RTC 2022

I really don't know why people get so exercised over a diesel at the back.

I vividly remember what happened when Scotsman slipped to a halt outside Stoke Tunnel on the Alan Pegler Farewell and nearly ended up fouling both the down slow and the down main. Now imagine the fines payable to NR had it got stuck there: it was bad enough being stuck on the down slow for about 20 minutes whilst it stumbled to get its feet.

If there'd been a diesel at the back there'd not have been a problem.

 

I hope your optimism is correct!

The need for a run-around on leaving KX in the evening could point either way??

 

Not possible since the eastern bore reopened - there's nowhere to stable any more. Loco either remains on the back or goes light to Ferme Park or Southall.

 

Until mentioned up thread, the out and back through Spalding means a long move to the triangle west of Lincoln, not sure that is possible without a diesel being involved. It certainly seemed a fair distance when I was stewarding the trip from St.Pancras with Scots Guardsman back in 2014.

 

I remember awaiting our steam charter at Bristol TM. The incoming train hauled by a class 47 diesel failed en route. Our charter was cancelled

 

Which is why I stated it to be a long way down my list of priorities. However, it IS relevant in some locations where heritage and other requirements demand account be taken of visual impact. I see you've ignored the innumerable European examples, but they do exist everywhere, on intensively-used high-speed lines, and demonstrate that good, affordable and reliable design doesn't require nuclear bomb-proof catenary.

 

Although even staying at KGX needs a path from the stops to the siding.

 

I think a warm train is the priority for Saturday given the incoming temperatures.

 

A tiny piece of trivia - the steam working tomorrow from King's Cross to Lincoln Central leaves Huntingdon at 1045, while a service train also passes Huntingdon, from King's Cross to Lincoln Central, at...1045!

 

And watching tonight's weather forecast, they are set to fall even further during next week.

 

Spot on time, 6233 came charging through the site of the former St. James Deeping station. Note quartered buffers!



A couple of minutes after this, the heavens opened.

 

'Big Lizzie' 6233 DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND at Huntingdon this morning.

 

A bit of video trickery. Duchess on this mornings Lyndum Fayre, and Nigel Gresley on yesterdays Steam Dreams trip to Lincoln, 24 hours apart over Digswell Viaduct!

 

The Lyndum Fayre, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland, 3rd December 2022.
Filmed at Welham Green and Ruskington:

 

What was that (alleged) whistle at the end?!

 

Returning south through Huntingdon this evening, 18 minutes early .

 

I think we are so lucky to have cameras these days that can produce worthwhile pictures out of a few photons of light on a cold (and now wet, where I am) December night

 

Charging through Welwyn North this mornng in front of a large crowd, and being checked at Knebworth to let a Thameslink overtake due to the early running this evening.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/52540101022/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/52540564526/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/52540866554/in/dateposted-public/

 

Indeed we are, this was taken using the Open Camera app on my lowly Samsung Galaxy S10 phone.

 

Not heard of that one?