LE movements, ECS and test runs 2023

Tuesday now.

 

46115 nears the end of its journey from Bristol to Carnforth

 

On RTT today's "Q path" from Carnforth to Southall (not yet activated) now appears as VAR and has been retimed for 60mph. Looks like a replacement for yesterday's steam move. It will be a busy night at Southall as it is due to arrive at 20.59 and out at 03.47 to Shoeburyness.

 

Looks like there might be a track circuit failure somewhere south of Carlisle. No trains shown on the OTT map and various cancellations shown on RTT with track circuit failure as the reason.
Also do these moves not usually also have a Rugby water stop as well as Crewe? Southall seems a long way from Crewe.

 

Today’s path has not been activated so probably not running. Times today are identical to those for yesterday, but I take your point - maybe it was always planned to have a diesel on the front?

Now activated 12.38

 

45690 approaching Preston 1324 Tues. AN

 

45690 heads south at Forton

 

As the clock ticked round and passed 12.26, the planned starting time from 10A, and the path on RTT had not been activated I convinced myself that the move would not be taking place. A few minutes later whilst typing a reply to @Gladiator 5076's post I checked RTT again, more in hope than expectation, and found that the path was now active and something was already on its way. I hastily gathered up my bits and pieces and headed for the car, by this time the train had passed Carnforth N Jn 12E - oh heck!

I had thought of going to Penwortham but I needed to get somewhere quickly and that somewhere was Leyland station. There are still temporary traffic lights on the A666 so I sneaked through the backstreets of Darwen, past the site of the old Hoddlesden Jn and onto the M65. With the speed of a thousand gazelles I headed for Leyland, thankfully traffic was light and a journey that would typically take 25-30 minutes at this time of day was knocked off in 20. I parked on the station car park, a check of RTT showed that the "train" was still north of Preston - so there was time to buy a ticket.

Along to the south end of the platform on the up fast line, or as far south as the non-present contractor's temporary barrier would allow. The sun was in, then out, then in again - pot luck if it shines. Another check on RTT and 5V42 had cleared Farington Curve Jn 8E. The sun was in - ah well. So it should be due about now - and it was. The sun came out, I pressed record. Despite having fitted a shield to the camera screen, with the sun almost directly behind me I struggled to see the image - that's my excuse, anyway. What resulted was Mr Clumsy at his best, first zoom the wrong way and then the right way but not enough - at least I did get there. 20C, 10E (or 23h 50m late) and a bit over 60mph. Well done to all those who coped with whatever had arisen yesterday and got the show back on the road. Leander looked and sounded fine, fingers crossed for her trip tomorrow.

As for Oswald after 6 outings in 7 days with 5 different locos it's time for a break . . . until Saturday. There are some down sides to living in the NW but a lack of mainline steam isn't one of them!



And a still from the video

 

Stepping out on the climb to Whitmore (Madeley, Staffs).

 

A little further south, Leander rounds Queensville Curve just south of Stafford and heads off down the Trent Valley on its way to Southall.

 

Long Buckby ,Northampton Loop.

 

I really like the one of the 197 disappearing under the bridge with 46115 to the right, excellent!

 

Thanks! There was quite a saga leading up to that. Ludlow or Leominster for the Hereford Train? Chose Leominster. Bought ticket at station, informed that the train was cancelled, But the next one should be in time for me. Agonizing wait. What's going on? Cancelled according to station boards but coming according to RTT!
Chatting to lady re options for her London train from Newport, loud horn and rumble and the cancelled 150 zaps through. Its delay (crewing problems from earlier delays, apparently) has held up my following train, touch and go now, should I abandon Hereford?
Decide to press on, and boarded the pair of 197s at the front. Due to arrive Hereford at about the same time as the Scot...
4 coach train, so another big decision. Stay at front to get the shot of the Scot arriving, or go to the back to be sure of getting it before it backed into Bay Platform 4?
Decided to walk to the back of the train to be sure of getting it. But a big muzzled dog was blocking the gangway glaring at me with NO wagging of tail. So I decided to be brave (?) by going back to the front in the hope of the shot coming in.
Arriving, and the units were ready to go and running late. But two stragglers turned up, they crew reopened the doors while they got on board.
46115 had passed Tram Inn some minutes past and was imminent. Photoed the units as they passed the box and through the viewfinder saw 46115 coming in. Nice to have a few words with the affable West Coast people too. So all was very well in the end!
Until the grossly overcrowded two car 150 back that is...

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R91532/2023-08-27/detailed

Black Jubilee in the dark ?

 

Not activated yet

 

Activated 1920

 

According to info on Railcam it's 45699 coming back to Carnforth.
I'm pretty sure that Galatea is already at Carnforth.
UPDATE
Whichever Jubilee it was made good time and arrived back at Carnforth 88 mins early at 0423

 

45690 at Birmingham Airport not best video from carpark:

 

60103 back to York
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91469/2023-09-04/detailed

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U55391/2023-09-01/detailed
Royal Scot returning to Crewe?