Cathedrals Express to Norwich - 11 Nov - 6201

Bad news. Driver side window on Lizzie has been smashed by a piece of debris.
Diesel coming on the front to pilot the train to Norwich .

 

What a damn shame.

 

Apparently a spare window has been sourced in Derbyshire and is being driven down to Norwich . Support crew are hopeful it can be fitted in time for the return. Keeping fingers crossed !

 

Yeah that will be it, nothing to do with the unfeasibly long day, the strange scheduling at Norwich or any plethora of reasons....

Looking rather handy there was a diesel now...

 

Lizzie is not having much luck on her return to the main line, hope the Driver is OK.

 

Heard from driver (Mick Valla) and he is okay.

 

That's the most important bit, and a relief.

Do WCRC have any steam drivers who are not called Mick?

 

Anyone know if 6201 led the train out of Norwich?

 

Yes, Lizzie at the front, box at the back. Departed 10 minutes late.
My brother who lives beside the line near where the incident occurred tells me that trains were stopped for a while this afternoon. Does anyone know if it was so they could inspect the tunnel ? Apparently the debris hit the window in the tunnel according to the on train steward I spoke to. All this coild just be rumour and speculation though.

 

50 late through Letchworth and a particularly sharp brake application has put some nasty wheelflats on our coach!

 

Shattered the peace through Baldock! Box on the back doing nowt too!!

 

Footage from Baldock:

 

6201 sounded good leaving Ely earlier this evening, audible for several minutes accelerating away into the darkness. No help from the 47 either.

 

Finally arrived back at Victoria about 0025, so 40ish late. Lots of people took up the option of bailing at Finsbury Park and taking the Victoria Line to Victoria to ensure they made their last trains home.
The main cause of the lateness appeared to be that the 1902 to Lowestoft (37s) was put into our platform at Norwich so there was no way they could have got the ECS in, loaded and ready by the scheduled 1905 departure. After leaving late, we were out of path and kept being held for other trains!
The train did seem to have the odds stacked against it, but we still had a good day out and were well looked after by the onboard staff.

Hats off to the 6201 support crew who sourced, transported and fitted the replacement window in time for the return journey .

 

Sounds like smart work by all concerned. Well done. I wonder if it was the drivers' side window from 46203 that was borrowed?

 

Sounds like it, "sourced from Derbyshire" and I can't think anyone else has a Princess Royal window in stock at short notice.

 

Where did the broken window occur?