Coast to Coast Express, 10/06/17

Looking at Rtt again and it left only 20 minutes late. No mention of the l/e toCarnforth though.

 

The train passed me near Bolton Percy on time but I'd noticed the signal was still at amber when I was leaving, so I'm assuming must have stopped for something around Ulleskelf.

 

45690 75L at Castleford.

 

Thanks. I was hoping to see the l/e on Copy Pit but I'll not bother now

 

45690 Copy pit, 20-10. 53L

 

Track isues getting into the loop at Milford I'm led to believe caused the delay. No issues with Leander

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45407and44871/35094027421/in/dateposted-public/

45690 on the climb out of Victoria this morning, abismal conditions but totally worth the wait!

 

Crossing the River Wharfe......LINK

 

I remember a mammoth trip in March 2015, which had 45407 and 45690 doing Man Vic to Carlisle, then back through Durham and Rochdale, with 45407 coming off at Brighouse. Everything fine as far as getting into Milford loop was concerned, but the points failed whilst the locos were detached for water. Took an hour to sort out, and as I had a connecting service train back to York and an early start the following morning, I had to bail out at Wakefield and intercept my train at Leeds.

Two things emerged from this trip:

1. It spurred me to get a smartphone, as I had to ask others for potential train times from Manchester.

2. I think it was the trip that caused 45690's support crew, of which a considerable number are members of the Beet family, to request that 45690 return direct to Carnforth at a convenient point on the return if a post-midnight finish was in play.

 

Whats the reasoning behind no steam tours over Standedge? I know 60103 ran a couple of LE moves over there last year so surely something must fit over the route still?

 

I recall from previous correspondence on the matter that there is a possible hourly path over Standedge. However (I don't remember 60103 going that way- could you help with providing a date?), I'd assume that LE moves are slightly less risky for this route's timetable than a full railtour; with the latter, there's the problem of delays earlier in the tour conspiring to miss the slot, and waiting an hour for the next opportunity with passengers on the route just isn't an option. Equally, gauging problems with the locomotives most likely to be used on the route has been cited, although these days, this might be official speak for 'we're not interested in sending you over this particular hill'.

 

7th June 2016 was one of the dates as I saw it on Stockport viaduct can't remember the second one.
Thanks for the info, makes a lot of sense even if it is a shame

 

Yes there's one slot an hour each way weekdays (eg xx39 from Stalybridge eastbound). But some of those slots are taken by freight trains. Maybe Sundays might be a bit better? Of course when HS3 is built it will all be different!

 

Of course the trouble is now we have tours being squeezed at both ends. We have NR (perhaps to put people off and make them financially not viable) producing stupid o'clock departure times like the C2C was and people cancelling because of it (or so the RTC discount email said), and support crews, many who like me are the wrong side of sixty saying, (quite rightly) they are no longer happy with days that are between 18 and 24 hours.
I do not know what the "rules" are, if there are any, about how long volunteer support crews can work. Volunteers generally in whatever arena, not just railways always seems a very grey area around conditions, meal breaks etc.

 

The problem is not the hours worked by volunteers per se but - AIUI - many volunteers are also full-time railway staff whose hours are restricted with specific restrictions on "rest periods" and a delayed steam charter may invoke these restrictions for individuals.

 

Like that Toni,obviously to much thought gone into the shot for the West Coast appreciation society to like it lol

 

Footage from yesterday featuring LMS 5XP No.45690 'Leander' at Kirkham Priory with the return trip.

Video Available Here

 

Work is just a distance memory for me ,but I seem to remember the working time directive calls for a max of 48 hours per week ,13 hour max in one day ,must have 11 hours off between shifts, a break of half hour(or was it one hour spilt up) AWAY from the place of work. One complete day off a week ,or two days together in two weeks. Don't know how or if it includes volunteers. I may be well out by now though.