Welsh Marches Express - Cardiff: 27/11/16

You "think" the diesel will assist over the Lickey!! No. It will "definitely" assist over the Lickey and is some fashion too. As it is the load is at the top end of the double headed Black 5's capabilities on this beast of a bank.

Have to admit though that 12 coach double headed steam trains in the 50s/60s would also have a banker to shove the train up the hill. The big difference is that is was a steam banker not a throbbing smelly diesel.

Feel sorry for the punters, especially after a good string of steam specials with no diesel to be seen.

 

No need for the histrionics- it is what it is. For what it's worth, I'm still looking forward to it.

 

On RTT the ECS comes from Southall on Saturday afternoon and stays in P 1 at International all night

 

I don't think there are any foot crossings on the Lickey

 

Pikes Pool Lane and Vigo Bridge? It'll be a bit dark, though.

 

Just the one crossing on the Lickey and arriving early is paramount !

 

It'll be a bit dark leaving Cardiff. It'll be bloody dark at Bromsgrove at 9pm!

 

I know, I'm prone to understatement!

 

Should find out what the diesel is there for 1st thing. The train should be air braked so the 47 can be switched off and just go along for the ride.

 

Really wanted to do Colwall and The Lickey but can't see even Colwall being done 'unassisted'. This is a view from the Worcester Side in May.

 

You can't please all of the people all of the time,
They've got what they want advance notice of use of a diesel for shunting and incase of a problem,
Yet they still moan.....

 

Keeping my fingers crossed this doesn't get any worse - this is almost under the first railway bridge to the north of Rainbow Hill Tunnel in Worcester. http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/14925052.Latest_with_pictures__Sinkhole_causes_traffic_chaos/

 

Trains still running at the moment. Then again, see what happens in 48 hours.

 

Just to make a point, I never saw any passenger train go un banked up the Lickey even a black 5 with three on. I have seen expresses go up there with three panniers on the back going all out and the train engine on the front doing b all.
What did surprise me however wa during the signallers strike the Great Britain was diverted up the Lickey and 44871 and 70013 took 13 up un assisted.

 

It probably can be done, but its a case of averting risk, as it would potentially screw up Cross Country and Midland's schedule if we sat down at any point on the climb. I wouldn't wish more time on a Voyager during a long-distance journey upon anyone...

 

Leander took 6 bogies up unassisted on 25th March, 2006. It was a VT train ex Tyseley Warwick Road to Cardiff (originally advertised to Bristol). The train was routed via Worcester for water, and was held at Stoke Works Jet until there was a clear road to the top of the bank. She managed without difficulty, although I wonder what effect a greasy rail might have had.
Ian

 

I was on that trip, originally the plan was for 4965 to run light to Bromsgrove as a banker but some paperwork issued stopped Rood Ashton getting out, just as well it was only load 6 as anymore would have seen a 47 scrambled I'm sure.

 

Not very advance when it comes a week before the tour, long after you've booked, after hearing from a reliable source that a diesel won't be involved, that's not advanced warning, that's saying one thing, then it becomes another when it's too late to do much about it, yes we'd heard why, but you can't call that advance warning when 80% of passengers had booked a while back and were blissfully unaware.

The fact is there was no mention of a diesel involvement back in September/October when people were viewing this trip, had mention of a diesel been made then it would be a different story, but it wasn't, so any suggestion of advanced warning is total nonsense.

As I said in my earlier post, it's not the tailgunner per say that's the issue, more the last minute goalpost moving.