The Great Britain XI - 2018

Not at all John, big smile and a wave every time he passed, must be something you said.

 

Looks like I left the tour at the right time yesterday. My condolences to those still with it, especially those non diners who had little opportunity today to get something substantial to eat unless something other than the morning and afternoon snack was rustled up.

Thanks to the photographers for some excellent pics and videos. Although it's nice to travel on the tour, it's also nice to see it from the outside too. The WCRC crews , caterers and RTC organisers have done a brilliant job during my 5 days of the trip and their

efforts are also much appreciated.

Dave B (back home and catching up on zzzz's)

 

LOL Galateas colour doesn't look as good in the dull John?

 

Diesel scheduled to arrive in Swanage this afternoon, a couple of hours before the tour.

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Don't see why the DL can't go straight to London and 31806 assist Swanage to Bournemouth

 

Presumably the availability of a second steam crew and possibly gauging for the U class. Shame though - it'd be nice!

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probably because its not gauged if the tour wasn't stopping overnight at Swanage, then I would imagine the U would stay on over Parkstone bank
Is there an L/E path on RTT yet for the U ?
EDIT: She's already on the move 11 early enroute to Weymouth,

 

Please can anyone tell me where the waterstop will be?

 

I would imagine for the same reason that 35018 could not do Grange to Carnforth yesterday, not sure how long gauging takes these days but it doesn't seem to be something that can be done in days?

 

Photo of her leaving Swanage just after 0700 on Loco movements thread.

 

Bristol East Depot and Yeovil Jn

 

Unless the loco is Flying Scotsman and the head of the local Network Rail Region has just got the NwR Chairman 'out of bed' over the failure to get gauging done in time, of course!

Steven

 

Thank you GWR4090

 

Perhaps that's the problem if it the Chair of NR doing all the gauging on his own, they need more staff! I assume its just a case of running the dimensions/envelope of the loco through a software package these days, as the size of the railway I assume is measured by the NMT?

 

And the U class is at Yeovil , so hopefully the Yeovil to Weymouth leg will go as planned so what's the odds on the U not just hauling the train but dragging a black 5 also

 

'Just' a case of running the program is often the problem.

Steam locos are individually (or by same class) gauged over any requested route and that gauging is valid for 12 months from the date of approval. The necessary gauging assessment work is undertaken between the bid being made to NR and the timings being validated and, currently, that usually gives time to re-assess/re-plan, if there are any problems or prohibits.

The bigger issue is the pressure on the small team of gauging engineers and their system, which also has to provide network clearance for the welter of new vehicles, currently being introduced. A late change for a steam job or late delivery of requisite vehicle data can easily preclude a full clearance exercise, due to these other demands.

Just another element of the three- (four-?) dimensional chess game that is steam rail tour co-ordination and operation. As Big Al said earlier," Who'd want to do it?"

JS

 

I know Southern engines are great, but have you been up Evershot bank recently?