The Great Britain XI - 2018

Superb!

 

The double heading pair at the
Dalwhinne water/pathing stop. Weather has again held out well with temperature into the 20’s in places. Unfortunately it doesn’t look set to stay but we can hope for the best!

 

My photo of 35018 British India Line at Colton on Friday 20th April 2018 with Great Britain XI.

Kind Regards

Andrew

 

Quite a rarity in Carlisle station with three locomotives, in steam, and operational with there supporting train crews, side by side with the GBX1 on Friday.

I attach a screen print from one of several videos uploaded to YouTube, to illustrate this - not mine I should add! Not the clearest of images, as there was the obvious scrum from people taking photos.

You have to be very impressed with WCR for operating on the Friday, with at least four steam train crews, operating from Scarborough to Edinburgh, via York, Carlisle. Plus I suspect there was some form of diesel traction shadowing, or supporting, the GBX1, or at Edinburgh with another set of crews.

 

Very good day on the Kyle line with 1264 putting on a very impressive display. Thought it may struggle on the first climb of the day, the 1in50 up past Fodderty, when she slipped violently metres in front of me but she dug in well on a damp rail.

Hope everyone on board is enjoying it!

James

 

This is quite a good video of day three of GBX1.

Should be at this link – copy and past this if the link does not work.

 

i got the impression from the videos that the trailing LMS steam locos of the duo was not doing the work - the LNER seemed to be plenty, but the Brush type 4 on the back was doing a lot of banking work
so was the D/Heading more for show due to the load 11 ISO of load 10 last year ?

 

Just seen that 45212 will do the last two days of the trip, does that mean there will be a diesel on the back from Cardiff to Yeovil Junction? Not sure what load GB is this year so was just wondering. also does anybody know the formation from Yeovil Junction to Weymouth? My best guess is 45212 will work chimney first to Pen Mill where 31806 will lead chimney first to Weymoth (45212 banking up Evershot) for 45212 to lead up Bimcombe and on to Wareham,with 31806 banking of course. If its been mentioned sorry but just curious how they will work it.

 

The Black Five should be comfortable with load 10, if allowed out on it's own !

 

GB seems to be load 10 with only one support coach and I do not think 31806 has one at present. (BTW it just left Swanage LE about 15 minutes ago on what I assume is a quick test run). Your logic is my working assumption as the Black 5 needs to lead out of Weymouth to be the right way (and end) to go to Victoria on Friday. It appears to remain in P3 at Weymouth so must be T&T from Yeovil.
More interesting is can a Black 5 take 10 up Parkstone Bank unassisted on Friday, past history does not bode well on that front and may be light rain as well if you believe the soothsayers at the Met Office.

 

most likely it will be topped and tailed, 31806 at rear from Yeovil to Pen mill, 45212 leading, at Pen Mill the tour reverses, so the U class, leads with the black 5 at rear, At Weymouth, the 5 will lead with the U banking, to Wareham, where the U will lead the tour down to Swanage, I would assume 10 (9 with pob) is with in the limit for a 5 if not I would think there may be a box on the back,

 

Returning from Kyle of Lochalsh crossing the Clachnaharry swing bridge at sunset yesterday:-

 

Crossing Culloden Viaduct this morning:-

 

Crossing Culloden Viaduct this morning:-

 

Heck Galatea and her crews are racking up some miles and long hours on the GB this year....

 

That's certainly how the Steam Tours website shows it http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t18/t0426a.htm
Interestingly they show the 0Z26 positioning move to get 31806 to Yeovil in time to include a class 33. Unlikely, as Swanage's mainline 33 is currently at Ruislip and the Real Time Trains path for that trip is timed at 45mph implying it'll be solo and tender first at times. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53361/2018/04/26/advanced
Most likely it will run smokebox first from Swanage (and from Weymouth) and both locos will be turned on arrival at Yeovil Junction so that they top and tail tenders-to-the-train on the Yeovil -Weymouth -Wareham -Swanage legs.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk