70000 - Cumbrian Fells Express - 30/05/2015

My photos from today:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pamw/

 

Very well judged by 70000's driver & inspector.

Lovely job, Phil. The sound-track is even better than the pictures. The noise from the Brit as she's opened up approaching the summit cutting is quite something, as is the accelleration.

 

Some nice pics there.

 

As I was unable to get up to Cumbria today because of other commitments, here is some footage of 70000 at speed on the WCML at Acton Bridge outbound & Balshaw Lane Junction on the return.

 

Yes, I think you are right. I was on the CFE and on only one occasion saw a yellow, at every other signal on the climb the Brit held back ensuring double yellows.

As you say, I think that getting any closer could have compromised the climb to a greater extent had the Jubilee slowed further or stalled.

Whilst I think we all were frustrated by the inability of Britannia to show her true mettle on the climb, the disappointment was tempered by the once in a lifetime experience of seeing the Jubilee's smoke ahead of us on several occasions. Not a sight I expected to see on the mainline since the end of steam in'68.

 

Thanks very much.

 

Thank you and you beat me to it....................



Wow Phil that is fantastic and brought it all back from this amazing day in the north-west. What a remarkable day it was, once in a lifetime I think.

My efforts from this incredible day in north-west taken at Shap Wells and later at Angrholm

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/18090304999/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/18279229395/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/18091468929/in/dateposted-public/

Cheers, Simon

 

This has been a fantastic day for mainline steam. Two successive northbound passenger trains on Shap since around 1963 and captured on film too. Brilliant. Suddenly I feel a cloud has been lifted and steam is back, big time.

What is more, it is clear that the window boys are back too. Despite suggestions that people would not be allowed to look out of the drop lights because of ORR restrictions, clearly from the videos on You Tube, those restrictions have not been implemented. I look forward to getting out my woolly hat and goggles for a tour very soon.

So to all the window boys......................

 

Hate to say it, but it does seem like one promoter is not allowing window hanging and others are based on evidence today, seems rather a moot point if other trains operated by WCRC are not doing likewise, as it's the TOC under the spotlight rather than tour promoter.

Question also needs to be asked why is 45699 seemingly a much poorer performer than 45690 ?, logic would suggest you'd set the valves etc like the latter when it's performing well, so is there something else up or is Galatea something less than a "best of breed" ?.

 

Indeed, but if you look carefully at the Jubilee WCR tour, there are definitely folk hanging out of the windows. I guess it is absolutely impossible to police all of the time and I hope in the end, common sense will prevail. The number of folk window hanging on the DBS tour was substantial. As I have said elsewhere, you can window hang an HST out of Paddington all the way to Plymouth if you want to and no one will stop you. So why now impose this ban with steam? Some of us love window hanging on steam tours despite black sooty faces and the odd smut in the eye and what is more most if not ALL of us do it very safely. History proves that.

 

I can get my head round the DBS one with 70000 as they have not been in hot water, but I can't get why one train that ran with WCRC today had it happening, and one that ran last week under WCRC albeit with a different promoter, strictly prohibited, they can't both be right.

 

As Miss Agatha said in the Railway Children..................."Extraordinary. Most Extraordinary"!

 

My footage from Tebay, Culgaith and Lunds Viaduct (plus Appleby).

 

A couple more snaps:

working steadily through Beck houses and romping triumphantly towards Ais Gill:


The rest of the days antics are up on my website: http://richardsteampics.weebly.com/recent-images.html

Thanks to all who have posted Excellent Video and photos.

Richard

 

Thank you.
It would have been nice to see Britannia get a clear run at Shap, but I'm not complaining about the video, fantastic sight (and sound)

 

Se

Sean, thanks for the reports. By any chance do you have the speed through, Hartford, on the outward leg ? Looked 70 + from the station ! Regards, Liam

 

What was going on in that last clip at Appleby? Presumably during the layover the train was parked in the sidings north of the station, so what was it doing backing into the station? And is the water column there functional or was water taken in the sidings?

 

Looks like the train is reversing into the Eden valley sidings after pulling forward to allow egress from the rear coaches onto the platform. Yes, the water column is fully functional and used for a fill on most south bound steam hauled trains.

Cheers

Alan

 

Brilliant record of what may be the only time we shall witness an occasion such as this, thank you.

 

70000 at Shap Wells, Kirkby Thore, Birkett Common and Pleasington