(RTC) The Christmas White Rose - 14/12/19

As said in a previous post and from experience, the LE paths don't always show at KGX. Would like to see both york tours tomorrow but not if there both rear gunned !

 

But that was when there was a siding outside Gasworks Tunnel, so the loco didn't really leave KGX. There's no siding now, so the loco will have to go light to Ferme Park or Southall.

 

Lincoln tour on the 8th did not have a diesel on the rear.

 

Started out of Ealing Broadway tho'.didn't touch KX.

 

60163 with a 47 on the rear of the stock sat in Ferme Park when I passed about an hour ago.

 

Confirmed diesel on rear departing Stevenage.

 

Tailgunner on for carriage heating maybe?

 

We are currently just outside York 20+ mins early. Brilliant run from the Bebworth Loop water stop. According to the tannoy announcement on the train we may have been helped by a late running service.

 

My Latest footage, enjoy

 

A very good run then by a brilliant loco.

 

Just got home from a long but most certainly worth while day. Tornado performed brilliantly and just seemed to cruise when not restricted to the loops. Thanks must go to the A1 Trust for allowing Tornado to haul the return leg of what is possibly the best railtour I've been on.

Managed to see 7029 for the first time as well whilst in the NRM and in the platform at York while I waited for our ECS to come back in on the platform she vacated just prior. Sadly didn't get a decent picture of her though.

 

A rather good day out, with a good dose of 70+mph running, and pleased we were able to keep moving at Stoke Jn on the outward, rather than stop. 60163 simply purrs along at speed. Thanks to everyone involved, and the A1 people for allowing it to stand-in for 60009 on the return leg.

 

Tornado seen speeding through Hadley Wood with the return Christmas White Rose, a wicked sight.

 

Fabulous sight through Newark Northgate Station

 

No. Possibly most people might be happy.

 

A very reasonable and balanced viewpoint from @Big Al. Thank you.

I found this tour very attractive, even when the onward leg to Newcastle behind 60009 was withdrawn. However, I decided not to book because ECML, WCRC, Christmas trip added up to a high probability of a diesel on the rear - at least in my perception. On this occasion people with views like mine didn't matter because the train was fully booked, but that is not always the case.

I accept that there are valid reasons for attaching a diesel - there always are and they get trotted out regularly* - but unless there is greater clarity I won't book.

* Just as an aside, I'm not convinced by the "steam heating" argument. Locomotive boilers produce an awful lot of hot steam. How can it be more effective to haul along a 100 ton diesel to provide heat? Unless, of course, it's "just taking it's own weight".