Northern Belle: 19/9, 3/10 & 17/10/20 + 16 & 17/12/20

Whilst network rail still allows vacuum braked trains on it's network, I don't see a problem, but if sometime in the future, its decided that only air braked vehicles can operate on the network, then West Coast will have no option but to duel brake its entire fleet, as will vintage trains,

 

Sorry, Alan, on this one you’ve missed the point and are merely digging yourself into a hole! There is no mandatory requirement for air braking, so why add another complicated system (and it is!), if you don’t need it?

Vacuum braking has never been outlawed (and that wouldn’t be Network Rail's call, anyway) and meets the requirements of the standards for braking at the speeds used - it’s the same blocks on the same flanges, after all. Through air-pipes is fitted to most vac locos, meaning air locos can be used to clear the line, if required.

As far as 6233 is concerned, like most single-owner groups, there’s no exclusive arrangement; it remains a gun for hire. 34067 is under overhaul.

JS

 

Thanks James.

 

That's great news! Wish more than one like were possible. I know that she hit the headlines on a couple of occasions during her last spell of action for the wrong reasons, but I for one am really looking forward to seeing her back in action in he main line again.

 

And there's another 'like' from me! Looking forward to seeing her back!

 

On the topic of the 'Northern Belle', the Railway Herald tours page is still showing a 'Black Five'-headed run on 17 December from London. Does anyone have any information on this? Many thanks.

 

Indeed! It'll be interesting to see what unfolds.

 

That would suggest it was more than cracked

 

Due to be headed by 45212. All movements from the light engine, tour, ECS and the LE move back to KWVR is here.

LE movement 16th: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2020-12-16/detailed
ECS 17th: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2020-12-17/detailed
OUTWARD 17th: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2020-12-17/detailed
RETURN 17th :https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2020-12-17/detailed
Evening ECS 17th: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2020-12-17/detailed
Fri LE movement to KWVR: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2020-12-18/detailed

 

The light engine movement shows as ecs so is it likely that the steam loco plus diesel plus stock will all come down from Carnforth together or is the Northern Belle stock already at Southall ?
There appears to be a water stop at Rugby and the train is showing as timed at 60 m.p.h. which makes a Black 5 likely to be in the consist ?

 

If it is still running the Northern Belle is running is East Anglia on the Wednesday and goes to Southall that evening. The return on the Friday might be more interesting as the Friday trip from Coventry and Birmingham is cancelled but is running on the Saturday from Liverpool.

 

Times are in RTT for the Norwich job on 16/12......

 

Speeds for timing on RTT are often not to be taken with anything more than a pinch of salt. An amusing example on my (North Downs) line at the moment is the new additional trains from Redhill to Reading which are described as "diesel locomotive with 769 tonnes trailing at 100mph" - they are actually class 165s and the line speed is 70mph! The 769 tonnes presumably refers to the fabled class 769 units when/if they ever appear.

 

All rather academic now, I'm afraid, as London going into T3 from tomorrow night, has forced this one to be cancelled.

Another one bites the dust.

JS

 

Indeed so. However, 'Northern Belle' has this on their site which suggests that their operations are/would be unaffected from all tiers. I don't see how this squares with now cancelling a Tier 3 departure, although I actually don't see how they could claim that all Tiers' departures would be unaffected anyway. Am I missing something here?

 

Possibly that WCR website manager probably only works office hours and thus an update will wait for them to be able to do so?

 

Yes, I get that, but my point was about NB claiming a while ago that their trains from all tiers would continue to operate. The rules for the tiers haven't changed today or recently, only the areas in each tier, so I was wondering how they could be claiming previously to be operating trains in/from tier 3 anyway. I'm assuming I've overlooked something.

 

The Black '5' charter from London to Salisbury on Thursday has disappeared from the Northern Belle website. Hopefully the reason being because it's fully booked. <BJ>
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