Sugar Loaf Mountaineer : 7/07/18 - now 23/09/18

The five would have had load 8 too.

37 605 lolled up to Church Stretton in mid - high forties. Minm 46 after 53 in Dorrington dip, 54 thro Church Stretton.

Not done much on HoW line to compare with.

 

Checked images online, 37605 looks to be air braked only. As a rescue loco for 45231, which is through piped for air I believe, the 37 would need to be on the front and the 5 would not be under the train brake. If the 37 rescued from the rear, the 5 would be a 'swinger' or am I missing something? I understood better when it was said a vac diesel loco would be the allocated T'bird. Maybe a different loco was planned for a steam hauled trip.

 

The SRPS mainline set is dual braked so airbraked loco is not a problem.

 

37605, Cynghordy viaduct

 

Looking at RTT the train left Bynea 4 minutes early on the return leg, I wonder how they knew everyone was on board (unless they announced an earlier departure time when they arrived). Be a tough place to get home from if you missed it.

 

45231 is not dual braked so the set would have been hauled in vac mode necessitating a vac fitted diesel on standby. 37 605 is air only as far as I can tell so either a different standby loco would have been used, if 45231 took the train, or some other method of rescuing a vac train in the event of a problem. It is irrelevant today but interesting for the future if DBC might be doing more vac fitted trains as @gwr4090 mentioned above.

 

It would make a conspiracy theorist wonder if there was ever any serious intent to operate this tour with 45231.

 

Maybe the scope of work on 5231, which ultimately could not be completed in time, included fitting of air brakes?

 

Tickets were sent out Thursday with DRS 37 Stated for the diesel legs. That rang a few bells once I read it.

 

Reasonable bet the same diesel would act as T'bird once the steam took over?
I would also guess DBC doesn't have anything in its own fleet both cleared for HoW and capable of ETH with Mk1s, hence cross hire to DRS of a 37. Doesn't clear up the vac.
In hindsight this job cried out for WCs expertise and resources, not easy for multiple players to bring it all together for an unusual one-off.

 

ETH! It's not even the end of September yet.

 

Saphos Trains/ LSL TOC have certainly muddied the waters as to EWS - DB hitherto policies on vacuum trains and even train crews.

This DB operated train was planned to be hauled by a vacuum only steam loco driven by a driver hired from LSL who recently retired from DB. The diesel legs were planned to be hauled by a 37 hired from DRS.

The secret train to MHR the other week, operated by LSL: ECS Crewe to Southall, LSL class 47 with DB driver. Train from Southall, LSL 47 with WCR driver.

Who knows what’s next? DB subbing steam work to LSL who sub it to WCR?

The world is your Lobster, my son.

 

Guessing you are a hardy Scot?! It has been fairly chilly in the mornings and evenings lately in north west England.

 

take a claim to judge Rinder!!!!

 

Pity the collaboration couldn't rustle up 44871 from Carnforth at the 11th hour

 

Deleted.

 

5699 Galatea would have been the best option given it ran on HowLin steam days.

 

Knowing the amount of resources that went into this trip today and the last minute problems that had to be overcome, I'd be happy that it ran at all. Hats off to all involved!

 

RTT can get things wrong, see locked thread!

My notes show we left at 17h 02m 56s, although my watch was 3s fast. I was looking at RTT as we were about to leave Bynea and it showed us already at Llangennach!

We were advised to be back by 16.55 for dep 17.00 per letters enclosing tickets and on board announcements.

But yes chap in coach M took a trip into Llanelli and just about made it back in time.

Hats off to the Bell Inn, Bynea for arranging extra staff and extending the Sunday carvery. Gather they got conflicting messages re whether tour was running or not.

Overall not a bad day out but we didn't get a proper explanation of the probs with 45231.

FWIW 37 605 sustained 27mph on the 1:60 to Sugar Loaf. Would be nice to find out what the five can do. Maybe next year?

 

Would be inclined to pay again for this trip, but only if WCR are the operator as they have more Black Five's on their books !