CME 2023

Pesky diesels Steve

 

35018 seen at Scout Green, Newbiggin and Crosby Garrett

 

Superb Nige , proves we don’t always need to pan or zoom as sometimes it’s impossible.

 

35018 running downgrade towards Moorcock Tunnel on a very warm afternoon with the RTC CME.

 

I enjoyed the zooming out,it makes all the difference when subject exits centre frame also!

 

A day of two halves? More like several.

Solid overcast and a cold breeze when I set off from home in the south, warm and sunny in the north. A fine run up Shap and slightly early onto the Upperby curve, where we spent an hour, with the loco blowing off from time to time. At one point we moved a few yards and stopped again. We were told the reason; a points failure, and someone having to come out to sort it out (possibly to clip it?).

We thus had even less than our scheduled hour and a quarter at Appleby. I watched the watering for a bit then walked partway down the hill but decided against going all the way down for fear of being too slow slogging back up. The station shop did a good trade in ice creams.

I'm hoping someone has an explanation of the delay on the rest of the climb. We made a good start from Appleby and were going fine until just before Kirby Stephen when we slowed down. We ran slowly through the station and remained at a slow pace for the rest of the climb and all the way to Blea Moor. Possibly a report of trespassers somewhere?

I looked out at Ramsgreave and Wilpshire and spotted (I presume) Oswald but my wave was too late.

We were warned that the reversal at Preston would be quick, but we actually left close to the 1838 time shown in the tour booklet (which had been printed before the run south was retimed to take account of station closures due to strikes). Passengers who had boarded at Rugby and Nuneaton were dropped off at Atherstone and coached from there. We stopped as normal at Milton Keynes and Watford Junction, but WFJ was closed, with all trains cancelled, and a security man had to open the doors to let us out.

 

Well it wasn’t dragging its heels at Aisgill as it approach the summit

 

It was actually. 27.8 for a Class 8 with 11 up.

 

35018 northbound at Benson Hall on 13/5/2023
David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

35018 southbound at Birkett Common on 13/5/2023

 

It was one of those days where the points failure and the slower than usual progress between Garsdale and Blea Moor were concerned - the latter alleged by one or two stewards to be the result of signalling issues, so make of that what you will. Generally, a trip that did what it said on the tin despite the unforeseen circumstances conspiring against it, and all part of the rich variety of mainline steam.

Overall, I felt the climb up Shap was no-nonsense in the light of speed checks on the descent via Penrith and the fact we were running early, while Wilpshire Bank seemed to be achieved in rather fine style. Thanks to everyone involved.

 

Can someone please remind us where that sits on the scale of good and bad performances?
I agree that the climbs of Shap and Wilpshire were fine.
Was any-one from here logging times and speeds?

 

End of the day everyone film’s differently so as long as my subscribers keep watching what I do the jobs a good one Henry

 

And variety is the spice of life! It would be very boring indeed if everyones videos were “all the same”

Something that I try and do if I’m on-board a tour1 is to scour You Tube for all the different clips from every location and then put them into a tour running order.
This then allows you to watch your progress of the day that you were experiencing on-board.
Can make for a pleasant hour or so viewing using the queue feature.
Especially handy for being able to show friends and family and picking out the best clips!

 

Agreed Steve we all view things differently,we all have our own opinions.The world would be a sad place if everyone had the same views.

 

I too enjoy watching the various videos that members offer up but what I do find strange are people sitting on their laptops who chunter on about other peoples efforts yet don’t offer any examples of their own material

 

I can't say I've seen much of that. Praise, yes, but very seldom criticism.

 

35018 departing Hellifield.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/52895450594/in/dateposted-public/

Phil

 

I'd say it sits with all the performances with 20mph speed restrictions over significant sections--- ie nothing to be said from a loco point of view. The first section time up to KS seemed normal, confirmed by @nige757 video at Crosby Garrett, suggesting a signal check or other caution at KS to apply all the way to Blea Moor.

Good to see BIL back and on form.