WCME/CME 2024

Respectable 44 over the summit of Shap (11 + BoB is a fair load for a 47 to have in front of it.......)

Andrew

 

34067 has made up 9 minutes so far by Penrith.

 

No doubt the 47 pushing like mad as if not it would be a record power output for a Bulleid light pacific

 

Id say with the TPE that’s due in to Carlisle at 1347 pushing up behind, they needed the shove.

Plus as Ralph says, much needed to get some vital servicing time at Carlisle

 

Into Citadel 60 down.

1Z87 booked departure time is 1417.

 

The 47 wasn’t doing that much on the last mile or so to the summit at Shap on the 1 in 75 .

 

Speaking for myself, apart from the lack of opening windows, another reason I dislike the air conditioned Mk 2 carriages, is the reduced size of the windows compared to Mk 1 and the earlier Mk 2 variants.

Basically, I am never going to book on any steam railtour using aircon stock. It’s as simple as that!

 

I suspect at some point the MK1 to MK2 progress will happen. It’s bound to. It’s just changing times.

 

You missed out "self funded" in advance of the word five

 

With you there. The higher windows in the god awful Air Con Mk2s make sighting mileposts way more difficult, though again we're very much in the minority. Fingers still crossed that the ORR will agree a program of CDL fitting with WCR otherwise we're going to be restricted to travelling on the few Vintage Trains Tours that will run unassisted.

 

Just out of interest, from anyone on the tour, could you hear anything of the steam loco working at all?

Julian

 

Me too my friend. We will both save the money though.

 

True Don; but we'd rather be able to spend the money doing what we love. The younger generation were brought up travelling in coffins so there's no difference for them. Joy go with them. For us the trains aren't even worth photographing.

 

Just think, if the 47 wasn't on the back, 34067 may well have gone over the top at 50+.

 

The only thing we can hear from the middle of the 3rd coach is the whistle (and see the steam / smoke). To be honest I'm not sure we would have heard much from Tangmere in a MkI once on the move.

 

That's a good point, Bulleids tend to be pretty quiet, but not to be able to hear the "Jubilee roar" would, for me anyway, make it not worth buying a ticket. I'm just thankful for the several great trips (nearly all unassisted) in 2022/3 which I've enjoyed so much.

 

Departing Carnforth

 

Sounded superb at Kirkby Stephen

WCR have taken some stick the past few weeks (Including from me!) but they’ve done a brilliant job of ensuring the trips still run, and more to the point the people onboard seemed to be smiling plenty!

 

34067 on first WCME of 2024. Yealand Bank