The Great Britain XII - April/May 2019

Dont think there will be any probs up there John,see you there

 

Thought you might be up there, I’m spending all the following week at Fort Bill if you are around

 

Be Fort William Monday Tuesday see you in Grog if not on the 830

 

hello
one from elford

 

Flying Scotsman crawls past Elford loops on the last leg of GBX12 with the crew on the lookout for further trespasses before stopping at the next bridge along the line.

 

I thought it would be interesting to compare BIL's performance on Friday with almost exactly a year ago on the first Dalesman trip. On that trip it was load 12 versus 10 on Friday. On the Dalesman it was Blair/Soames and on Friday Rawling/Bullock. Importantly, on the Dalesman, BIL had been thoroughly warmed up on the northbound run by the double Chipps. I don't recall the weather being much of a factor on either day, need to look back at the thread. Possibly there was a bit of rain a year ago because I think she slipped a bit on the curve over Smardale and lost a few mph.

BIL was taken out of Carlisle more steadily on Friday and was about two mins down by Howe and Cos. But with a restart from Appleby as opposed to a non-stop run, Friday's run over the Blue Riband section from Ormside to Ais Gill was about four mins quicker with two coaches fewer. How much is two more coaches worth on a climb like that? How much time does it take to stop a train from 60 and get back to 60? Overall moving time Carlisle to Settle Jn 99' 10'' on 8/5/18 and 98' 06'' on Friday with a stop. Honours even I'd say.

 

Is it wrong to think Flying Scotsman press is to risky?

 

So out of interest, what happened to the £3500 per head customers with 9 days worth of luggage who expected to be deposited at Pad @ 18.24 ?

 

I guess they had to suffer a modern GWR set, so either an IET or a Class 387. I guess after a week in a BR Mk1 it at least shows the passengers how bad modern stock is.

 

FS returns to York tomorrow, no publicity, expect no trespass ?

 

That's a little harsh when from what I hear ticket acceptance was offered before requested.....

"Ticket Acceptance with GWR

Please accept West coast tickets between Reading and London Paddington until further notice due to this is due to failure of 1Z31 York to Paddington. "

 

She also spared time and thought throughout the 9 days to speak to passengers as well as work to help them get home on day 9.
It was a remarkable tour made possible by some amazing experienced people.
She still managed a smile in London revealing planning is underway for the next one.

 

Part 3

Day 5

After having breakfast in a room which had the whole panorama of old town from Princes Street, I headed down to the station where there was a film crew already there ( we learned later were making a documentary about nr 9. ) I decided to stand next to them for the arrival of nr 9 hoping that others would stay out of the way which they did.



I was told the previous day that the replacement spring for nr 9 came from nr 7.

We suffered minimal delay until we approached the single track section at Montrose, when we left this section 16 late due to signal problems we maintained this until Aberdeen, where after some photos I headed for Pint at “ The Grill “ which has an interior which has hardly changed since the 1920’s ( The other option was "Krakatoa", both in the Good Beer Guide and both visited by Bulleid Pacific on the trip earlier in the year).

There was much speculation about problems with the loco online, but we (All the passengers) were all updated on a regular basis about the delays to serving of the loco and I posted updates on here as necessary. The weather improved as we approached Montrose, where I spotted the photographers by the river, but not Steamage on the hill. While we departed 98 late which was reduced by a shorter water stop and the run from Stirling onwards. we arrived 55 late ( slightly better than Railtour Standard Time ) After taking some pictures I headed for a pint in Weatherspoon’s where Thomas ( Bullied Pacific ) who was joining us the following day, and another who had returned from Aberdeen by service train also happened to be.

 

Out of interest was anything visible of the coast north of Stonehaven for the passengers on the train? I drove up the A92 after the outward leg had passed up that way, could not see the line & any of the viaducts near Muchalls from the road through the fog!

 

Pictures of Day 3 & 4:

Llanvihangel




Hencote


Frodsham


Scout Green on the climb to Shap. No fellow photographers were harmed in their removal from these pictures.






Beattock

 

We could see very little, was sure where it started so did not include in my post.

 

Which is indeed what I had to do. In the absence of getting back to York that evening, I got to Streatham from Clapham Jn by about 22:35. So thanks Al, the ticket proved most useful.

As I mentioned earlier, the organisation was great. I am sorry that Kelly's first GB in charge ended on a less than sparkling note, and that plans to meet family were stymied by events. Regardless, I was really pleased to see Kelly engaging with passengers long after the challenges had manifested themselves. That said, all the staff, from RTC to WCRC were absolutely brilliant throughout the time I was on the train.

 

Kelly needs a medal for dealing with all the various hurdles of yesterday, and in such a bubbly and engaging way. Her first GB in charge maybe didn't get the ending it so righty deserved but the drive and determination that was in Nigel has definitely rubbed off into her. For that we thank you and all RTC and WCRC staff, everything was most appreciated.