visible in the shot.

 

I fully agree with your sentiments. I recall watching 61264 climb out of Buxton towards Dove Holes a few years ago & was astonished at the number of photographers who turned their back on the engine as it slogged up the bank past them. The guy next to me was well pleased that he'd got 7 minutes of video as it plodded steadily north.

 

You rang........!