61306 on CathEx to York, Sunday 16th August

Times are up for this one:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63808/2015/08/16/advanced

and

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63810/2015/08/16/advanced


Is this the first ECML steam south of York operated by WCRC since their reinstatement?

One unusual feature of this trip is that the ECS appears to be booked into KGX just after midnight,and then sit in P1 for 8 hours. I am guessing the chance of a diesel on the back on this one is very high.

 

Don't shoot the messenger but if the STN I've just seen is anything to go by, the box stays at KGX and 61306 goes it alone with load 9 + POB. Fingers crossed.

 

And yet an apparent total of only 61 minutes stationary, so average speed while moving still only 41 mph. How on earth does that make sense as a path on the ECML?

 

Not helped by outward via Gascoigne Wood and return via Askern.

 

Very long and hard day with 10 on for the old girl from Botanic Gardens!

 

Mayflower not FTR http://www.steamdreams.com/Executab...=update&SS=SDSVR01\&DB=SteamDreams&Division=A

 

Mudhole door again, thats the second time in a few weeks isnt it?

I note there is no option to cancel despite 48 hrs notice. I suppose SD have lost a shedload of money this year with the WCRC debacles and cancellation is not affordable. Feel sorry for people on this trip,I do hope they rejig the schedule now its diesel!

 

Odds on they won't.

 

Bugger!

 

You would have to be a borderline psychotic not to feel for Marcus and his customers. 61306 did not go to Weymouth, and now it is not going to York. In itself, not a huge deal - it is one of the Business Laws of Railways that kettles break.

What makes these two singularly stupid is that both times there was/is a spare apple green engine available - and in the case of the Weymouth job, in the right place, gassed up, FTR'd and crewed. Even it's number is an anagram of the B1. But it didn't last time and it won't this time. In just two trains 800 people have not had the steamy day they thought they were getting and had paid for.

The "Engineering Acceptance Issue" story is starting to look very frayed. Is there anyone left who still believes it?

 

Our Train Operating Company, West Coast Railways, worked very hard to find an alternative steam locomotive, but unfortunately no steam engines were available at such short notice.

Indeed, one left today for as yet unspecified reasons, and the other is toddling off tomorrow

 

Yes, but turn it round, would DBS have operated 61306 on a train to cover for 60163 if it was suddenly not available????? I think not........

 

Isn't 60163 busy at Nene Valley Railway this weekend?

 

apart from anything else 61306 is vac brake so absolutely not

 

The latter is a fundamental problem, that DBS drivers are (AFAIK) not qualified to operate vacuum-braked trains. But the WCRC/Tornado problem seems rather a technicality, and of diminishing relevance as the years go by and Tornado has successive overhauls.