Christmas Fellsman

That was pushed too...

 

Good to see the GWR performance critics biting so readily. (to be taken in jest) Wouldn't want to start an argument.

 

Yes, you would!

[video=youtube;teMlv3ripSM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teMlv3ripSM[/video]

 

No I wouldn't. yes very good.

Anyway, seriously I can understand the lack of water at Appleby on the way up meaning use of the 47. Why though, would it have needed it working South?

 

Not a GWR critic. Eddie 1 is one of my favourites. Just critical of "push me pull you's" of any colour

 

For the record the 47 was added to the train in the middle of last week, because of the weather forecast, to provide electric train heating rather than the less efficient steam. Nothing upsets the passengers more than being cold. In the event without the 47 on the back I doubt that the train would have gone beyond Hellifield in view of the water situation. The rest as they say is history.

Oh by the way the “passengers” (those nice people who paid for the train to be run) were thanking the on board team for a good day out as they said their goodbyes. They had a good day out and you lot took some good photos. Looks like a win win to me!

 

OK Ralph, I accept Leander is a 75 mph loco, and I have amended my writeup accordingly, in post 13 above and on my Fotopic website.

I also agree that using the 47 to push Leander over the S&C was the unavoidable solution to allowing her to reach Carlisle safely without extra water, and it put the train back ahead of time.

I am still amazed, however, by the return over Shap. As I said, the train was booked Carlisle - Carnforth UDGL in 74 minutes start to stop for the 63 miles, an average of 51 mph for a Class 6 loco + 11 coaches. This compares with Tornado's schedule for the high speed Christmas Coronation run a week earlier, which allowed 77 minutes start to pass for the same distance, for a Class 8 loco with 13 on. I contend there can never have been any intention for Leander to perform this feat unassisted.

But it fulfilled the objective of getting the passengers back to their starting stations at a reasonable time, and Leander back to its Carnforth base. That's fine for the vast majority of ordinary punters on this train, even if disappointing for the (apparently very few) steam bashers. It seems that steam excursions are becoming more polarised: we are witnessing some really exciting fast runs for the specialist enthusiast (eg Bristolian, Border Raider, Pride of Swindon, Christmas Coronation) whilst there seems to be increasing pragmatic use of diesels to assist 'general interest' trains to maintain schedules and avoid risk of failures.

I DO NOT WISH to reopen the 'more heat than light' debate about whether diesels should ever be allowed behind a steam engine: I merely offer my thoughts on the changing face of steam excursions over the past year or so. But we should rejoice that so many excursions are still being offered, and that so many passengers of all kinds will stump up big money to ride behind them.

For the stories and pictures of my rides behind steam, go to http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

Peter, on a cold snowy Manchester evening
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

 

Without knowing what was asked for and the paths available its hard to know whether the assistance over Shap was strictly neccesary or even originally intended - there's nothing unusual about railtours being given unrealistic timings after all, whether there's a diesel on the back or not. At least using the 47 they kept to schedule and didnt lose their path later on.

Chris

 

My video now available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3V-ajJYos0

 

Those really are spectacular shots, well done!