UKR "The White Rose" to York now 7th July, Deltic D9009 out,Tornado back

Well I was hoping for an even time run from York to Retford but instead had well inside even time between the signal stops south of Doncaster and just outside Peterborough. Lovely running from Steve Hanczar with Tornado.A good run south. Well done DBS

 

Just had a look at RTT to see what chaos was caused to other trains by the lightning strike at Doncaster that put out the signals. I have to say that NR worked out a pretty clever slot to get the White Rose through.

OK - it did help that Steve Hanczar and Keith Murfin worked their magic up front with some cracking pace through Newark and Grantham up to Stoke, but credit where it is due to NR for sorting something out. (It seems that the Steam Dreams trip was less lucky but not back massively late).

 

A short review about yesterday just to underline the footplate work by DBS and also how well Tornado ran.

We knew there was a problem about half an hour before departure from York when southbound trains were being held. News about the lightning strike and signalling problems at Doncaster came later by which time there were various calls being made to discuss possible diversion options, and of course, consequences for taking water. The plan had been to run to Connington before a top up. Retford was a stop for pathing only.

In the event we were released over 20 late down the Leeds line and switched at Colton so it was a slow start. Fast running in the seventies then took us to Doncaster where we were held outside and then sent through to be stopped again at Loversall Junction while traffic went by. So we had been running for over 50 minutes before we were finally given the road.

We then ran the 75+ miles to the signal stop at Eastfield box outside Peterborough in 71 minutes dead. Speed first hit 70 at Scrooby and there it remained, at or above, until Tornado was eased at Tallington by which time we were now several minutes early. The only exceptions were a momentary dip up Gamston Bank that we took in the high sixties, similarly up to Peascliffe but 70+ again through Grantham and a storm up to Stoke before easing for the slow line turn off at the junction. It was about as close as you could get nowadays to what the ECML was like in steam days and with late running other services the loss of the pathing stop also gave the people at Retford the bonus of a high speed pass.

There was an extended stop at Peterborough for the crew change with Steve, Keith and Bob Hart leaving and Paul Majors, Vince Henderson and Bob Cottrell joining. This was also where a procession of services passed us including the much delayed Steam Dreams charter - both at the station and as we sat at Fletton Junction.

Running thereafter was slow line with the accompanying speed restrictions that seem to apply to steam on the section to Hitchin, but the crew timed it well and were it not for some irritating controls in the Finsbury/Holloway area we would have been spot on time at Kings Cross, where incidentally, water was taken at the buffers from the platform hydrant.

We had actually run from York to Kings Cross in under four and a half hours including three calling points and (only) one water stop. Compare that with the Bittern trip last December that was six hours each way. What this shows is two important things:
1. Tornado has the capacity, when managed well, to run extended distances between water stops and also be in steam for a considerable time. (On yesterday's trip, Holgate Sidings to Connington took over three hours).
2. Tornado can keep up a good pace when asked to and that helps, not a lot I know, with pathing in a high speed environment.

With that thought in mind I hope that Network Rail reflects on yesterday, realises how much Tornado and DBS stepped up to the plate, and provides Tornado-style timings for the Silver Jubilee in September.