The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 2015.

'tickle-tackle' sounds like much more fun, its amazing what is going on the lineside these days!

 

Less than a week ago 60009 was outside lnwr works at chc minus wheels, cods mouth and chimney cowl. Noted from passing train. Rapid reassembly eminently possible though.

 

Not much if any rain forecast for Shap and the Fells this week. Could be a difficult one to call, especially as it's the usual 12 coach train. Both Jubilees are out on trains, so what else is there? The Duchess? Mr Riley's fives?

 

Do both Jubs have turns this weekend?

 

Dont think so, one is rostered for a day out to Shrewsbury and that looks like the lot - actually looks to be a fairly quiet weekend.

 

Reading the post before it implied both were in use. Thanks for clarifying; hopefully there is a reserve if 46115 is indeed banned for some reason.

 

Some snow overnight here in Darwen, heavy rain forecast for north west on Saturday morning. Hope this is enough to permit 46115 to run unassisted on Saturday - Mrs W and I are joining at Preston.

 

I'm crossing my fingers that if the Scot is on the head of the train tomorrow that a recurrence of last week does not occur.

 

Unlikely - the forecast is for heavy rain!

 

It is heavy rain indeed and fairly windy in Kendal .

 

46115 with no diesel

Andrew N

 

Right time at Oxenholme, 14 late at Tebay, 34 late at Penrith.

 

Fingers crossed not down to 46115.

 

Friend on board told me they were slow over Grayrigg and didn't pick up much speed by Tebay so were looped for 2 service trains to pass. Climb of Shap was OK but they were looped at Penrith to let a service train pass too.

 

One from Greenlands just south of Langwathby:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/iancawthorne/16334355364/

The Scot continued to work right out of sight here up to Waste Bank Tunnel, so it would appear the TSR has been lifted following the weekend closures of the line earlier this month. I'm not sure if the speed restriction in the tunnel(s) is still in place though.

 

Footage of 46115 at a very foggy Grayrigg, Newbiggin and finally Aisgill .

 

With a marginal improvement in the Cumbrian weather, LMS 7P Class 4-6-0 No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' accelerates away from the Appleby water stop with the 'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express'

 

Arrived at Preston to find Leander + POB in platform 6 - good start to the day as it's Mrs W's favourite loco (she's not keen on the new livery).

WCME left Carnforth loop 3 minutes late, after Yealand bank speed was worked up to mid 60s and we passed Oxenholme at 52 and we were now RT, speed soon began to fall away and even after Grayrigg summit recovery was slow reaching a max of around 50 before slowing for the loop at Tebay. On board announcement was that driver was concerned about steam. After a few minutes we left and speed was worked up to around 20 which was held to the summit.

With the help of gravity we soon reached our max of 75ish, but we were looped at Penrith to allow 2 following trains to pass. Arrival at Carlisle was 40 minutes late.

46115 + POB were late back from servicing and turning, departure was 12 minutes late and was preceded by setting back at least a coach length. What followed was a good sustained effort by 46115, a quick water stop at Appleby was followed by even better work and the noise of the exhaust was impressive, we topped Ais Gill about 4 minutes down. Use of the brakes kept the downhill speed in check but with another quick water stop at Hellifield we were now 2 minutes up.

We were stopped just past Clitheroe but once away speed was built up and we passed Whalley station at 42, this fell back to 28 at Langho and around 18 at the summit but the exhaust sound confirmed the effort in lifting the train up the 1 in 82. Despite a check we rolled into Blackburn 1 minute early. We left the train here and caught the service train to Preston where we found Leander still where we'd left her in platform 6 but now facing the other way - "Now that's what I call magic."

The only downside to the day was with the late arrival in Carlisle we didn't have time for shopping.

 

It certainly raced off Whalley arches for the climb up the bank

 

I have been told the problem was injectors ( lineside info ) on 46115 after Oxenholme hence the loop and the crawl up Shap .