Cathedrals Express 19 & 22/05/18 - 60103

47760 assisting out of the platform at York earlier. Can't recall how many carriages, though.

 

Through Chester le street at 16.16, at an estimated mid 60's, 47760, doing nothing on rear.

 

My offering from a sunny Alnmouth, she did well to make up so much time and keep my plans on track (Literally!) Why the NR signalman pathed her through the platform at Durham was a complete mystery and totally unnecessary , she clearly didn't slow down quickly enough, as the driver put the train brake on so quickly the drivers stopped moving! She was sliding for a good few feet until regaining composure and rejoining the Down Main at the next opportunity. Despite that cracking day with her and 45690.

 

You stand in a field for nearly two hours in unbroken sunshine because the bloody thing is running an hour late, then when it does decide to appear a cloud comes over.

"Flying Scotsman", 19/05/18.

 

Fenham. Almost took me by surprise. Supposed to be six minutes down, but it had picked almost all of it up.

I stood up to stretch my legs with about five minutes to go, heard something coming and there it was. .

 

It's a pity they couldn't rethink the need for the banner-sized ad for the NRM on the side of the service coach.

Usually less is more.

They spend a fortune making the A3 look good then they ruin the illusion with the crass leading carriage. They could at least let us pretend it was real (ish).

 

Possibly the same reason that 60163 was routed through the station at Darlington on her record-breaking night? Computer-assisted diversion?

That's a bit worrying that she had a bit of a 'lock-up' too - one hopes that no flats have been caused

 

I wouldn't call the wording on the support coach a "banner-sized ad"; just identifying the ownership of the coach, as on West Coast's coaches. We know that the NRM also owns the loco but the wording doesn't say that for anyone who doesn't know. The loco is absolutely real in one sense (a steam locomotive pulling a train full of passengers on the ECML in 2018) and quite unreal in another sense (carrying BR livery and markings long after BR as operator ceased to exist). The NRM have chosen to present the loco in its BR condition, but they're not trying to create an "illusion". If you want to photograph it and create your own illusion by editing out the wording, that's up to you.

 

Wow. My apologies for having an opinion.

 

The NRM support coach is one of the better presented ones IMHO. At least it’s a Mk1.

 

I thought Steam Dreams were supposed to be running diesel free?

 

That is what Mr Robertson was quoted as stating in recently published interview, so either an operational requirement was imposed or the load exceeded the unassisted limit the NRM stipulates for the A3?

 

could have been worse, it could have been 'inside'...
anyhow, after Tornado's little debacle on the ECML recently, probably not a bad idea???!!!

 

Well the diesel wasnt doing anything when we saw it just north of Drem. Vac only set as well do you want it sitting down on the northern section of the ecml without rescue options? Waverley isnt a place to be doing run rounds in daylight either!

 

Flying Scotsman on the Royal Border Bridge,Berwick
I blame Henry for tempting fate !
David

 

I blame myself for getting him to turn up on the right day!

 

The Waverley on August 6 last year had two coaches removed before York departure to get the load down to 11 (according to the applicable thread) so I am guessing it is either the NRM or NR maximum without a diesel.

 

In light of the unfortunate situation with Tornado, see no reason not to be double safe, with the tail gunner.

Would expect it to be a NR stipulation, to prevent chaos, however, in the past, a diesel has shadowed the main consist, not been in it.