Summer CME's

Accelerated very smartly up Miles Platting, once she found her feet, perfect conditions for recording.

 

I don't know if that's a real fireman on the Duchess or just a dummy but on every shot I've seen so far he's leaning out of the window.................get some bloody work done! LINK

 

Excellent shot Swiss
Brilliant use of the diesel removal tool,lol

 

Amazing shot Henry. Not just your choice of location and execution of the shot, but the fact you got that nicely defined overcast sky in the background and the train in sunshine. Plus the interest from who I would suggest at least some are walkers, one with his back to the train pointing away from it. Take that man's name Wilson! LOL.

 

He's taking a 'selfie' with a beautiful background Yeti....

 

He's posing for the camera..............

 

A volcanic erruption at Penrith!


Arriving at Wigan NW in the evening.


Good fun chasing this one on the train yesterday, plenty of opportunities to overtake and get ahead of 46233 on the return with the pathing. Wonderful photos posted on this thread, thanks for sharing all!

 

Mrs W and I joined the train at Wigan NW and departed only 2L (what a contrast to our last outing on the CME 11 July). Driven by Peter Kirk the train (10 + POB) is confronted almost immediately by approx 2 miles at 1 in 104 to Boar’s Head, topped at 31. We continued along the main line, through Leyand 44. After leaving the WCML we were stopped at Lostock Hall Jn for almost 8 min, eventually departing 13½L and began the climb to Hoghton summit 33. The Blackburn stop took less than 1 min but we were still 12L, through Daisyfield Jn and up to Wilpshire summit 28, down the bank and through Langho 44. On through the Ribble Valley, Clitheroe 38 then speed was held around 45 except for the final part of the climb where the line goes under the A59, here speed fell back to 32 but soon built to the low 40s which continued until we slowed for Hellifield where we stopped in the loop 2L.

We departed RT speed quickly increased to 43 at Long Preston and 63 at Settle Jn. We were still doing 53 through Settle station, 45 at Staincliffe and 41 at Helwith Bridge, this increased to 47 on the level stretch beyond and was 43 through Horton in R which was held past Selside. We slowed for the crossing of the viaduct and passed Blea Moor at 23. Speed was up to 47 before Dent but we slowed to 27 through Dent station, Garsdale station was passed at 57 and we topped Ais Gill at 60. Speed was held around 60 as we continued downhill, we swept through Kirkby Stephen at 57 and arrived at Appleby 4E.

Whilst the loco was watered and the crew (inc a very grubby fireman) enjoyed a well earned mug of tea, Mrs W and I had a “Settle & Carlisle” ice cream (each) – always much anticipated and heartily recommended. We departed 1L, speed was soon up to 60 before we braked down to 8 for the restriction at Kirkby Thore. Speed was soon back around 60 which was maintained apart from a couple of speed restrictions. We arrived in Carlisle 2L. Time for lunch and shopping; one of us wanted a new handbag.

We left Carlisle with Steve Chipperfield at the regulator. We had a booked stop in Plumpton loop so progress was measured, speed was up to 41 beyond Wreay, this increased to 50 on the 1 in 228 beyond Southwaite, but fell back to 47 on the 1 in 172/164 beyond Calthwaite. We eased into the loop and stopped 3L. Only 1min after stopping one of Sir Richard’s Tilters hurtled past and just 2½mins after we’d stopped we were on the move again – well judged or what?! Speed was up to 50 at Penrith and peaked at 60 on the level before the start of the climb to Shap. The speed on the bank was generally held at 47 with a min of 46 this increased to 51 at Shap Village and 53 at the summit.

Once over the top, with the assistance of gravity, we were up to 75 by Scout Green, Tebay 74, Low Gill 68, Grayrigg 66. We braked for Oxenholme and passed at 68, by Milnthorpe we were back up to 75. We were held for 2min just before Carnforth and stopped in the loop RT.

We were away again 2E and leisurely made our way towards Lancaster, generally around 30, then after about 4 miles we began to accelerate and went “through the middle” at Lancaster doing 48 by Oubeck we were up to 62, Bay Horse 67, Catterall 72, Brock 74 and Barton 71. We were 3E into Preston.
We left Preston RT. We now had a gentle trundle towards Balshaw Lane by which time the Edinburgh- Man Airport should have passed us on the fast line. Farington Curve Jn 35, Leyland 43, we were down to 15 when the aforesaid went past a few hundred yards north of Euxton Balshaw Lane. We were down to 11 through the station when 46233 opened up and speed increased to 47 by the summit at Coppull Hall.

We left at Wigan NW after a very enjoyable day out on a professionally managed train running RT. My thanks to all concerned with organising and running the trip and for the photos and vids. With 46233 I always get the impression that there is so much more power available but was not required today.

A couple of more disappointing points; the trip was far from fully booked, and despite RTC’s Train Manager (via the public address) specifically asking passengers not to put their heads out of the window as it was dangerous – a few felt unable to comply. I guess tour operators have to tread a difficult path; they do not want to discourage fare paying passengers but may have to strictly adhere to ORR’s edict. Polite requests do not seem to work; I fear some sanction will be necessary.

PS One of us left Carlisle with a new handbag.

 

I put it down to henrywinskill urging people to try something different. For the record it's black and fully lined (and not mine).

 

Well I certainly did Phil, I was on the stepladders right behind you. Nice to meet you

 

15/08/2015 - 46233 "Duchess of Sutherland on "The Cumbria Mountain Express" passes the foot crossing at the Spread Eagle, Barrow. heading for Clitheroe and onto Hellifield. ​

 

Uksteam shows the CME on the 12th September going over Shap on the West coast mainline and back over the S&C but these realtime links show different .

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50648/2015/09/12/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50649/2015/09/12/advanced

 

... with steam reduced to Hellifield-Carlisle-Carnforth only.

 

Think this has been altered to use one of the Carnforth pool, as the Duchess is down south and no 9 up in Scotland - shortage of big engines for the Northern Fells!

 

In the old days the CME via Blackburn had the steam put on at Farington, as indeed it comes off there still when operating in the reverse direction.
Any reason a Carnforth loco couldn't meet the train there if it can't take the train from Crewe?

 

An interesting recollection. Was that the most recent trip by 35028 over the S&C?
Re 35018, your point about the need for an 8P is quite right. The rumours seem to suggest though it will be based at Southall as a reliable alternative to 34067.
From a business perspective a fleet comprised 2 or 3 MNs with a quantity of spare major components too would make very much sense. One would have thought the opportunity to acquire such a fleet exists, a few are routinely said to be for sale by all accounts including one down the road in Lancashire.

 

Just received e-ticket, confirmed steam section reduced at request of WCRC due to shortage of crews. Booked loco 45690.

Seems to have been a considerable reduction from tour as first advertised. Originally north over Shap (with a warm engine) and back south over S&C, subsequently reversed, locos to be 46233, 60009 or 45305(was this ever likely to happen?). 46233 and 60009 are both currently active but not on this train! Finally, WCRC announce that they can't crew the train so cut back the steam haulage, I was boarding at Wigan NW - this represents a loss of almost 90 miles, those boarding further south suffer an even greater loss.

We have, unfortunately to live with NR and loco failures disrupting our expectations, it is less palatable when the tour operator fails to provide the loco from the advertised pool (because they are being used elsewhere) then compounds this by significantly reducing the steam hauled miles.