LE Movements, ECS and Test Runs 2018

Mr Riley has said on 'The Works' forum that the two fives will have their POBs plus two air-braked coaches on Saturday and 37518 will bring the rest of the ECS back on Monday 29th in this path:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10971/2018/10/29/advanced

 

6233 on Queensville Curve this afternoon, first time I've got a shot of her in the sun! Lovely tribute to Nigel Dobbing on the smokebox, nice to see it carry over from the ELR gala to the mainline

 

Nice photo and great to see 7000 back out on the main line.

 

70000 this morning at Chirk Bank in a patch of weak sun.

 

Caught 70000 at Chirk and here at Wellington on today's runs, have Chester and Shrewsbury lined up tomorrow. Well worth the 4am start!

 

Two shots of Britannia on todays loaded test run on its last leg passing Sytch Lane, Mill Meece between Stafford and Crewe while being overtaken by a Virgin Voyager working a London Euston to Chester service.

 

Short video of 70000 crossing Chirk Viaduct, 24.10.18

 

My shot of 70000 on Chirk viaduct today.

 

Approaching the site of the closed Walcot station.

 

Shrewsbury today (24/10) and its semaphore signals.

 

Really good photo.
Apologies for my ignorance but would welcome any enlightenment on the complicated piece of equipment on the locomotives right hand side sitting above the buffer...?

 

Shots from Chester Golf Course bridge and Shrewsbury, talking to the heavens in the latter from the chimney and safety valves!

 

Steam operated air pump for the brakes. Hidden away on a lot of locos, but a few have it on display. Helps keep it cooler if it's not tucked between the frames as well as easier for maintenance i.e. hitting it with a hammer!

 

Many Thanks, much appreciated.

 

Is the air pump a recent addition, please? I don't recall seeing one on the Brit before (I could just not have noticed it though!).

 

Ahh! That explains it-many thanks, much appreciated!

 

Are you sure about the NRM insisting on a policy of “as built” authenticity? I don’t recall “Flying Scotsman” having air brakes as built (or even “as withdrawn”); nor a buckeye coupling on the tender for that matter.

So whatever the reason for 70013 not having an air pump, it doesn’t seem to me on account of a hard and fast NRM policy. At the very least, the policy seems flexible enough to allow judgements made on a case by case basis.

Tom

 

FS cannot really be classed as something that is even vaguely in original form.
Not even anywhere near Grandad's axe in comparison.

 

Indeed, though that does exactly illustrate that any policy of “as built authenticity” is in fact modified on a case by case basis, and isn’t therefore nearly as prescriptive as the term “insist” suggests.

Tom