Spring/Summer/Autumn 2018 CMEs

Indeed. A fantastic climb. Can’t wait for videos to appear. She looks like a top performer in years to come. If her size negates the need for a stop at Appleby on the S+C for future runs, why use anything else?

Once again, a huge thank you and well done to everyone at 10A involved in the return, and perfecting of 35018.

 

not climbing, but getting underway on the Carnforth levels:-

 

Clearly not stopped at Appleby. Now 11E

 

Carlisle to Appleby 39m 50s. Thru station at 53.6; Helm Tnl 53; Crosby Garrett 62; Kirkby Stephen 53.7; Birkett Tnl 51.7 ..... Ais Gill Summit, mp260 53.0, 56m 46.82s from Carlisle. 18 m 57s from Appleby. Words fail us.... superb.

 

Lambrigg and Kirkby Thore...


https://www.flickr.com/photos/iancawthorne/40253257640/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/iancawthorne/40253259140/

 

35018 Battered the hills today . Footage at Shap Wells and Angerholme .

 

Is this a record with 11 on?

 

How do these magnificent performances compare with the Blue Riband runs of the various Class 8 locos in the 1990s?

Peter on a grey Manchester evening, but cheered by the exciting new arrival on the main line steam scene
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

Blue Riband had to be 12 min for a Class 8 with a standing start from Appleby.

 

10E at Ramsgeave & Wilpshire, looked majestic; eased just beyond platforms and shut off as loco breasted the summit. Today's figures are awesome, so a quick oil round, fill with coal and water and send it to see me ( and Mrs W) on Tuesday's Dalesman - please.

 

I have details of all the best runs and will check but I think today's may be the best with 11 on.

 

If this is what it does when being run-in, goodness knows what performances are yet to come..... remarkable figures this week on both runs.

 

Not sure how many non stop runs there have been in the preservation era but the famous run of 35012 in 1964 with 8 on was 17' 46'' from passing Appleby at 60 to Ais Gill SB. So 18' 57'' with 11 on is a seriously good time for that section. Hooker's run from Carlisle to Appleby was hampered by pws and sigs, net time 36-37 mins. Under 40 mins for that section must be very good.

Most of those runs involved starting from Appleby, so the times were measured from Ormside to Ais Gill. So we have to await @1020 Shireman detailed report. The Blue Riband time is by 46229 at 16' 14'' from Ormside with I think 12 on in 1993.

 

What else did you expect? It's a Bulleid.

 

Taking @1020 Shireman 's speeds vs the 46229 record:

Helm Tnl 53; (vs 55)
Crosby Garrett 62; (vs 66 at the tunnel)
Kirkby Stephen 53.7; (vs 56.5)
Birkett Tnl 51.7 (vs 52.5)
mp260 53.0 (vs 54.5)

It's definitely up there, but Blue Riband had to be standing start Appleby and min load 12 to qualify.

 

What with cows on the line near Rugby, sheep at Deepthwaite and 'British India Line' going hell for leather trying to make up some time, Steve Chipperfield
driving, Chris Holmes with the shovel and Roly Parker guard



Another late start from Carlisle, Appleby given a miss and running eighteen early at Waitby, 'British India Line' putting on a superb display as it speeds the return
leg of 'The Cumbrian Mountain Express' towards Kirkby Stephen

 

Whilst that is true of course we have to remember that all recent runs have been with LM class 6 or 7 locos which have been producing their best ever. The Bulleid is a class 8 in the top level comparable to a 4 cylinder Duchess. You have to look back to the runs with 46229 to make a fair comparison

 

A lot depends on the crews getting to know her also, getting the faith to know how far they can push her, how best to drive her, with performances like that, i bet there will be a few drivers at Carnforth who will be wanting to see how well they can make her go, strictly with in the speed limits of course, i wonder if any drivers have had that, bloody hell moment yet, when they get her notched up and she just goes,they have to shut off and they realise just how good engines the MN are, i bet a few crews are now saying, " did we really go that fast up t' hill?

 

Just a shame the master called Gordon Hodgson isn’t still driving for West Coast

 

Nice photos, good to see 35018 showing that she is now in the best of health, so, come on, Carnforth please, invest in some BR(s) coach green and outshop a 12 car rake in Green to run behind her you can still have the west coast branding, but who agrees ? is it time to bring back the green train?