RTC's Cheshireman 5 November

It doesn't look as though the times for this trip from Norwich to Chester are up yet, nor does there appear to be a thread for it. Does anyone know for sure if it is still running?

Its only a selfish wish to find out; I'm hoping to film it as it is one of the rare steam trips which use the Derby to Stoke line.

 

If you read the RTC website you will see your luck isn't in on Saturday.

 

Thanks for that. Sure that wasn't there when I last looked, though to be honest, I was a little surprised that such an ambitious length of steam mileage was being contemplated.

Looks like I'll have a while longer to wait for some local steamage.

 

News from RTC. <BJ>

Please note for operational reasons this train will now be steam hauled on the section from Norwich to Derby and Derby to Norwich and diesel hauled on the section from Derby to Chester and return.

Info update at uksteam:

46201: Norwich-Ely-Nottingham-Derby-Stoke-Chester and return
[46201 replaces 70013 which is unavailable]
[Now steam hauled Norwich-Derby-Norwich only]

 

Times are on RTT. Outward it does a weird move via Stenson Jc, reverse, to Derby. So everything is wrong way round at Derby?

You get to Stenson Jc 1203 then get back there 61 minutes later. Other bits of the schedule are indifferent too.

And people pay money to do this, with substantially less steam than expected too? Remarkable.

 

I guess if there is a loco change at Derby it makes little difference. In fact having a loco come off one end and another going on t'other might be operationally simpler.

Edit... Even if it had gone the usual way from Nottingham to Derby it would need a reversal, (now the route from Spondon via Chadd Sidings is no more!), so the planned routing is strange...

 

I think you'll find it's routed that way so that Princess Elizabeth will be facing the right way for the return journey. I seem to recall it's been done that way before, unless my memory is playing tricks.

Dave B

 

Yes, of course this makes sense and as you suggest, I'm also sure it's been done before, though I don't recall which loco was involved. For some reason I'd got it in my head that there was a north facing junction at Stenson, but it's south facing, so the inevitable diesel on the rear will take over for the run from Stenson Jnc to Derby and as you say, that leaves Lizzie ready for the return leg - assuming she doesn't fall foul of the tight pointwork which led to her failure on her recent visit to Derby. . .

 

Picture of Princess Elizabeth at Elton and Orston station this morning running well up the gradient .

 

Ready to leave Derby - on time.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/124047467@N05/30799195535/in/dateposted-public/

 

Storming through Bottesford at 20.25 - 8 minutes down

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/30712117121/

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54686/2016/11/05/advanced

Anyone know the reason for the late running on the return? It seems to have dropped time everywhere, both on the move and at water stops.

 

From my observations east of Nottingham, there were adhesion problems, whilst from others I hear that at water stops the support team did inspect intently one bit of the motion or wheels. Possibly connected?? There seemed to be an unscheduled stop just west of Grantham too. Is there a thread on how leaves impact on steam locos?

From the lineside I was surprised how few passengers appeared to be travelling, but perhaps those in the 'feeding class' covered the costs.

On the positive side, 46201 was truly magnificent where I did see.