CME Sat 6th August

Steam leg now 45690 Preston to Carlisle and return, Shap both ways according to RTC web site, due to issue with Scots Guardsman.

 

Seems like 46115 is the only loco that 'could' be available for the Cumbrian Coast. If it is unavailable, no show for the coast.

 

When I read the first part of this I thought "good, they're sending 46115 down south for the Royal Duchy and Dorset Coast. Then I read the final clause and thought "maybe not"...

 

....... and will the load enable an unassisted run?

 

It's 90 miles from Preston to Carlisle so I doubt it will be a non-stop run. She'd need Tornado's tender!!

 

Times out http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50712/2016/08/06/advanced
and back http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50713/2016/08/06/advanced

 

No flying start at Grayrigg then.

 

Bit better than a cold fire off shed.

 

Any word on the load @RalphW?

 

It's showing nine passenger carrying vehicles. Will be interesting to see how a Jubilee will fair with the Northern Fells having had chance to warm up a bit more.

 

A fair challenge but hopefully should mitigate the need for an assisting loco. Whether one is taken for "operational" reasons remains to be seen of course.

 

Only 3 minutes at Preston on the return suggests the steam comes off at Carnforth sadly.
The LE move Preston to Carnforth is here:http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50715/2016/08/06/advanced

 

That's interesting as this week's RH 512 has detail from the Guidelines for Steam Train Lengths and Loads Document. In particular it has extracts from the additional document entitled 'Routes with Significant Gradients' i.e. with grades of greater than 1 in 100 that have further restrictions imposed. On the WCML these are Camden, Shap and Beattock. The maximum load for a Class 8 on Shap is reduced from the Maximum 13, 468 tons (including any diesel in the consist) down to 11 at all times, down 2 coaches. As the Class 6 maximum is 11, 396 tons on normal routes, this would make the allowed loading over Shap only 9 for the Jubilee.
Double Headers can get around the restrictions, or joint steam/diesel running where it states that the assistance locomotives, whether steam or diesel should, where possible, be located at the front of the train. Guess the 'where not possible' is for destinations with no runarounds where dragging the train out is needed.
They also seem to have imposed a blanket '2 less' ruling for the autumn across the whole system, the autumn being defined as 15th September to 31st December. Heck of a long autumn and makes a right dog's breakfast of CMEs in October, though there's only one planned this year. A Class 8 with 9 on? Seriously? Think they've gone OTT with restrictions like that. Risk averse or what?

 

Some this was in the last H.R. It also stated Unrebuilt Bullied's and single chimney Castles would be classified as class 6.

 

That is a bit of a contrast to the days when 34092 operational notices said Class 7 but to be treated as 8!
Might influence how 7027 gets restored?