RTC 2023

I make it about 15 miles from Victoria to Stockport via Philips Park and Denton versus 6 miles from Stockport to Picc, so about 9 miles further. 380 steam miles that day.

 

Re. Welsh Mountaineer Tuesday 1st Aug, ticket letter confirms 44932 as traction. Formation is :

A First Class
B First Class
C Standard Class/Buffet Car
D Standard Class

With (presumably) a brake and POB that's 6 in total, I think this is normal for this particular train? I've never done this one before, much looking forward to it.

 

Never seen more than 6 on this regardless of what hauls it, unsurprising really with the wicked gradients beyond Betws-y-Coed. Hopefully there won't be a repeat of the last time a '5' took charge of the Mountaineer when 45231 never made it to Blaenau having slipped to a stand twice on the 1 in 47 up to Pont-y-Pant

 

45231 did make it all the way on 5-8-2009, but only after running back to ByC and shedding one coach. I don't remember how many that left and that trip isn't on Six Bells.

 

There's a class 6 that absolutely romped away with load 6 a few years ago, so much so I didn't realise we were on the steepest part until looking at the gradient profile, it was going that well. Sadly the loco is now static in a barn in Scotland.

 

Scots Guardsman hasn't had any problems on the line

 

Can vouch for that. 46115 is the hill climber in chief where I'm concerned.

 

It remains a shame that the engine in question never made it as far as the West Country.

 

The Waverley next Sunday with Flying Scotsman postponed to 19th November. The RTC website says that this is due to an issue found during scheduled maintenance and that the repairs are already under way and should take 3 weeks.

 

Any chance of stating which engine it is, or is it a private matter?

 

61994 The Great Marquess.

 

Welsh Mountaineer on RTT:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91701/2023-08-01/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91703/2023-08-01/detailed

 

10 years ago, no problems for The Great Marquess as she flies up the grades towards the tunnel with driver Peter Kirk at the helm. This the second of two trips that August.

 

Today would need an early start, too early for Mrs W (although she did volunteer to come along and hold the brolly). The forecast was not good, somewhere between 50 and 80% chance of light rain. In plenty of time, I headed over to Leyland and found the last remaining space on the car park. [For several months contractors have been working on "upgrading" the station platforms - new edgings and new tarmac. Perhaps 40% of the car park has been taken as a compound whilst half of the spaces that remain were occupied by contractors vans and worker's private vehicles.] I paid my £1, stuck the ticket on the dashboard and headed onto the platform.

It was not raining. I had planned to go to the south end of the up fast line platform where I could clamp a camera phone to the fence at the end and get a going-away shot. However, a temporary barrier had been erected across the platform leaving the final 30 yards "out of bounds". The work on the platform beyond the barrier did look to be complete. This barrier was too "flimsy" to use - hey ho!

A check on RTT showed "our train" waiting in platform 6 at Preston - presumably ready for the off. The departure time came and went as we waited for the late running Glasgow-London. Only 2L, and presumably with a blast on the hooter, 44932 headed south. One by one, the timing points on the approach were "ticked off" all 2L. There was a glimpse of steam in the distance, then 44932 came into view. Moving at speed, plenty of exhaust in the cool morning air, certainly not working hard, but with only 5 coaches there was no need. Standing on the "tight side" the short train flashed past and quickly disappeared into the distance.

The brisk westerly breeze did its job and kept the rain clouds moving across the sky. 13C (but feeling cooler), 2L & 56mph. Time for a quick exit, home and a brew. The contractors chose this exact time to re-arrange the skips in their compound. The skip wagon lifted one up, moved it a couple of yards and put it down, it dropped a new skip in its place, then picked up another and so it continued. I reluctantly had to watch as, to give it "space", two fork lift vehicles had been moved from the compound and "parked" blocking the egress from the car park. 20 minutes later I drove off the car park, just as light rain began to fall. As I neared home the rain became heavier and it has been raining steadily ever since. Bore da from a wet Darwen.

 

Phone shots Preston & Blaenau Ffestiniog

 

A parking ticket at Leyland station is valid for 24 hours, so it would be wasteful not to go back for the return. The rain stopped in the early afternoon and by late afternoon there was even some sunshine. When I arrived at Leyland there were only a handful of cars on the car park, the sun was shining and RTT showed that the train was 13L at Helsby.

A bush near the very end of the platform obscured the planned long shot from the south end of platform 3. A long shot from the north end of the same platform looked promising until several people stood down by the contractor's temporary barrier. There was still a bit of sun, but as time passed the sun dropped lower in the sky and most of the north end of the platform was in shadow.

Thro' Wigan 16L, not long to wait. Then some white exhaust in the distance (just where I had wanted the telephoto shot) as the train drew nearer and the regulator was closed. She was certainly moving apace, into the station, a long blast on the hooter, Oswald waves and gets TWO waves in return - days don't come much better! 17C, 18/19L & 62mph. And it's Nos da from Oswald.

 

Betws-y-coed, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Kinmel Bay/Rhyl.

 

Possibly one for another operator, but I wonder if something like this could happen from the West Midlands?