Cath Ex to Cambridge, Ely and Norwich 23/9/18

That's what I heard re the diesel so I will be on it. 60009 - what's not to like.

 

So it's been back at base for several days without having had a washout and presumably the FTR exam triggered the realisation that there was a problem that needed a washout and attention to another problem. I suppose that there is something inevitable in this news given that the loco has been overworked recently - never a wise plan.

I guess that there is little to do given that I am on my way to KGX. So, with travel, another £150+ down the drain.

 

At KGX and not travelling, of course. I am told thst the problem is a leaking tube plate discovered at the FTR exam. Given the intensive programme of work undertaken by UoSA an issue like this is almost inevitable when there is just not the gap between trips to have a long hard look at the loco check water treatment levels, wash out the boiler etc etc. It's a lottery.

Nothing Steam Dreams can do as these things happen. But the general question to ask perhaps is whether all loco owners should be far more careful over how available they make their locos. Two out of two 'no shows' today.

By the way, a Cl33 is on the rear today although I don't know or care whether it's gong to Norwich with the Cl47 up front.

 

Overworked, rubbish you seem to forget that there are other locos out there that work for a full week. It appears that the problem was discovered at the FTR, are you therefore suggesting that one should have been done as soon as the previous trip was completed.
Support crews do have other lives to lead and cannot be available 7 days a week.
It's almost as if you have an issue with No 9....

 

It's all a matter of judgement isn't it? Making a decision about when a loco is or is not going to be available is definitely not a call that I would like to make - even if I had the skills to do so. And it's not a dig about No 9 either as I booked on the Norwich trip because it was No 9, unlike those who are making the comments on my post.

I think that for one steam loco to be on five different charters so far this month is a big ask. Do the maths. Each charter has a two day lead in to the trip (light up etc) to include the FTR plus the trip itself. So that's 15 days in the space of 20 days plus the day to get No 9 back from Newcastle = 16. Ask yourself how much time the support and engineering team really had over this period to give the loco the care and attention that they would wish. Contrary to what may seem the case to some I do think carefully before I express a view about a set of circumstances. These are not 'digs'; they are sympathetic observations about the pressure that support teams put themselves under so as not to disappoint the public when perhaps they should think far more of themselves and their loco.

I was told at KGX and Facebook also suggests that today's problem was in part due to the water used on the Newcastle trip. Well whoever has made that judgement clearly knows how that can be so. At least that warning is now out there for other locos visiting the north east. Either way, today was a sad situation and I hope No 9 is back in action again after a rest.