The Midday Scot 19th March 2016

Just back from one of life's better days in recent months.
A trip north of the wall in a nearly new Audi A6 ( unfortunately not mine ) , into the sunshine and then this between Harthope and Beattock summit !

 

Superb shot!

 

Yes has this set the standards for the future. Pure steam all the way to Edinburgh. 67 shadowing on a light path to bring us back or rescue just in case (as may have been the case in Carlisle. Appreciate that there is an extra cost for this but spread over 100's of pax well worth it.

 

Thanks, best of three from today.

 

Stunning shot

 

Cracking shot

 

Thanks Ralph, nice photo of my right arm!
Great day out, well done to all involved.

 

And pure diesel for the return... ;-)

 

... Followed by a costly LE steam move!

 

Yup... I guess the timings at a very late stage were too long to accommodate steam both ways. Duchess was booked for work in Scotland tomorrow and then back to Liverpool nest weekend but events took over. Would have needed pyjamas if we had come back by steam on this occasion. But a great trip up and problems solved along the way. Interesting looking at exhaust over Shap compared with Beattock...

 

Footage of 46233 speeding past Forton early this morning then crawling past Scout Green on the slow ascent of Shap and finally storming up Beattock near Harthorpe.

 

well jel, from a sunless steamless south.

 

This shot shouts 'TREACY!' to me - magnificent!

I was on the train and it was a fantastic day - the sunshine in Scotland was wonderful.

The usual blurb and photo link will appear later

Peter, back in the Manchester gloom
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

 

Here is one of mine from Lancaster
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chaotic_river/25787817952/in/photostream/

 

I wonder why it didn't do the SRPS trip today - anyone know?

 

SRPS normally work under the WCRC Safety Case and - presumably - no alternative Safety Case (i.e, DBS) was available to substitute. Given DBS shortage of trained crews and its commitment to the Flying Scotsman programme I venture to suggest that the Flying Scotsman programme will be the main event for at least the next 6 months.

 

Ditto the positive comments already mentioned, and it was great to meet the usual crowd for the usual banter. DB did well with the difficult coal, and whilst the climb of Shap was somewhat less than sparkling, they did what was necessary by keeping within ten minutes of time. The layover at Carlisle was useful, ensuring the engine had warmed through again for the climb of Beattock, which was undoubtedly the climb of the day. The climb of Cobbinshaw seemed a little subdued despite the relatively easier grade, but again I suspect the drill was to keep to time, rather than go for broke and get signal checked all the way into Waverley. So hopefully, the 'EWS/DB dust' has been unsettled and we can enjoy one or two more outings in future.