2014 Fellsmans

That's a good question Steve; it could be that if 47580 is in the consist and pushing down to Lancaster then they could get away with it.

 

Thanks for the update guys. Booked on this last year!

Had a wish that it would be steam assisted on the return, and that at 5pm the diesel would take over until 7pm!
With the heavy rain we had in the North West yesterday I expected it would have negated the "steam ban".
As has been commented by on other threads, NR being over cautious - but it does not bode well for the other steam charters; or is it just the North thats affected at the moment. Different Control offices, as the S&C may come under York control at some point?

Lived in Yorkshire for many years, and East of Leeds, Yorkshire has a lot of crop fields, which are just about ready for harvesting, due to the good weather we have had; which could be damaged by potential fire risk, from a line side fire, which adds to the pressure I guess.

On the other hand, someone could just simply throw a lighted cigarette onto the trackside from bridges, or pathways, roads, alongside a railway, at any time to start a fire.

Personally, I cannot understand the current logic for this weeks steams bans, outside East Yorkshire, due to the FBU strike in relation to their strike timings, and the fact that line side would pretty green at the moment thanks to the recent rain.

Would have liked to see 60009 on this one - it was trouble free, having been on the CME a few days ago; but any steam is better than none. Again I ask, different NR control?

Like others on the various threads, I do feel for the disappointment of non enthusiast passengers, who may consider the whole days outing to be something special - the romance of steam, etc.

We should give WCRC, and the tour operators, a pat on the back for coping with these external extremes outside their operational planning. It cannot be easy dealing with approx 300 pax per train, plus the various logistic, customer service, involved in operating each steam charters, under such circumstances.

Booked to go on the West Highlander Steam Express in September - now getting a bit worried!

 

I might just mention too that it's forecast rain up here tomorrow afternoon...

 

Hi John , I am in coach A with three friends so feel free to say hello ( we are all middle aged lol )

 

How about WC put an end to all the speculation and tell everybody what's going on tomorrow.

 

Because it's Statesman Rail - as tour operator - to pass on the information; WCRC only supply "goods and services" (train + crew) to the request of Statesman Rail.

 

You speak for yourself Steve.
One of us is downright decrepit!

 

Fellsman is running with 48151 and a class 37 on the rear.

Andrew N

 

the 37 was pushing hard, could hear it long before it appeared

 

I mean really, these are sold out Trains Statesmen deserves better.

 

Talking with Gordon Hodgson after our Northern run today at Carlisle he mentioned the Network rail amber alert for steam hence we were pushed for most of the way to Carlisle .

 

Steve, lets hope there is no Red Alert.

 

I know of a red alert it is pictured above our member names

 

As if you didn't know Ralph. Anyway, very kind of you to pretend.

Here's a bit of footage - handheld I'm afraid as I had to travel light. Understandably the 8F wasn't working very loudly so just the odd bit of sound filtered back to the first coach behind the support coach:



Thanks to West Coast who did everything one could have hoped for given the very testing conditions imposed on them. Thank you.

Just also want to record my special thanks to my three wonderful travelling companions - Steve, Frank and Austin - who made the day even better.

Chris

 

I'm so glad it's the height of the airshow season so there's plenty to keep me occupied other than risk my money on a rail tour that may have little or no steam action.

 

More onboard footage from yesterday of 48151 .

 

Horton in Ribblesdale