CME 2023

Of course the diesel om the back also supplies ETH to keep the paying travellers comfortable at this damp and cold time of year, those customers in Premier Dining and First Class in particular can be quickest to complain about a cold train, without adequate £££'s in ticket revenue there won't be many trains running if any.

 

Historically the CME that regularly runs in early October more often than not has run without diesel. You only have to go back to 2020 and every single one prior to that has run without a diesel with 2015 as the exception. 35018 seems an odd choice over one of the Stanier 4-6-0's, but I'm sure West Coast have their reasons.

15th October 2022 - 35018 - Load 11 - Diesel (failed at Carlisle)
9th October 2021 - 35018 - Load 12 - Diesel
10th October 2020 - 45699 - Load 12 - No diesel
12th October 2019 - 6201 - Load 11 - No diesel
13th October 2018 - 45699 - Load 11 - No diesel
14th October 2017 - 45690 - Load 12 - No diesel
17th October 2015 - 45699 - Load 12 - Diesel
4th October 2014 - 45699 - Load 11 - No diesel

 

I wasn't expecting an addition on the Dalesman earlier in the week but that might of been weather related. At this time of year I guess the concern for the return is the top end of Wipshire Bank by the tunnel.

 

On the CME awaiting departure at Euston. Looking forward to my first experience of 35018 on Shap.

 

Apparently 86259 boxed in behind a tamper at Rugby so 57012 is on the uninteresting section.

Andrew

 

Understand Avanti not running north of Preston today. Not sure if that is because they think be bad weather may get as far south as Carlisle or if all the services are crewed by Scottish based crews from Preston northwards.

 

Met Office yellow warnings for northern England and all of Scotland; Amber warning in Central Scotland, Fife and Tayside. Up to a month's rain expected in one weekend. Scotrail and TPE services suspended on WCML north of Preston. All other Scottish routes subject to speed restrictions. See, for instance, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...in-parts-of-scotland-with-heavy-rain-forecast

 

I believe it's the latter. TPE Man Airport and Northern S and C are running OK to Carlisle. Clearly dicey over the Southern Uplands, the first one to Kilmarnock lost 40 mins for example, presumably 40 mph restriction applies there.

Yes, diesel has done well, only 8L, I was predicting 20-30 late at Carnforth,

 

Class 57 failed in loop. Can't move it. Getting loco off shed to move it - hopefully. Likely to be 45m or so late.

 

As if you haven’t enough problems with “boxes on the back”, they’re now “sticking to the front”. I’m wondering if it might be you!

 

Or they could just leave it behind the support coach

 

Loco is on. Waiting for signal. Mick Rawling in charge.

 

30 late away. Fortunately the diesel that was booked to be on the back had to be used to drag the 57 to the scrapyard. Small problem on the horizon is what is going to take the train back from Preston .......

Andrew

 

Bigger problem could be on Wilpshire later on.

 

Haven't WCR got an 86 sat on shed at Carnforth, assuming they have a driver for it?

 

Send their 47 to Hellifield this afternoon?

Looks a good run up Grayrigg.

If I've understood it right he's a jammy so and so, got what he wants two years running!

 

As the return was booked for an 86, one would presume that shouldn't be a problem. (Has 86401 actually worked under West Coast?)