The Hadrian 7th March

Overall a good day for the money, and I enjoyed it. However, the points failure put a spanner in the proverbial works as regards my ability to continue with the tour back to Man Vic, so I took the opportunity given by the stewards to leave during an unscheduled five-minute stop at Wakefield Kirkgate due to an engineering possession between Leeds and York that evening. Looking at RTT, I could have stayed on, but based on the information then at hand, and even in retrospect, it would have been too much of a risk, especially crossing the centre of Manchester on a Saturday night when trying to catch the last through train.

Anyway, there was plenty of chatter from 'Leander', and she looks quite striking in her present livery. The Tyne Valley line is a scenic route, and I may even do this trip again, hopefully without the pressure of another trip the following day.

 

It also said steam from Preston on the front of the brochure and 44871 several times on the timings pages but.......

 

What?
So as IR quoted 45407 last week and not 44871 -the brochure had details of 45407 but the timing sheet 44871 how was that accurate.

Steam was advertised from Man Vic, then amended last week to Carnforth when the tickets arrived -when was it ever steam starting from Preston?

A bit like booking requesting the front coach and getting allocated seats in the buffet-oh well you're just unlucky, you will still see the smoke drifting pass the window....sorry we book on tours for the locos and their noise,not for the thrill of Carlisle again.

 

Oh come on. Do you have to snipe at every detail? Maybe the brochure was designed/printed before the timing sheet which they had delayed to include the latest timings? As both the brochure and timing sheet were only given to paying passengers on the train, they could always check which loco was on the train by walking up to the front

 

I am not sure how it is affected for charters by the cap that works in the opposite direction, but the answer in a word is normally "Yes" - operators get paid Delay Levy by Network Rail not just for delays due to Network Rail infrastructure but in many cases for ones outside the control of any part of the Rail industry.

I think it was when National Express East Coast handed in the keys (but could have been when GNER did, I can't recall for sure) that it was said part of the reason for financial problems was that Network Rail were performing much better than expected and the delay Levy received was much less than budgeted!

Steven

 

Say what you want but I paid my money, travelled Preston to Preston and thoroughly enjoyed a 15 hour railtour most of which was with one or both of two Fantastic Steam Locomotives (and Crew). The Jubilee on her own from Healey Mills to Preston looked and sounded amazing plus I understand topped 70 on more than one occasion. (Photo attached back in Preston.)

 

I'm sure the delay payment will be accompanied by a letter of profuse apology from the LNE zone. Is the cap one way or both ways?

 

Will it be signed by the gentleman who wants steam traction removed from his operating area because of the problems they create ? Do I hear the crunch of Humble Pie emanating from an office in York ?

 

Nothing much wrong with that beautiful loco - l remember way back in April 1980 doing a two way trip over the S & C behind Leander - 12 on and she put in an absolute stormer

 

Having looked through the videos, gotta say most impressed with 'Leander', performed and sounded just I how I remembered her 10 years ago! So with Saturday gone pretty much to plan, where does this leave Galatea now with all the niggling issues?

 

Did you read the subsequent report into that whole situation? It found the actions undertaken entirely justified.

 

Yes she's a beauty alright, we had a great run through the Calder valley on saurday night, (within the constraints of a loco still being run in) and almost as good as my best run in preservation behind her on a 'Cotton Mill' in the very capable hands of Albert Seymour, that guy knew how to get the best out of a Jube, a master of his craft ! Regarding 'Galatea' it has to be said, she was in a woebegone state to say the least and it took someone with a lot more than money to take her on, parts had been taken to support the other members of the class and others, no doubt the ones that were purchased for her we're not the pick of the crop or maybe the worst of a bad bunch, so maybe IF she is slightly off beat and does suffer from indifferent steaming, these problems could be a nightmare to diagnose as they could be a combination of a number of relatively insignificant faults, I don't envy the fitters at Carnforth THAT task.
All we can do is wait for the outcome and a lick of Green paint, I'm sure they will come good in the end !
With thanks to the owner, support and footplate crew, I think she was driven on that leg by Mick Kelly, (forgive me if I'm wrong) and a very capable fireman!

 

Oh, go home... 'We' is a sweeping statement; if you are referring to enthusiasts in general, many actually enjoyed the trip. I for one booked for the route, got the bit I wanted by steam, and eventually got back home, albeit in the light of unforseen circumstances. If all you are going to do is look for everything that goes wrong and use it to brow-beat the only tour operator that sticks its head above the parapet (à la 'The Easterling' on Sunday, which was the reason why I had to bail out at Wakefield- another fantastic day), then don't bother, we've heard it all before.

 

How about a future Hadrian behind both B1s, originating with steam in Leeds (electric from London), out via York, Newcastle and Carlisle, back via S&C, Manchester & Calder Valley?

 

Would probably work better Leeds, out via York, Durham and Carlisle, return via Shap, Manchester & Calder valley to Leeds ?

 

is a B1 in gauge over the Calder valley route remembering any thing larger than a Jubilee is banned

 

I seem to remember from a 1306 post that B1's are very gauge friendly and would expect their 'envelope' to be smaller than that of a 5XP.