70000 - Cumbrian Fells Express - 30/05/2015

Private.....again.

 

Wonderful clip at Balshaw Lane. Britannia being worked very hard, probably full and 40%

Don

 

A couple from me of 70000 on yesterday's tour.

Firstly, on Grayrigg bank at Docker

http://www.crozierphotography.co.uk/photos/index.php/Railways/New-images/71000_Docker_300515

Then the return at Greengate

http://www.crozierphotography.co.uk/photos/index.php/Railways/New-images/71000_Greengate_300515

Good to see so many out despite the cloud.

Steven

 

There are a number of reasons why this should be but my technical knowledge isn't good enough to list them all. 45690 is particularly good for a 5XP and 45699 still doesn't sound quite right so maybe its valve settings.

Don

 

Wonderful clip Phil. Its in my favourites so I can watch it when I feel down. Never, ever could I believe that this could be seen so soon after all the trouble with WCR

Don

 

70000 at Salterwath,Coombe Eden and Smardale

 

Thanks Steven , great to see you albeit briefly .

 

Excellent images Henry, very well processed.

Steven

 

Interestingly, 45699 is mentioned in an article in a "Midland Record", absolutely flattening the Lickey. However, let's be honest, who would have thought, 25 years ago, that she would be brought back from the dead in the way that she has, and serious credit should be given to all those who have made this possible. Sometimes people do forget this...

 

David

Sorry that you seem to be unable to get your head around it, as it is really very simple.

Over years past there have been a growing collection of signs affixed above droplight doors initially warning of the dangers, and eventually instructing passengers not to look out of the windows or to lean against the doors. Along the way some years ago a passenger managed to get his head caved in whilst passing through Penmaenbach tunnel and Mr Ward and BR's safety team had bars fixed to droplight doors to control this risk. Following the demise of BR's special trains unit the fitting of bars was allowed to fall out of use, but the requirement not to lean out has never gone away, and I can tell you from conversations which I have had over time, that it remains a concern to various safety people in the rail industry. Sadly those engaged in window hanging have gone back to their old ways and it has been a constant battle to control those who have the urge to hang out of windows from the waist up to get the master shot of a steam loco somewhere in front of a line of coaches. This problem seems to be even worse with diesel tours.

One of the problems is that you don't have to hang out very far if at all nowadays thanks to the vegetation which exists on some of Network Rail's routes and there have apparently been instances where passengersstanding at droplights have been whacked by bushes intruding through open windows.

Most people on here are by now aware of the difficulties which have beset WCRC in the last couple of months and it is not revealing a secret to say that the ORR's HMRI is closely monitoring the safety of WCRC's operations to ensure that the new measures which they have put in place are being implemented and are operating correctly. As a result WCRC have reissued new editions of various WCR company standards and one of those deals with the duties of Tour managers, Stewards and support crew. This contains amongst others, a requirement for stewards to ensure that passengers are not allowed to congregate in vestibules and to do all possible to deter passengers from leaning out of windows. That they should try to use best efforts rather than just stopping this practice is due to the occasionally aggressive attitude of certain passengers who consider that hanging out is an unassailable right. It is not. In such cases, refusal to co-operate should be dealt with by the guard, who in extreme cases has every right to have passsengers removed from the train by the BTP. We believe that this standard has been issued to all tour promoters working with WCRC, not just Vintage Trains.

Given the HMRI's close monitoring and the risk to WCRC's ongoing operations due to infringements of any safety regulations, we at VT are dealing with this issue and complying exactly with WCRC's instructions to us as we have no wish to see the job stopped again with the consequent loss of trains and business. I have no control over whether the Managing Directors of Railway Touring Company, Steam Dreams et al wish to ensure that their stewards implement WCRC's standards which require them to control such matters, but I do have the necessary authority to ensure that our staff at VT carry out WCRC's instructions in order to minimise the risk of WCRC coming under renewed scrutiny, and I intend to ensure that this continues. However, from current reports right now it does seem that others are failing to exercise the degree of control over their stewards that we at VT are doing. I can only surmise that my counterparts elsewhere have never considered what troubles might befall them should they ever get involved with an inquiry into a serious injury to a passenger whilst in the care of their company's stewards.

Finally with regard to the assertions that DBS operated trains appear to have heads out of windows, I can only surmise that Tour stewards are paying no attention to DB's requirements, or failing that they have not been issued with instructions similar to the WCRC standard for the duties of Tour Managers and Stewards. I am sure that the resultant difference will become obvious to various organisations in due course.

So David having said all this, the summary is simple; We at VT are doing what we are instructed to do by the licenced operator responsible for operating our trains. Sadly other tour promoters may not be doing so from what is being said and shown on this website.

regards
Bob Meanley
Managing Director
Vintage Trains

 

Very clear and concise reasons for why VT will not allow people to hang out of the windows on their trains. It makes a lot of sense. The reality is surely that this will not and can not be eliminated completely because a steward cannot stand the whole day in a vestibule on the off chance that someone may wish to stand there. And what if the passenger assures the steward that he only wishes to stand in the vestibule to stretch his legs with no intent to look out? Can a passenger be denied that request? Surely not. You will of course get the unscrupulous passenger, who when the steward walks away to look after passengers in his carriage, hangs out of the window for a quick photograph or video. It simply cannot be policed 100% of the time. I may be proved wrong, but I suspect that You Tube "evidence" in the weeks and months ahead will reveal images of windows hangers and I guess one must ask the question. How can anyone eliminate it completely. Answer. You can't although I do accept that VT is doing its best to impose the rule.

 

Really enjoyed my trip around the northern fells - Starting south at leyland, then up to scout Green followed by a journey across to Armthwaite followed by Ais Gill.
Sadly traffic stopped me getting to Hellifield and beyond for further pictures in time
enjoy - http://www.steamingnorth.com/thumbnails.php?album=183

John

 

If only!

 

Bob

I agree with all you have said. This is probably the wrong thread and the Mods may move it on.

Perhaps you can comment, as a tour operator, how much influence you have at the various stopping points. It's not only the window hangers who want to see the loco pulling the train that they have paid to ride on. Most passengers want to see the loco up close at some point in the journey. Where locos are changed in loops, or even water stops in loops, the customer may not even get a glimpse. A station platform stop is essential for the people on board to get off and look at and photograph the engine. If this does not happen then not only will the window hangers decide not to ride, but maybe many others thus making trips uneconomic. I know this is an issue for the TOC and NR to sort out, but surely promoters must have some input?

 

Well noticed

 

Full coverage of the, Cumbrian Fells Express, featuring scenes from, Hartford, Shap, Langwathby , Birkitt Common , Wilpshire Bank. Great to see the, Brit, back to it's best.

 

Britannia in the Cumbrian Fells 30 May 2015

The pioneer BR Class 7MT 4-6-2 No 70000 Britannia stood in on this Pathfinder excursion for Tornado (late returning from overhaul) but the Standard did not disappoint with its excellent performance, marred only by problems with a preceding steam train!

We were late away from Crewe as the late-running WCRC train was allowed to keep its path ahead of us. We passed Winsford at 66 and reached 74 before Weaver Junction: the rest of our first leg was slower but we did reach 71 at Euxton Junction. After taking water at Barton and Broughton loop north of Preston, we were back up to65 by Garstang and touched 70 before slowing for Lancaster. Flying past Carnforth at 64 we reached 74 before Milnthorpe and were still doing 51 as we passed Oxenholme.

Then our troubles began, with a succession of yellows from the train ahead, now headed by Jubilee 4-6-0 No 45699 Galatea. After crawling for several miles in the 20s, we had a short spurt up to Grayrigg, passed at 36. Further adverse signals plagued us as we descended into the Lune Gorge, with a maximum of 65 before passing Tebay at 49 as further signals at caution confirmed that Galatea was struggling. As we rounded the curve at Greenholme at 21 mph, we saw huge plumes of black smoke ahead, hanging almost stationary in the sky. We crept along behind, passing Scout Green at 21 and Shap Wells at 17, then barked away up the final stretch up to Shap Summit, reached at 26 mph. We flew down towards Carlisle, passing Shap Station at 65 and running down at over 70, with frequent brake applications, all the way to Carlisle where we took water on the goods lines at Upperby.

We ran briskly southwards to Appleby with speeds in the 50s most of the way and a 62 just short of Lazonby. Then came the main climb to Ais Gill, with no traffic ahead to impede us. We reached 45 at Ormside viaduct, 49 at Smardale, 38 at Kirkby Stephen and 40 at Birkett. After the tunnel we started to blast up Mallerstang, reaching 51 at one point and staying in the high forties to the summit, topped at 46 before a lively run down Ribblesdale.
Later, after passing Whalley at 25, we plugged up the hill past Langho at around 30, then up as high as 34 before entering the tunnel at 34 and passing Ramsgreave and Wilpshire station at 36. We were early out onto the main line at Farington Junction and stormed away, passing Euxton Junction at 61, Boars Head at 71, Wigan at 72, Winwick Junction at 76, Warrington at 72 and Acton Bridge at 73. With a 25 minute early arrival at Crewe, this was a rousing end to an excellent day behind a fine locomotive.

15 photos are at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p898344670

Peter on a grey Sunday afternoon in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com