Cumbrian Mountain Express 20/05/17

No!!

 

No blowing drain cock today

 

Looks like a good northbound run - 6.5 mins early into Carlisle according to RTT

 

My video of 46115 at Oxenholme today

 

46115 near Greenholme and Birkett common on the return .

 

LMS 7P Class 4-6-0 No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' approaching Sedgewick with today's 'Cumbrian Mountain Express'



A moody mist shrouded Pennine backdrop as 'Scots Guardsman' approaches Appleby with the return leg of the 'Cumbrian Mountain Express'

 

Looks a really dull day but admiration goes to Sam the Sham for venturing out lolxx

 

Looked like a flawless run... Ais Gill Viaduct...


https://www.flickr.com/photos/iancawthorne/34394606660/

 

20/05/2017 - LMS 4-6-0 Royal Scot Class - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" hammering the gradient up Whalley Banks approaching Langho at Mitton Fold footbridge with a running of the "Cumbrian Mountain Express"

 

here it is passing Langho....

 

A message to the whingers, I think I said it sometime ago, way back in the days of SLOA in the early 80s I went to a talk by Dick Hardy on the challenges of running steam on the modern railway. In his opinion it would eventually become impossible and his estimate was that it probably would have to cease around 1990 or possibly with a bit of good will go on to 1995. Here we are over 20 years later moaning about the non appearance of a particular loco with talk of going to court. Can I suggest everyone accepts that sometimes things change and just be bloody grateful that travel behind steam is still possible and on routes thought impossible back in the 80 s

 

Shap Wells

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/34619713962/in/photostream/

Smardale

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/34650250481/in/photostream/

 

SG looked and sounded really good today. I've never travelled behind a Scot, but if I could be sure of a run like that without a tail gunner it would be worth travelling a long way for.

 

A customer reported on this forum they felt misled and have subsequently reported being pretty much fobbed off in the explanation. When it has been unforseen circumstances everyone accepts it as part and parcel. This seems to have been a purely business decision so anyone affected should be given fair recompense, modest though it may be.
The reasons for 46233 to 46115 are now well known, off the record.

 

Finally, Id also like to remind people that this particular substituting really reminded alot of what happened when 35028 was to be allowed to take the Golden Arrow Statesman a couple years ago when WCRC were having issues.

Thankfully 46115 was in good form today, and hopefully 46233 WILL be on the Hadrian.

 

Arrived early at Wilpshire summit, not bad for a fragile old knacker . . . SG was along about 10 minutes later, going well (6E) with steam feathering from the safety valves. Always worth watching - but for how many more times?

 

And you eloquently prove @26D_M 's case.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. The fact that they disagree with you does not make you right.

Yesterday was an excellent performance by SG. But it was never advertised in the pool. People make decisions to spend hard earned on the marketing. You should respect that.

 

The most nauseous repetition is the "put up and shut up" nonsense that leads only to poorer quality service. It is not unreasonable to expect a satisfactory level of honesty, transparency and integrity in business? Otherwise rational folk making excuses for the absence of these qualities baffles me, frankly.
This particular discussion has been about a very specific matter of fact which will be dealt with between the contracting parties. WC has no direct relationship with the customers in this case so conflating it with generalised observations on how they do business is irrelevant. If WC has influenced the outcome that would be for RTC to resolve with their supplier.

 

That is all very fair and a good case of counting our blessings. The availability of steam on the main line is incomparably better than anyone could have expected. All the same, the situation is not as good as it could be in the specific area of transparency. Some of the companies involved could improve the amount, the timeliness and the accuracy of the information that they provide to actual and potential customers.

Well known to those who know it well, apparently, but not to all of us. Why off the record?