WCRC Santa Specials 2019

Ok.

 

Despite the horrendous weather conditions No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' puts on a wonderful display as it powers through Beckfoot with the penultimate 'Santa
Special'



On the return at the site of the old Shap Station



And finally with the heavens having opened up 'Scots Guardsman' working over Docker Viaduct

 

anything else that was going on...

In the case of Coach H an entire aisle of under 10s jumping up and down singing their little hearts out to Christmas songs whilst having an impromptu dancing competition, which only ended when a conga went up and down 3-4 times...

Add to the equation a footplate visit at Carlisle, the elves going way beyond the call of duty whilst the issues at Carlisle were sorted (special mention to the tanker driver for waving at the kids) and a bloody glorious time was had by all.

WCRC as in previous years worked their backsides off for the kids and deserve a huge amount of kudos, speaking to parents on adjoining tables and whilst we were the only repeat bookers (our third visit - little legs was missed!) Without exception all were planning to come again next year!



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Well done for sticking at it!!

 

Good stuff Shep...very good!!

 

46115 is seen at Shap Summit, Shap Beck Quarry and leaving Grayrigg loop.

 

Plenty of the trees been cut well back now Ralph that has opened up a new location nicely

 

One of those once your out days

 

Looking like you were as blessed as we were with the scattered showers

 

Can’t beat the effort put in by all at West Coast especially if the little ones get a visit from Santa that they will remember .

 

Cracking video. A Royal Scot in December in bad weather with 13 on performing well, what's there not to like! Excellent performance by the crew whoever they are. They deserve big praise for getting the best out of Scots Guardsman in awful conditions.

 

Like that one.

 

46115 is performing really well at the beginning of this operating ticket!

 

Ably assisted by Mrs Claus this year!

Intrigued to know where WCRC source their elves from as they seem to be an enthusiastic mix of fairly young lasses and older gents?

 

sELFridges?

 

As you were on the train can you confirm the 47 was pushing most of the time especially Northbound. Cheers in advance

 

To be honest no idea, we were in Cooch H so near the back but heard not a peep from either the 47 or in fact 46115, possibly due to the kids noise in the coach and the fact that cracking a toplight would have seen me glared at by numerous mothers (including MrsGWR4707!.

As noted on earlier post we went out of Lancaster with acceleration that would have done a Pendolino proud, but then again we were very late (no fault of WCRC that one) and in danger of holding at least a Barrow train up (which had been directed into P4 and was waiting as we left from P3) so I expect they were asked by control to get a move on, to Oxenholme where we were passed by 2? trains.

The speed up Shap suggested some assistance (again possibly understandable as northbound services generally seem a bit buggered up) but I cannot imagine any would be necessary north of there as 75 would be easy for her to maintain on a falling gradient.

Coming back, less clear there was no noticeably electric acceleration, although I don't really recall the departure from Carlisle as I was listening to a 6 year old, excited beyond belief that she had been allowed on the footplate!

There was one point, and sorry I cannot recall whether or was north or south, where there was a noticeable jolt which suggested to me that banking assistance had just been dropped off.

All in all it isn't one for the purist, the kids had a ball and that's all that really matters!