The Great Britain X - 29/04/17 to 07/05/17

The times wern't up when I looked earlier. seems strange that we have Friday and Sunday but not Sat. Lookin for timings for LE move on Sat evening too. UK Steam hasnt been updated in a while either.

 

A thoroughly competent performance from the K1, it appears. The only thing that I hope isn't going to cause any problems is the small matter of a lineside fire at Attadale. It's bone dry up here, and so one spark could cause some problems. Fortunately the line isn't used very much, not that this matters as a lineside fire is just that (ironically, the K1 was coasting through Attadale, rather than climbing a 1/50 out of Garve, for instance...!). Hopefully this won't affect the next few days, in terms of diesel shovage, but given the state of the lineside and surrounding areas, I wouldn't be surprised if the 37 is bolted to the back.



James

 

Very Impressive indeed. Possibly the best performance on the Kyle line that I've witnessed in 10 years of following The Great Britain. They had ideal conditions, which helps, but those of us who thought the K1 wasn't up to that load were proved wrong, and in some style! It's another beautiful sunny morning in Dingwall, and I'm off to breakfast. See some of you along the road later...

 

I think that people tend to forget that the K1 is a class 6 loco (of sorts - 5P6F) and it takes that load daily over the more torturous Mallaig road. Can't think why anyone would think it was not up to the job yesterday.

Peter James

 

62005 away from Perth RT with 47746 on the rear.

James

 

Al - this is exactly the load (7) of the morning Jacobite - I'm not sure that the Pullman is significantly heavier than the other coaches with heavy bogies. The K1 is a different beast to a Black 5 and more suited to slow speed and tightly curved grades. I doubt it would have stuck leaving Oban that day, having smaller wheels and more grunt than a Black 5. This is no criticism of the 5s - excellent machines and far more versatile than a K1, but in this instance the latter is a better proposition.

I'd better shut up now in case people start to think that I think that I know what I'm talking about (perish the thought!).

As for a discussion about the Mallaig road being more tortuous than the Kyle line (which I will insist it is!), if you introduce yourself to me on Thursday we'll carry on then. I'm working the train (GB X) from Carlisle onwards that afternoon.

Peter

 

You are right about the K1. A few years ago, on the charter, we stopped for a few runpasts on Beasdale Bank and it restarted 6 coaches 5 times with no problem at all. Alec McDonald, the driver said it would have been a wee bit tricky with a Black 5

 

Beginning to bite fingernails now. Can't understand why all times are now up apart from the Saturday Bristol to Penzance?

 

Only got one pic up so far, and it's the last one from today. 62005 makes an impressive sight today at Bannockburn, just south of Stirling.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23006205@N07/33603156583/in/dateposted-friend/

Steven
www.crozierphotography.co.uk

 

Culloden Viaduct in glorious sunshine.

 

Here's Saturday's times

Bristol to Plymouth

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50573/2017/05/06/advanced

Plymouth to Penzance

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50580/2017/05/06/advanced

 

Not the best start today, the ECS is 70 late away from Bo'ness.

James

 

Thanks James. Do you happen to know what the situation is on motive power for today please. Thanks

 

I believe it's the K1, but I'm not 100% on that. No idea if a diesel is in the consist. Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

James

 

Thank you. Please could you update on this once you get going or know more. Really appreciated

 

I'll update if I can/get any info - signal on the West Highland line is not the best...

James