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

Some years ago when the castle went to Scotland similar restrictions were put in place as we headed north. I remember overhearing instructions being given to the driver taking over at Carlisle that diesel assistance would be provided up to 40mph away from stops (and on inclines). Guess this is the time most sparks are thrown.

 

Thanks John,yeah did alright considering the tricky circumstances much of the time,the Inverness-Glasgow day was brilliant.

 

46233 leaving Carlisle this morning. I've had to edit this photo a bit more than I normally would - in a moment of pure genius, I decided to try and get a photo of the Duchess beginning the cross the Clyde with the exhaust blocking out the sun creating a nice bit of shadow. Well, it does help if you change the settings on your camera when you decide to do something crazy... quite a bit of editing later and it still isn't perfect. But it's the best I can do with my lack of editing software on my computer.



James

 

Great shot James, but it doesn't half look like the Blue Peter (the TV show) boat for a headboard!!

 

If that's the day that 5043 set fires I remember being on the Duchess in front of the Earl with the driver Gordon Hodgson saying he was under orders not to start any fires with his response I won't but the Castle will .

 

Southbound climb to Shap. I seem to have survived Ian's clone tool.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/124047467@N05/34323432111/in/dateposted-public/

 

The Duchess put up a good show first thing. I saw her approaching the summit south of Carluke. There did seem to be quite a lot of DL assistance away from stops (Carstairs, Lockerby) but less so on the main part of the climb to Shap (Southwaite, Shap itself).

Am staying in Arnside tonight as, it seems, are quite a few GBX "followers". I'm thinking of taking my breakfast, or at least my coffee, out to the prom when I set up my camera. Actually, the pub might do quite a good trade in bacon sandwiches and hot drinks if it set up a kiosk...

 

A tad late, but my effort from Saturday morning. Not the planned shot, just as 60103 came on to the viaduct, some idiot decided to pull up right in the middle of the shot.

Flying Scotsman by Nigel Pitt, on Flickr

 

RTT shows a 0Z49 light engine path from Crewe to Bristol behind the main GBX tour, overtking it at Craven Arms: http://realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50564/2017/05/05/advanced

 

I assume this is shadowing the leg ?

 

That's a cracker! Please don't put yourself down, it's a lovely shot.

 

Lovely picture, but crossing the Clyde sound more like Glasgow than Carlisle?

 

Whoops! It is indeed Glasgow... thanks and good spot!

James

 

Fair comment Al and the all photographs posted over the last few days have two things in common, excellent quality and the almost total exclusion of the assisting diesel.
Such photos will only be repeatable though if more emphasis is placed on filling seats.

Charterboy's assessment of the reasons behind poor occupancy is all too accurate, especially on what used to be the premier steam railtour with a worldwide clientele all prepared to pay the hefty price tag.

Dry weather may be in the lap of the gods but I can't help but feel Network Rail are quite happy to take advantage of the situation and do nothing to mitigate the disappointment to customers. In even the driest of climates it used to be possible to run steam safely and successfully, it seems to be yet another area where our allegedly "improved" railway has forgotten how to cope with any situation that does not conform with what is regarded as the usual. The lower the standards are set the easier those in charge find it to meet such standards.

Sightseeing by rail is an excellent pastime which I thoroughly enjoy, but with a First Class all-line railrover plus decent hotels costing about half the price of a Great Britain X ticket photographers are going to become an endangered species.

 

Whoops. My mistake. Should have said Sunday.

Sorry guys, not trying to cut your trip short.

Stef.

 

The ECS to Grange-over-Sands has departed from Carnforth on time. <BJ>

 

Galatea vice Leander.

James

 

I think this was the day two runs went over Shap, 46233 first, followed by 5043 a few hours later.