The Elizabethan

Doh - my first trip with a box on the back if the timings on UK Steam are anything to go by...nevermind...

 

Curious why the 67 is needed, isn't there already a 67 at Edinburgh for a large part of the day for the Sleepers/Fife Circle that could do the shunting ?.

 

I wonder whether the 67 is there as insurance for the northbound leg which will be D9009's first mainline outing for several years and the 67 being left on for the return leg in order to get it back south?

 

Interesting that 'Tornado' is currently booked off Northampton on another tour little more than 8 hours after arriving back at KX on Wednesday night.

Paul

 

Thunderbird for 6201.

There is no box on the rear of either the up or down Elizabethan per the CTT for 25 July 2012.

 

I also wonder if the A1 crew are a little concerned about the condition of 60163, hence the 67. She has had a few failures recently (admittedly only minor problems and were FTR failures), and her problems with her drain cocks on Sunday/Monday on the Royal Train would've put the support crew on edge somewhat, one would imagine.

We must remember that 60163, although a new locomotive, needs to be treated with 'respect'. She has run 510 miles with the Royal Train, she'll run 393 miles tomorrow and then will be going from Northampton to Winchester (and Eastleigh) on Thursday. I do not know how far it is from Northampton to Eastleigh and back, but I would guess it would be around 150-175 miles each way, equalling 300 miles minimum. When you add all of that together, you have well over 1000 miles of steam running, excluding light engine movements (probably around 150 miles to/from Northampton and from the yards to the stations).

I, like most of us, love seeing 60163 racing up and down the main line, but I fear we might be asking too much of her. Remember the boiler/firebox trouble in 2010? The engine had just gone through a hectic period of activity, and is going through one now. I do not wish to sound negative, as it is great that we are using 60163, and she is a real feat of modern engineering. I know in the days of steam, that locomotives would run for weeks on end. After reading one of the recent SR magazines, I read that 60027 'Merlin' ran for a few weeks straight on the Elizabethan. 60163 should have no problems with a week in steam!

Anyway, let us hope that everything goes to plan, 60163 has a storming south bound run and D9009 has a good and clear run in the morning. I shall be keeping up to date with this tour on here and on the rail gens, it should be a cracker!

James at SVN

 

Arguably, running three long tours over the space of four days might put less strain on the loco than three similar tours over the space of a couple of weeks as the loco will remain warm rather than going through a couple of cooling/re-heating cycles with the stresses these produce.

 

You do not wish to sound negative yet post a thoroughly negative post. Sheesh!

 

I would'nt have thought that the "high mileage" is a problem .......doing exactly what it was designed for providing regular running checks are made.......and don't forget....it's earning money....which is more important than anything.......

 

Any news on 90009 getting away ok ?...........

 

Left the Cross 5 down and is now almost 15 late after passing Stevenage.

 

Passed the deltic at great wymondley south of hitchin and she was at a standstill at a signall with a 91 directly behind at the next signal.

I could only speculate as I have no idea what the issue is. Few of the passengers looking out of the windows.

 

About 15 late at Welwyn North but according to an announcement at Sandy it's currently sat at Hitchin due to a fault. Hopefully nothing too serious.

 

Exhaust fire moving again now possibly only on one engine can't tell at the back

 

D9009 reported North Langford 0752. <BJ>

 

33 late through Sandy at 0756.

 

Interesting that there's no water stop declared after Tyne Yard on the return trip - I presume that this is a simple omission on UKSteam & it'll be done at Doncaster though? Even so, that's a fair run between water stops. It's a very long day in prospect for the support crews and London pax - hope everyone has a good trip though.

Having said that, I see the news that 'Alycidon' has had an exhaust fire - sadly not uncommon with Deltics, particularly after long periods of low power operation . Let's hope that there's some recovery possible.

Mark

 

35 Down at Offord on the Down Slow. No 67 on the rear.

http://youtu.be/03SGoMvbz5g

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54089968@N05/7642365590/in/photostream

John

 

55.022 suffered an exhaust fire whilst working the Devonian on 9th July,2011. Oil and carbon deposits ignited after a sustained period under full power. The loco worked the return leg from Paignton to Doncaster without any further problems. <BJ>

 

Latest report. <BJ>

''1Z55 06:50 Kings Cross - Edinburgh hauled by D9009 'Alycidon' stands on the Down
Slow Line at Holme (8 miles south of Peterborough) at 08:19 hours''.