46100 - The North Wales Coast Express - 6th Feb

Ahh many many many thanks James

 

Royal Scot conquers North Wales 6 February 2016

After more than 50 years, the flagship of Stanier’s rebuilt express passenger 4-6-0s has returned to haul a public train on the main line. No 46100 Royal Scot ran from Crewe to Holyhead and back, a route on which the class were familiar and with nothing too demanding in terms of gradients for a first trip. The load was 11 Mark 1s including the POB and an ex-Pullman, and a diesel for train heating.

On a cold, wet and grey morning the Scot made a gentle start out of Crewe, but she was opened up after Calverley, reached 60 just after Beeston Castle and hit 65 before slowing back to 60 at Waverton seven miles further on. Out of Chester we passed Shotton at 61, reaching 67 twice near Flint and Bagillt and twice more at Prestatyn and Rhyl before slowing before Abergele and Pensarn. We touched 60 once more after Colwyn Bay, before stopping for water in the rain at Llandudno Junction.

Our running after that was more sedate, although we touched 60 after Llanfairfechan. However, once on Anglesey, Royal Scot was opened right up on the falling gradients after Gaerwen, speed rising steadily to 76 until a touch on the brake slowed us before Bodorgan viaduct. Thereafter the rising gradient slowed us only to 55 before Bodorgan, then we raced on across the island reaching 66 at Ty Croes, 69 at Rhosneigr and we were still doing 66 way past Valley until slowing for the drop into Holyhead, which we reached two minutes early.

We reached 21 on the climb out of Holyhead on the return, and 50 alongside the Holy Island Causeway, but then moseyed in the 40s and 50s across Anglesey on a very easy schedule to reach Bangor two minutes early. The running was similar on the next leg, though we had a burst up to 66 between Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr.

After the water stop, speed rose to 60 at Llandulas then on up to 68 through Abergele, 67 through Rhyl, and 65 through Prestatyn before some sharp braking, presumably for signals. Then we blasted through Mostyn at 54, Holywell Junction at 63, Bagillt at 66 and Flint at 67 before another sharp slowing. We reached the early 60s again between Sandycroft and Mold Junction before arriving two minutes early into Chester.

The final leg saw us reach Waverton at 53, Tattenhall Road at 61, Beeston Castle at 64, Calveley at 64 and then reach 67 just before Worleston. We were still doing 61 as we entered the outskirts of Crewe and our journey ended six minutes early. Royal Scot ran smoothly and swiftly all day, proving her mettle and giving us great hopes for her future.

24 photos are at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p200556407

Peter on a damp grey morning back in Manchester

http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

Mr Riley has got a cracker of a whistle (I hope he's still got it), it was on "The Pocket Rocket" for a while, I think it came from an American loco.

 

Lovely, and not a wisp of steam from the front end.

Dave

 

Like the proverbial sewing machine, absolutely superb stuff.

 

Congratulations to whoever did the valve setting, absolutely on the money !

 

What a great day out despite the rain and some wonderful memories of a great performance by the Scot.
Many thanks to all those who shared videos and still photos.



Photo - At Crewe by Samsung mobile phone (click to enlarge)

 

Footage shot by me onboard last weekend's debut railtour

 

like this

 

Amongst the more impressive aspects of 46100s return is the utterly free of fanfare, unfussy, modest way in which the Crewe team has accomplished it. The results speak for themselves and will no doubt continue to be a credit to all those involved.

 

I am getting ever more bewildered by some of the stuff on here? Can someone please confirm the difference between 'utterly free of fanfare, unfussy, modest way in which the Crewe team has accomplished it' which is laudable and the quiet way that WCRC do things with no fuss or fanfare which contributes to their overall opinion of many that they are the devil incarnate as they don't provide constant press releases?

 

Wasn't making any comparisons or denigrating the approach taken by others just applauding the results of this particular project.
I do concur with your question (?) in the matter of being bewildered about the "stuff on here".
Edit: @GWR4707 having reflected a moment longer I'm moved to ask whether you are trolling?

 

I was on this very good tour on Sat and 32 photos can be seen here, including some of 46100 earlier in preservation:

https://andrewstransport.smugmug.com/MyBritishrailtours/North-Wales-Coast-Express-6/i-xkjCGGk

Cheers

Andrew N

 

Not sure what the relevance of your comment is, but actually 24 times behind steam in preservation.

 

Norfolk & Western 611 during the 90's had a cool whistle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

That's the one, get that on FS.for the KX departure.

 

You did look content Ralph - I loaded a shot earlier of those very moments.

 

Trust me if I was trolling about some of the ironic and axe grinding posts on here I would have a great deal more fun than this - the fact that 5 of my fellow forum posters have liked my post would suggest they understand the point I was making?