Northern Belle 2021

Northern Belle next week diesel hauled throughout and as was feared 6201 Princess Elizabeth will be out of action for the foreseeable future. Not sure about loco haulage for remaining Northern Belle's in 2021 and in 2022 with Tangmere potentially going to be used and possibly Tornado as well. Hope that 6201 returns before too long but I must admit the situation doesn't sound good.

 

Looking at the times for next Saturday it suggests Diesel hauled. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64186/2021-09-25/detailed

 

Only available air braked steam loco is trundling up and down the Yorkshire Moors next weekend so it would have to be diesel

 

Can’t see Tornado doing any tours around that time plus there’s a big Red Duchess that could do the job if asked I would say .

 

Is the Duchess actually in one piece since it was withdrawn from the SVR gala lineup?

 

That I don’t know.

 

I'm sure BIL has an air pump fitted? Was chuntering away on our trips to Scarborough and Carlisle this summer.

 

BIL is vac-braked only.

 

I wonder if regular Northern Belle work may change the economics of that decision? Having BIL air braked would make sense given it is a class 8. Probably not so much any of the smaller locos.

 

If a steam loco, say BIL for example, piloted a diesel with dual braking capability, would that be able to work the Belle stock?

 

Thats Bulleid exhausts for you

 

The big question is how far 34067 is away from completion. Given that the NB usually has a diesel in the rear, a class 7 ought to be able to manage. There seem to be a lot of steam-hauled NB trips over the S&C for 2022, so either Tangmere isn't far off or else West Coast has something else up its sleeve, Of course, during the winter, one of the Riley "Fives" might be available, although I notice that the steam-hauled Christmas lunch trips booked for Black Five haulage have disappeared from the NB website.

 

Mid 2016 then ran for about 6 months and then was out of service until early 2019. Then ran from March 2019 to June/July 2021.

 

I guess it will be greatly influenced by the commercial value of it as a steam loco (and hence a selling point) for the NB operation.

 

I think though when Lizzys boiler was revamped retubed at 10A it was only given a 3 year extension on her boiler ticket back in 2018 and as for 34067 Tangmere according to one of the W.C.R.C. stewards on the pendle dalesmans I went on 34067 overhaul could be finished in a year and also said it could take 2 years maximum time depending on funds to complete its overhaul.

 

How longs the K1 going to be out of service? The reason is this could free up one of the Riley Black 5s.

 

At a guess Sam 2 years according to the N.E.L.P.G. for overhaul.

 

Ok thanks. That would mean all Riley 5s at Fort William next year for most of the season.