S&C Pathfinder Charter - Aug 2018: Now 16/3/19 and with 60163

Why?
It did a lot of work last week. Support crew hadplenty to do without cleaning it.

 

Isn't that pretty much the raison d'etre of the P2?

 

Plenty coming out the pot in this video .

 

Don’t you mean “Kettle” Steve

 

The pot on the Kettle yes

 

Now...If only I can find a kettle with a Chime whistle when it boils!

I must admit - I quite like Number 9's weathered appearance - there is just something about it that just seems right and boy is she clocking up the miles at the moment - got to make the most of her while we still can.

 

I reiterate something I mentioned earlier which was that, in my case, Pathfinders should have written outlining the possibility/probability a couple of weeks before the date that the train might be a mix of steam/diesel and as this was a particular date where enthusiasts would especially want 100% steam, offer a refund to be taken up straight away. If, as seems generally accepted, we make up such a small minority they would only expect a few cancellations which, bearing in mind the trip was sold out months in advance, they should be able to resell. I for one would be £400 better off. Sadly I will have to recoup this somehow and will have to resist one or two trips to make up for it, so no one wins in the end.

 

The real McCoy......70013 approaching Ribblehead, 11 August 1968.

 

VHS cassettes? <DARFC>

 

Called forward thinking !!!

 

I think it's better to think that the rules are what they are until they change. If you're like me it's partly the money but also the hope of something special followed by crushing disappointment that gets you. Number 9, Shap and Ais Gill, all the ingredients were there for a memorable day. So you have to do a risk assessment. Let's imagine there is a 51st anniversary tour on 11/8/19 behind let's say 46115 advertised. What's the chance sitting here today that it will be fire risk conditions this time next year? I'd say one in four. If that's too high for you, as it is for me, don't book, consider the WCME from Manchester on Jan 27, or an itinerary from Preston in autumn or spring instead. Or look for one of the last runs behind number 9. You've had a lucky escape this time, take stock.

 

I think we were lucky mainline steam survived to the Open Access era. We'd only started doing steam hauled mainline trains in August 1984 and I remember talking to David Ward and Bernard Staite about that threat. Looked at that time as if it was going to be a very short-lived hobby, or as my long suffering says, obsession. Then we had the threat of closure of the S&C and the last steam hauled trains with Green Arrow. Then it was the Mark 1 coach thing. And that will rear it's ugly head again as retention tanks and improved crash protection will be needed it appears. Think it's widely known that the ORR don't like droplights in vestibules on the mainline either so will probably want proper electrical secondary locking. Cue the need for a generator car or generating facility somewhere on the train. Hopefully the 'movement' will overcome all obstacles as it has done in the past.

 

Indeed, this was the first mainline steam tour I've booked, I shall be more careful next time.

 

You have a point on the stock. Vintage Trains are raising money to upgrade the Mk1s. WC must be planning the same but all have until the end of next year I believe.

On safety, it is fascinating to learn that Pendolinos do not meet the new safety spec and no more can be built or supplied in current form.

 

If a solution isn't found to install ETCS level 2 kit into a steam loco then the P2 (or anything else for that matter) won't be going anywhere on the ECML south of Peterborough once ETCS is introduced. Or ultimately on the GWML then any other main lines to which it is rolled out.

 

Because the owner wanted to do it and help out with the current situation!

REALLY!

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Spot on Bodoranboy!

Using UKSteam for timings here - Prep day Wednesday, Trip to Weymouth & back - Leave Southall at 05:38 so wake up call around 03:30 I'd say, back on shed at 23:57 so after disposal and showers, bed around 02:00 I reckon.
LE move Friday - Leave Southall around 10:30/11:00am if memory serves me right and arrive at Crewe early evening (no times available on UKSteam for this unfortunately), disposal and then showers, evening meal then up at 06:00-07:00 on the Saturday morning for the trip.
Where are they likely to have the time to clean the loco? A little bit of reality needs to be realised here from those who clearly have their blinkers on. If you had been on support crew duties then the last thing on your mind will be cleaning the loco after a mammoth amount of miles on the Thursday and Friday, getting the engine fit to run would have been the priority, oh and don't forget the journey back to Southall on Sunday!!!

 

And another trip to Weymouth yesterday with Monday being the only "off day"

 

Why ?? was it because it looked a bit weather worn and it didn't meet with the approval of photographers ??

IMO so long as the oily bits are in A1 condition.........that'll do nicely.

 

Met with the approval of this photographer, just as I remember them in the 60s through Perth and Gleneagles.

 

Don't you mean A4 condition!