Winter CME Trips 2018

Two shots of 45699 crossing Whalley Viaduct

 

Liking that last sequence Austin

 

After the disappointment of the 'Tornado' saga earlier in the day it was good to see 'Galatea' doing its thing crossing Denthead Viaduct, putting on a fine display with Steve Chipperfield driving and Chris Holmes firing. Baugh Fell prominent in the background

 

My shot of Galatea crossing Whalley viaduct at sunset.

 

Yes similarly pissed off by Tornado being hauled past Garsdale but sun was in the wrong place for decent shots and wind was drifting smoke across the engine. In comparison Galatea's run up to Ais Gill was much better with the low angle sun making the smoke stand out well. The wind was blowing down the valley so wind noise early in the shot made it difficult to hear the beat of the engine.

 

Some cracking shots/footage posted so far on here,here's my few from today:

45699 on Shap this morning:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-walker/40419050802/in/dateposted/

45699,Kirkby Stephen by Mark Walker, on Flickr
Kirkby Stephen on the return

Videos to come

Cheers,
Mark

 

Video now up at:



Cheers,
mark

 

Is it too early to say which engine is expected on the trip on the 10th? I'm up at the Keighley gala on the Friday and I'm staying in the area until Saturday evening so I fancy chasing the WCME on the Saturday.

I won't say no to Galatea if she's producing performances like the last few weeks/months (obviously, if 35018 turns up, then great! ). Thanks to everyone in this thread who have posted videos, photos and logs of these trips!

James

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45407and44871/25592636497/in/dateposted-public/

45699 'Galatea at Docker

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45407and44871/40463584661/in/dateposted-public/

And again at the summit at Ais Gill

 

I think I may have caught a glimpse of the elusive "Winskill" today near Tebay..........or maybe it was just a trick of the light!

 

Homework handed in early, 3 year old grandson with us all day tomorrow - resistance is futile.


WCME 24 February 2018 – 45699 Galatea hauling 10+POB

I hadn’t intended booking on this one, deciding to limit myself to just one trip on the WCME program – but, Oswald Jnr decided to spend a few days in Glasgow and wanted a lift to catch the 10.45 train from Preston (this is only 19 minutes after the WCME) and those nice folks at RTC were offering a discount of £20 – so it would’ve been silly not to book. Mrs W chose not to join me but needed a compensatory treat; Friday lunch in the Ribble Valley sufficed.

We decided to catch the service train from Blackburn to Preston and arrived at Preston with enough time for a breakfast at the West Cornwall Pasty Co; we shared, Jnr had the bacon butty and I had the tea. Peter Pan arrived RT and whisked me off to Carnforth. I was in coach G near the back. Galatea and support were attached and we were ready with David Blair driving and Frank Chippendale firing. I had been allocated an aisle seat but spotted an empty table further down the coach – a quick relocate and a window seat, facing the direction of travel was mine, even if I was “Billy-no-mates”.

We were away a little over 2E, the first part of the climb of Yealand was measured but speed built and we topped the summit at 33. Galatea got stuck in and we reached 64 before Milnthorpe and held 62 at Milnthorpe (RT), speed on the early part of the climb was impressive 52 at Oxenholme (2E). By Lambrigg the gradient was biting (36 & 1E), Grayrigg was topped at 29 (RT). We needed some speed to carry us up Shap and David Blair set about finding some, in beautiful winter sunshine we tore through the Lune Gorge reaching 72 before MP31½ - Cha-a-a-arge!. Tebay S Jn 72, Tebay N Jn 69, M6 bridge 66, Greenholme road bridge 63, finally Galatea had to concede something to the gradient and by Scout Green we were down to 43, Shap Wells 32 with 28 at the summit (RT) – whew! The sound in the cutting at the top was stunning.

The run down to Carlisle was initially in the mid to high seventies but later sections were in the high 60s to mid seventies, we passed through Penrith at 68 (almost 3E) finally stopping in platform 3 (5E), 74m 43s from Carnforth against a booking of 77m.

Off I went to the Woodrow Wilson for Teriyaki Noodles with chicken and a large diet pepsi – healthy or what? (I’d had a very large fish and chips on Friday with Mrs W). Back to the station for the arrival of Tornado, and what a let-down that turned out to be.

First 66100 ran into the station and stopped at the signal at the south end of the B road (goods line next to platform 3). A few minutes later Tornado piloted by 66014 ran into platform 3, chime whistle sounding, and stopped. After a few service trains came and went, 66100 drew forward then crossed over to back onto the rear of the train. 66100 was coupled to the rear (this needed a coupling kept in the support vehicle). The train was a long one, 66014, Tornado, 13 coaches and 66100; the ensemble projected well beyond the starting signal at the south end of the station and so had to set back. Whilst all this was going on Galatea and support appeared from the south and David Blair (again?) backed on to the ECS in A road. Tornado and its band of helpers disappeared off in a southerly direction. Galatea followed and then reversed the stock back into platform 3. All the manoeuvres were professionally accomplished but they all took time, consequently we were a little over 10L when Steve Chipperfield assisted by Chris Holmes got us underway; it was 10 minutes we could ill afford. As we headed south Tornado and train were being serviced. Now in the fourth coach, toplight open, window seat facing the direction of travel – the cinders were mine!

We made a steady start, 2 miles out and under the M6 at 25. Speed rose to 30 on the 1/132r past Cumwhinton and was up to 41 at Howe & Co (11L). After slowing slightly on rising gradients, speed rose to 44 at Low House Crossing (11L) and was up to 54 at Armathwaite (still 11L) and we reached 60 in the dip beyond. Galatea was making all the right noises and we held 57 on the climb through Baron Wood Tunnels we were up to 61 before we braked to pass through Lazonby & Kirkoswald station at 7 then accelerating away (the deficit was now under 10, but the slowing cost us). Langwathby (37 and over 12L), Culgaith (52 & 12L), Kirkby Thore (53 & under 12L) we reached 61 just past Long Marton and were soon stopping in Appleby (10½L). Even on a bitterly cold day ice cream sales were booming. The water stop was reduced from the booked 21 minutes to only 8, we were off 2E.

By Ormside Viaduct speed had reached 53 and we took this onto the 1/100r. Midway along this initial stretch of 1/100r we entered Helm Tunnel at 46 and crossed Griseburn Viaduct (at the end of this stretch of 1/100r) at 38. We were 4E at Crosby Garrett and on the easier gradients beyond reached 47. The gradient tightens to 1/100r and by Kirkby Stephen we were holding a creditable and noisy 34 (4E). The 1/100r continues and Galatea was feeling the strain, we were down to 27 going into Birkett Tunnel. By Mallerstang we were 2½L but on the easier gradients beyond rallied to 38 but the 1/100r continues and we crossed Ais Gill Viaduct at 29, under the road bridge at 29, a minimum of 28 and past the summit board at 32 (1E); 30m 29s from Appleby to Ais Gill Summit board. Another very, very good climb. We accelerated down the hill through Garsdale and Dent, Blea Moor Tunnel and across Batty Moss Viaduct then a race down the other side where brake applications were needed to keep us legal. We ran consistently 1E all the way from Blea Moor SB to our stop in Hellifield GL.

We watered and got away on our final leg 3L. This section to Clitheroe is undemanding being predominantly downhill. We slowed for Horrocksford Jn (4L) but a generous allowance saw us pass Clitheroe only 2L. Speed rose after passing Clitheroe but then we slowed (foot crossing?). Now comes trouble, Wilpshire Bank, Galatea was opened up and we sped through Whalley station (47 & 1L), Galatea was roaring and we had clawed some seconds back by Langho and were still doing 34, into Wilpshire Tunnel, still 29 but the tightening gradient saw us down to 27 as we left, through Ramsgreave and Wilpshire (26 & 2½E) and 26.6 at the summit. Now there is just time to pack up and put hat, scarf and coat on as we cross Daisyfield Jn, pass through the “Muck ‘ole” (Blackburn Tunnel) and finally stop in platform 4. A quick look at the loco as it steams off in rapidly fading light into the car and back home for 18.10, Mrs W has put a pizza in the oven and all is well with the world.

Thanks as always to all those who arranged and operated this trip – professional as ever. The ETH was very welcome. The steam heating (in coach G) was non-existent until Long Preston on the return when it suddenly sprang into life. Although it was sunny, it was a bitterly cold day; there were several new lambs in a field near Milnthorpe – they must be hardy. Speaking of hardy, thanks to all photographers and video warriors who braved the cold – at least there was sun and we ran to time.

Let’s hope that the lads and lasses at 10A can persuade BIL to perform as Galatea now does – keep the faith!

 

As Arkwright would say, "it's been a funny old day".

Who would have thought that "Tornado" would fail!

Anyway two shots of the red Jubilee was all I got, better luck next time I suppose.

Tebay, 24/02/18.

Eden Lacy, 24/02/18.

 

Any idea what this slowing to 7mph was for at Lazonby? Caught up the unit?

 

My video from Wilpshire Bank

 

My video of yesterday, sorry about the bad camera skills

 

Seems to be something similar to a tripod on the track in this videos going away shot at the bottom left, if so daft place to have one !

 

A couple of grabbed shots of Galatea easing onto Ribblehead yesterday.

 

Interesting to see that in the dry the 5X didn't best the 3rd's or 17th's climbs of Yealand; Grayrigg; or Shap. And then there's the 'Blue Riband'. I definitely expected the 30 mins from Appleby to Ais Gill to be bested running on dry rail as the railhead conditions are always poor between Kirby Stephen and Mallerstang in the wet and crews tend to hold back a little to avoid slipping. Surprised at the climb being so similar.

Then there's Wilpshire Bank. Yesterday's climb rated little 'excitement', even from Oswald T. That was one superb climb and definitely shows the effect of dry rail. Little or no speed loss in the normally murky tunnel and cutting; and a summit pass at close to 27, almost 4 mph quicker than the 17th, and that was the best the 5X had managed to date!! Wish I'd been there for that!!

I hope WCR have a large supply of the coal they've acquired for this season of trains up north. It's been a while since they've run 3 successive Winter CMEs with no steaming problems. Galatea has been on the mark all day on all 3 runs. The firemen must be enjoying the results of their efforts after the struggles of previous years.

February has been a great month up north. Huge thanks to WCR and their crews for "making it so".

Now what's the long range weather forecast for the 10th of March?

 

Also a certain irony in that nearly all of us have said we need more powerful locos for the CME's and yet due to very unfortunate circumstances 3 Pacifics loco have all hit problems in the past few days whilst Carnforth's "Black 5 GTI" as 1020 Shireman says has been on the mark all day on all 3 runs. Just the way circumstances work out I guess.