Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway

You're complaining to the wrong person in the wrong place, mate. Perhaps if all the (what, four?) people complaining about the lack of a roster approached the L&HR constructively and explained why it would benefit the railway, they might actually be prepared to listen?

Surely that's more likely to yield a positive result than merely going "I want" and people calling the railway 'boring' on a generic internet forum?

Also bear in mind that, as with all preserved railways (and has been said here many times before), the vast majority of visitors to the L&HR want nothing more than to ride 'on a steam train'. To them there is no difference between a Fairburn and an Austerity. Compare those thousands to the tiny number of enthusiasts demanding a roster and perhaps it's understandable why the L&HR doesn't exactly see it as a priority?

 

And your bitching at the wrong person mate, I was simply making an observation based on a statement you made.

 

Bitching? WTF? I was just replying to you. Sorry if the fact that I didn't agree hurt your feelings

 

No it isn't: http://www.chiemsee-schifffahrt.de/en/home/

 

I imagine he meant "rare" rather than literally unique, or unique north of Crewe... Doesn't the P&D at Kingswear also have a steam train to steamer transfer? Also the Fairbourne?

 

I've always found the LHR very helpful regarding engines working, via the links from their website to their Facebook or Twitter pages

 

My, my we are tetchy.

 

42073 today

 

42073 was out again today, trains were pretty busy with coach parties connecting with the Windermere sailings

42085 was in the accessible shed, with boiler removed

 

I've bashed the L&HR once, seems a really nice little line. Pity though that their trackbed was severed so limiting the length of running line. However that said it's definitely one of the most scenic lines i've visited.

 

Hi. Visited the line for the first time this week. Both days industrial 0-6-0's in steam (different ones on consecutive days which surprised me as I would have guessed it would have been better to keep one in steam for a few days?). Lakeside station has little of interest - one working bracket signal but the starter looks like something out of a toy kit. A very gentle trundle to Haverthwaite. In the shed one Fairburn apparently in running order, the other with no boiler or smokebox. Lots of superheater tubes dumped/stored under other items in the shed along with steam pipes, blast pipe, dome cover etc. Tried to find out what the status of either engine was but couldn't find out if/when the apparently complete one might run again nor what the status of the one with no boiler is (e.g. has it gone somewhere for repair and if so what needs doing, when will it be back etc.). Overall impression is that the staff don't have much info - they were politely unable to help. Sadly, unless I knew one of the Fairburns would be running I won't be back. Return trip equally slow - the Mk 1's were in various standards of upkeep but it seems the railway knows how it will make money and keep costs down.

Does any of this affect the hundreds of tourists riding the well filled trains - including large parties from Japan/China - not in the least. They were very excited about it all. Industrial steam enthusiasts should enjoy Victory - a very advanced 0-6-0 but otherwise - not sure why one would make the trip twice.

If anyone factually knows the status of the boilerless Fairburn please post. Also - Who owns these engines -is it the railway or are they privately owned? Who decides when they run - the railway or the owner or is there little difference in reality? What future do they have?

Thanks

Mike

 

I think the Fairburns are owned by different parts of the Maher family, I'm not sure where the boiler is off the boiler less one you mention... Carnforth maybe? The advanced industrial you mention sounds like Victor ex British Leyland I think? I think they're from Bagnalls It has a brother called Vulcan. As regards the Fairburns I wish they'd be a bit more willing to let them loose, be great to see them at say somewhere like Kidderminster or Whitby maybe? One of them has visited Loughbrough and Sheffield Park a certain journo who writes for Bauer in Peterborough arranged this though.

 

I like the L&HR because it is easy to 'sell' to non-enthusiast family members as part of a day out, when combined with the steamer to Ambleside/ Windermere. My wife and I enjoyed particularly the Victorian evening with the Furness no. 20 preceded by a meal at Haverthwaite, and followed by the boat trip. A good few years ago, and a pity that they don't have no. 20 any more. But 'Victor' as a former West Somerset Rly loco may well draw me as I'm always up for a trip to the Lakes!

John

 

42073 I think returned to steam last year or the year before, 42085 had its boiler out last time I visited (easter-ish) and I think it had gone elsewhere for overhaul.

It completely depends who you speak to, certainly my experience when I was helping out a few years ago there was that the train crews and the guys you may bump into around the yard are very knowledgeable.

I think 42085 has been visiting in its last ticket- think it did the GCR and Bluebell. I helped clean her prior to a visit to the NRM too.

Chris

 

42073 returned to service last year.42085 under 10 year overhaul. Been today for Repulse-1245 and Victor both outside too, with 42073 and Princess in the shed so looks like three on rotation at the moment. I for one wish they would have a steam gala with all operational steam locos running.

 

Lakeside does have one feature that is very much of interest as on one platform face the boat sits waiting for the passengers to disembark from the carriages and just cross the platform to board. That is not exactly common any more.

 

I think you'll find that the GCR visit was a "quid pro quo" job in that the GCR undertook some maintenance work in return for a few days running that included a Russ Hillier charter.

 

I believe it had new tanks made there, all I'm saying Fred is a certain Mr Harris at Bauer media has connections with both the Maher family and the GC. That's how these things usually come about.

 

After a doomed day out for 45690 visited Haverthwaite to see 42073 at various points along the line .

 

Nice video but I see the L&H is still a slow old crawl.