60163 "Ticket to Ride" 19/09/20

Anyone else booked on this? Have just booked Premier Dining for my good lady and myself from Darlington. Copy Pit, Summit and departure from Lime Street behind steam will all be firsts for me

 

Just had a mail from the A1 Trust. Tickets in the post on Monday. Also advised that we will now be going to Liverpool via Manchester & returning via Copy Pit. There's an issue with clearance at one bridge, apparently. At least we are still running

 

Can we assume they'll be a tailgunner for this as you need one for the drag back out of Liverpool ?

 

Oh, I hope not - especially after her splendid run over Beattock on Saturday last with 13 on...

Mark

 

Unless the diesel can be stabled outside Liverpool limestreet somewhere or could tornado just reverse out of the bay platforms at limestreet on the triangle to turn its train round thats the only 2 ways i could see round it without there been the need for a tailgunner.

 

Is this going to be operated by WCRC or DBC?

 

The triangle is on the other side of Edge Hill to Lime Street - there is no way that NR would allow propelling that far. Now, it USED to be possible for a locomotive to 'drop on' to a train already in the platforms - that's how the electric services to Euston used to run, prior to DVTs - but since the resignalling I'm not sure. Perhaps we will know more once the timings appear on RTT...

Mark

 

There has been a couple of north wales coasts in recent years that have left the diesel at lime St and that has sat at edge hill all day till the return. Surely this would be possible?

 

Tickets just received. No timings yet up on RTT though.

Mark

 

Thank you. I suppose Tornado being mostly WCRC operated these days means it can haul more tours to more locations.

 

North Road to Liverpool
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55258/2020-09-19/detailed

Liverpool to Preston ECS
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55260/2020-09-19/detailed

Preston to Liverpool ECS
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55261/2020-09-19/detailed

Liverpool to North Road
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55259/2020-09-19/detailed

Tail end Charlie on the back all day.

 

Hi 5944.

Thanks for posting the links - looks like the whole train is to be turned at Preston. I wonder why they're going all that way, when the triangle on the Bootle Branch is there. Let's hope that the tailgunner is quiet then...

Mark

 

Which triangle is that? There's one at Southport but no obvious way of getting there from Lime Street. However there is one somewhat nearer, at Garston. Preston does indeed seem a long way.

 

There's one just east of Edge Hill, that has Wavertree Technology Park station on one side of the triangle. Not sure if a signalled turning move would be possible there though, plus you've then got to find somewhere to stable the stock. I know Edge Hill depot has been used in the past, but that might not be an option this time. Plus it's on the opposite side of the line to the triangle, so lots of faffing around. As daft as it sounds, turning via Farington is probably the easiest option.

 

The Southport triangle is actually gone. The one I was thinking of is at the southern end of tbe Bootle Branch. The north to east curve of it was replaced some years ago, when rail traffic to/from Seaforth increased. Basically it's Edge Hill, Edge Lane Junction (if memory serves) and Olive Mount Junction. AFAIK it's fully signalled, & can handle heavy mineral traffic.

Mark.

 

Anyone know what changed to allow WCRC to bury the hatchet?
(BTW I was going to post this in a general Tornado thread but can't find one. It is mentioned in threads about tours that it is hauling and in the Current and Proposed New-Builds thread but seems not to have one of its own.)
EDIT: I have found it now.

 

There is a thread for Tornado in the Steam Traction forum on here.

Dave B