60009

Looking good.

 

Observed pottering along nicely along the ECML a short while ago.

 

60009 +11 coaches + maroon 47 on rear just left PBO with ECS for Norwich.

 

Castelton to Norwich via Carnforth and York is not the most obvious route. Anyone know why it did that?

 

Mr Shuttleworth said it was due to gauging.

 

So... it's 2018 now, I didn't get a tour behind 60009 last year due to work commitments - what tours will she be running on this year?

 

Have you got about £400 to spare? You can have a trip round the Surrey Hills on the British Pullman set behind "No. 9" a week on Saturday (See here)

RTC is advertising her on a number of trains this year, including a couple of Weymouth runs, a trip to Swanage a couple of trips to the West Somerset an East-west run to Chester and a new itinerary along the West Sussex coast and up to Oxford in October. There may be some others on the website which I've missed, but after the jolly with the Pullmans on 3rd Feb, RTC looks like the best bet for a main line run this year.

I hope this helps.

 

It did indeed - thank you

 

Of course if you look at the proposed timings for the Three Bridges to Oxford trip this must be "a secret 100MPH swansong" before retirement for No 9 . Departure 0800 arrival 1100 via Preston Park, Worthing, Eastleigh, Basingstoke and Reading West!
I am sure some more realistic provisional timings will appear nearer the date.

 

Very sorry to read about No.9's latest firebox woes. John Cameron and his support team must be gutted...really feel for him/them. Haste ye back No.9!

 

Echo that - also when you consider that this is likely her last fling and he intends to withdraw her, respect to John Cameron for funding all these works she has required over the last 12 months, would have been very easy just to say enough is enough and save a bit of money. He has got a lot of unfair criticism on here for his decision to withdraw her, yet its been very quiet in praise for the works he is funding to keep her running last and this year.

 

The scheduled time at Hove would be very much appreciated a bit nearer the event!

 

Oh no... please tell me this'll be done before "The Cheshireman" runs in September: I'm booked on that as I really want to experience main line running on 60009 before retirement

 

I do hope he does choose to continue repairs. There was a rumour circulating Perth that Riley’s would just cosmetically restore given the extent to firebox issues. John Cameron joined the GBXI at Perth, and was apparently livid that number 9 didn’t make it for what was thought to be one of the last times in steam in Scotland

 

Let's hope that rumour does not have any legs. She has been a Scottish based loco all her life and it would be highly fitting that any final runs on the mainline would be north of the border.

 

I hope number 9 runs in Scotland one more time especially for its owner. Lovely loco got a real soft spot for it.

 

In truth the A4 is little more than half way through its current 10 years and has had lots of down time for mechanical reasons in that period after an intensive start.
Rileys seem to perform miracles as a matter of course, last year I recall similar prophets of doom about the extent of boiler work only to find 60009 swiftly resurrected - groundsfor optimism?

 

Was Thinking about SNG’s after hearing what is currently being said about #9. #7 returns next year that is quite a bit of time.

 

I live in hope she will see a run on Scottish metals this year.