Chester Christmas Cracker with 60163 - 25/11/17

Most station allow enthusiasts on these days, Reading may be an exception. If you are refused, then buy a return ticket to the nearest station. I might cost you a a quid or two but at least you will get on the platform!!

 

Going to be busy this Saturday!!

Chester has automatic (I think) ticket barriers for access to the platforms although last time I was there, there was also a manual gate staffed so a polite word was enough to get you access.

Sadly a sign of the times as more & more stations change their open access to platform status. Having said that there are clear guidelines & policies in place produced by the TOC's that say they welcome enthusiasts provided you do register your presence etc.

 

60163 on the rear from Didcot to Euston, I'm bringing the stock up from Eastleigh.
And yes, I will be detaching the 67 at Euston.

 

You would like to think there would be some sanity, but I was told a few years back (when I lived in West London) as I stood on West Drayton that my ticket did NOT allow me to stay there and photograph a steam tour, only board the next train. (I did ignore him of course)

 

P16 at EUS about to take water.
Looks like load 14?

 

Safely up Camden, load 14 no diesel.

 

Just looking at RTT and note retiming of Bristol - Chester charter. 60163 expected to arrive on Platform at 12:44 then 70013 expected to arrive from Bristol at 13:05 at the same platform. Adding to the complication is that pair of 56s due at 14:10 on RHTT is currently running about an hour early. 12:30 - 13:30 at Chester looks to be a case of "Happy Hour" methinks.

 

EUS WFJ 28m 19s. 13mph on Camden bank.
Steady 50s after.

WFJ MKC 33m 13s. 64mph thro Tring, 75 max Cheddington. On time.

Nice frosty morning, looking fwd to the vids later.

 

Hoping to be filming at Searchlight Junction, if I can see the train through the drizzle, sleet and snow

 

MKC NMP 18m 35s. Good start, 59 thro Wolverton, 67 max Castlethorpe, 63 at Roade then 75 max.

NMP RUG 24m 13s. Another good start. 56 max gradually levelled off to 54 at Long Buckby. 66 max after. 3 early into Rugby, now taking water.

Rather like the Yarmouth tour, the heavy load means rather more noise from the loco than may have been expected.

Sunshine has brought the photters out.

 

Filmed at Tring:

 

Apsley

 

One from me near Apsley church.

 

RUG STA 57m 30s. Even time to sig stop on Queensville curve. Now in P6 STA waiting time.

 

STA CRE 32m 33s. Away 8 early. 56mph at Little Bridgeford fell to 48 at Searchlight Lane. Then recovered to 56 before going over Whitmore summit a tad under 55. Easy run down to Crewe max 68. Much banter with pax on the parallel Manchester Pendo as we pulled in.

CRE CTR 26m 28s. Slow start, 68 before usual Calveley check then max 72. Arrived CTR P4 1min early. Didn't P4 used to be out of bounds for steam? Or am I getting confused in my middle age?

On Camden I recorded 13 mph as we went into Park St Tnl at MP 3/4 and 17 at MP1 at top of bank, timed from 4th coach.

Also should have said we ran fast line Attleboro Jn (before Nuneaton) to Amington Jn just before Tamworth, then switched to slow fir Pendo to overtake.

50 miles from Rugby (82 1/2) to sig stop approx MP 132 1/2 in 49m 32 sufficiently inside even time before I check exact distance.

Nice outward run and Tornado the master of load 14.

 

Well, the snow didn't quite reach as far south as Norton Bridge, so here is the footage...

 

A couple of shots at Old Linslade taken at either end of the zoom range. Not sure which one I like best but neither are masterpieces as the exhaust is all wrong

 

Fair to say the return has not been as sprightly. Last time I did Tornado to Chester we ran Crewe - Atherstone in even time. But not today.

CTR CRE 29m 19s. 62 at Beeston Castle accekerated up the rise with 74 max before Crewe.

Crewe to Rugby water stop (approx mp 82 3/4) a tedious 108m 21s.

Slow plod up Madeley at around 43 mph. Just got a 75 after Standon Bridge. But various signal checks led to a slow plod along the Trent valley and being overtaken by a freightliner.

Now watering 1/4 mile north of Rugby.

 

Rugby water stop to NMP 29m 06s.
Max 64. As exciting as it sounds.

Hopefully things will perk up a bit back to the smoke.

 

NMP MKC 27m 18s. 54 at Roade, 56 max then up fast from Hanslope due to possession on slows. 59 max before MKC.

MKC WFJ 35m 54s. Up fast all the way. 68 at Ledburn Jn tailed off to 61 Tring summit then 72 max. Was hoping for a bit better.