Great Britain XV: 15 - 23/4/23

How about some locomotive speculation. Thinking that 46115 would be fantastic for the Blackpool-Scarborough Day.

 

Some enticing new routes and destinations. Including a much sought after visit to Lowestoft and the East Suffolk line, a coast to coast from Blackpool to Scarborough via Copy Pit and the North Wales Coast.

 

Pathfinder and DB crews again.

 

Now that Scotsman is available will be interested to see:
1. If RTC use it.
2. If yes to the first question where.
My hope is that it goes to Aberdeen as the lack of crossing the Tay Bridge means a pacific is an absolute certainty although I still feel Tornado is more likely. The most likely use of Scotsman will be the Lowestoft leg although it would be interesting if Scotsman visited East Anglia twice in a relatively short space of time. Is the Duchess in gauge for Lowestoft?

 

Well it wont be doing the Devon banks, not on its own at anyrate, thats a day for a proper big one or a couple of decent mediums...

 

I would think the Devon Banks would be done by the Duchess unless the King was available and WCRC registered. Clan Line is unlikely to feature given it is supposed to haul a Pullman the day before. Tornado could feature on the Aberdeen leg but only because it has been there countless times and the fact it won’t cross the Tay Bridge either way.

 

Yes a number of us will recall the GB XII day out on 1 May 2019 behind 60009 and helper. 0915 EDI 1348 ABZ via Ladybank and Perth . Scheduled 1542 ABZ 2039 EDI via Stirling. Actual 1718/2135. There were problems that day getting to Ferryhill and back. Assuming it's via Perth both ways, it's probably a 12 hour round trip. Great day though.

 

60163 is RA9 and I suspect 60103 is as well.

I'm sure we have been over the business of the RA of the Tay bridge before.
The latest guidance in the Sectional Appendix is certain freight vehicles up to a maximum of RA8. No double heading apart from class 73's or classes 66 & 73.
More severe restrictions may be imposed in windy conditions.

Cheers, Neil

 

Duchess and Tornado are allowed 10 over the banks, King is limited to 9.

 

Surprising that, the king doesnt quite have the 'lungs' of the pacifics would have thought surefootedness would count for something.... clearly not.

 

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think limit for a King unassisted in steam days was 7 or 8.

I believe the Duchess and Tornado have special dispensation for 10, nominal steam limit is 9. The Duke has also taken 10.

 

The limit for a King on the Devon Banks was 360 tons. The Great Western built new stock for the Cornish Riviera in 1928 with a load of 11 coaches over the banks, but when the heavier Centenary stock came in in 1935 this came down to ten. For today's BR standards at around 37 tons apiece it is 9, as mentioned. I think Clan Line has also taken ten over the banks.

 

Clan Line did indeed take 10 once, on the Cornishman Express on 17th June 2018.

 

The Flying Scotsman Aberdeen trip is now showing as running via Perth which is to put it mildly not surprising. Two Questions though:
1. The Great Britain is showing via Perth both ways so does this mean that it will be hauled by a Pacific because AFAIK 46115 for instance could cross the Tay Bridge?
2. How after many years earlier this year where 2 37s allowed to cross the bridge double heading which AFAIK is prohibited just like a pacific steam loco such as 60103 or 60163?

 

In regard to point 1, I imagine the generic path for 'The Aberdonian' will be used for both the GB and Flying Scotsman tours as is much easier for NR to create one set of regular pathing, one which is relatively gauge friendly. This doesn't mean that the GB may not be No. 46115, or anything else smaller than a Pacific, to Aberdeen. It just means that Carnforth's hands are not tied should only a Pacific be available on the day.

 

Allegedly the double headed 37 tour was allowed on the basis that there was notification in advance from the tour promoter. Why would after years of double heading being prohibited (with the exception of 73s) suddenly NR allow it? Also will NR ever allow a pacific on the Tay Bridge ever again?

 

Is it worth you making a FOI request to Network Rail for that info ?

 

I don’t know to be honest. I just find it odd how double headed 37s was allowed because they notified in advance.

 

That is puzzling. Doesn't every special working have to be notified in advance for a path to be found, whether or not the traction requires any additional checks?