61306 Cathedrals Express to York 12th March 2015

The now customary stagger along the ECML - 6 hours each way.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63545/2015/03/12/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63546/2015/03/12/advanced

 

Looking forward to this one. Work prevents me from travelling but I'll nip out to see her depart Arlesey, where I used to watch the trains go by as a kid. Will be wallowing in nostalgia.

 

Ahem, whoops! With those timings it could do it alone. The fastest section is York to Retford on the return, the rest of it could be done with a 50mph 8F.

 

I will find a tour and place where I can watch her romping past soon. One thing is certain, I'm not paying for a 12 hour round trip to York.

 

And just to put these timings into context, 5 hours 49 minutes on the return, with six intermediate passenger stops, and the traverse of the Hertford Loop to boot, does surely bear some comparison with the (indicative) timings posted for the much-heralded return of Tornado to the ECML on 2nd June - 5 hours with one intermediate passenger stop, via Potters Bar. Always assuming no diesel assistance, of course (for the B1, that is!)

I suppose I should also take into account the duration of stops at the intermediate waterholes in making this sort of comparison, but all in all, taking account of all the operational constraints posed by the ECML nowadays, these timings really aren't too bad, are they??

 

Are we expecting assistance on this trip ?

 

Having seen the NR STN for The Easterling stating quite clearly that a diesel would be in the consist, only to find out that it stayed behind at KGX, I'm not sure what to make of the STN for Thursday's trip that also says a diesel will be stuck on the back.

 

the link below has all the times for York the b1 departs for the nrm 9 minutes after arriving, 11 minutes later the ecs departs for Holgate, the ecs arrives back into York 6 minutes before the b1.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...2/0600-2000?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=WR

 

The loco went for turning earlier on, here's the path it took.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55289/2015/03/11/advanced

 

Going without the diesel tomorrow!!


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Good news. Must be a load 9 or 10

 

8 + POB


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Through crews hill at 07:42 no diesel

 

Excellent. In future I will ignore what the STN says as this is the second trip with 61306 this week where it said a diesel on the back but reality proved different.

 

I hope that "pure steam" enthusiasts are considered but if the charter market is not trying to maximise income, the market will soon be at an end.

 

Looked good passing Wymondley, between Stevenage and Hitchin this morning. I was on the train to work wondering why there were lots of people about with cameras.... Doh!

 

The scene has changed out of all recognition since I watched trains here as a young kid with my Dad. We'd be taking the fish offal to "Joker" who had a pig farm by the railway. "Crossing gates are closed Dad, can we wait for the train?" "Alright but just the one." "They're' still closed Dad, can we watch the next one?" "Oh alright, but no more?" and so the pleading would go on. A scene not seen since 5th January 1959, a B1 calling at Arlesey on a passenger train. 61306 really stirred the memories this morning.
61306 'Mayflower' Arlesey 12-03-2015 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

Great shot, and stirring indeed, even for those who weren't there,