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

A rather impressive final day. When did one or two locomotives last run from PNZ to PAD?

 

It's probably fairer to say that they are thinking about it and that will mainly depend on what the weather is like - impossible to predict - and the ability of WCRC to hold their nerve - also impossible to predict.

 

Some reflections on GBX from a timer's point of view.

The trip was not really about loco performance - it was much more than that. The vast majority of people were on it for the companionship, the experience, the route, the scenery, the accommodation and hospitality; for two thirds of the clientèle, it was also about the food. When the diesel was included for operational reasons or in Scotland because of the fire risk, they were probably not all that bothered although that's not to say that the Managing Director of the RTC was happy to let WCRC do what was convenient for them.

The loss of the A4 was, indeed, a loss although hindsight would suggest that it should never have been allowed to run so close to the tour date without the loco being withdrawn. What else might have been made available is another matter but the fact that Ian Riley stepped in with a solution was generous given that arguably, the loco issues with the A4 went beyond what his company had been contracted to do. That said, the substitute on the Highland ML was ideal and made for great runs north and southbound. The fact that Flying Scotsman was not allowed to continue northwards at York was the prerogative of the NRM that they exercised. That's something to just get over.

As it turned out, we had seven different locomotives - some GB trips have had less. Flying Scotsman ran well and fast on the ECML. The K1 was a very competent performer. Galatea excelled but the Duchess was a disappointment simply because West Coast didn't allow it to be extended due to the fire risk and the accompanying diesel. Despite the loss of Plymouth to Penzance with steam, the LSL pairing made up for that with some stunning runs on Days 8 and 9. Look out for the EXD to BRI log - it is historic.

All the West Coast crews and support folk were superb. Many put in some good performances and two (four actually, with the firemen) achieved something remarkable on which they could probably 'dine out' for quite a while. At one point this trip might have turned downwards but in the event, from my perspective, it became something special.

Nine days is a marathon, however, and a very expensive one. But you only have to look at the organisation involved to immediately understand why the cost scales up well beyond the equivalent of nine one-day First/Dining trips. If this was the last Great Britain then it is a good one on which to have stopped. That said, shorter packages would also offer something special and possibly carry less risk with loco availability.