Jacobite 2024

I'm not disputing you, but that seems like an odd arrangement. When we have visiting engines for galas and the like, although they come with reps to advise on operation, ultimately it is the home crew that has been assessed competent and is responsible for all the morning checks etc. and agreeing that the loco is fit to go out for the day and with whatever supplies are deemed necessary.

 

Checking that the sanders are functioning correctly is actually part of the driver's preparation duties.

 

Has it been suggested/confirmed that the sanders were defective prior to departure, became during the progress of the train and/or they ran out of sand on route???? Sure Mr Riley who I believe still uses this forum (Dog only knows why) will be happy to correct the record on some of the suggestions on here that the locomotive was supplied in a defective state??

Just popping over to the Saphos thread to see how the similar debate about the defects in 70000 that led to her failure at Carlisle came about are being handled (or the diesel that sat down for them this morning).....Clue: I ain't holding my breath...

This thread seems rapidly to be diverting from fact based debates to flinging enough excrement at WCR (and other parties getting caught in the cross fire) in the vain hope that some sticks.

 

The suggestion I've heard is that the conditions were blooming awful, and that the availability of sand was reduced because the locomotive was running tender first (one pair of sanders rather than two?).

 

In steam days if a driver lost time and couldn't think of a reason for his report he would put down ,,sands not working,, This was a regular happening. A patch of wet sand could block the pipe .If some one checked it out ,the sand could have dried out by then ,and it couldn't be proved either way.
In ref to train heating hoses between coaches ,yes they were all taken off, on the same day, at a weekend end at the beginning of April. I was told it was t stop them drying out and warping .There was a neatly stacked pile in most passenger coach sidings all summer.

 

Plus you have the 45mph limit when running tender first,so less chance to run at an incline, Sanders when tender first, are never as good as when smokebox first, because of the direction the sand is delivered to the rail head, local knowledge as ever seems to count, it's a drip, by drip situation, each and every mistake, or mishap compounds the poor image some will have of operating classic traction on the main line network,

 

I disagree when you go on mainline you need a FTR test and I can remember sanders was one of the things checked by the inspector doing the

It may be like that on private line but when on mainline it has to have a FTR test and one of the checks are the sanders on the loco and that is down to Crewe on the day to do prep checks like topping up the oil pot are full making sure you have enough sand on board and in the sand boxes all the check the inspector will be doing to check the loco is safe to run on main line I would not expect the owner to have to check on all the things that can run out while out on loan

 

Yes that was rather the point I was making i.e. it's not the loco owner's responsibility in either situation, private railway or mainline, but whoever holds the safety case. A bit of a treck to come all the way from Crewe on the day for an FTR though

 

In the case of the Jacobite, there is a high possibility the loco owner / owners rep and driver are one and the same!

Bit strange that 45212 was t/f out of Fort William, always thought preference was smoke box first to Mallaig for this reason. The climb out Glenfinnan is a stinker as it's on reverse bends and from a standing start.

 

Not sure how well you know the West Highland extension, but the 45mph t/f limit is null and void - overall limit is 40 mph Fort William to Glenfinnan and just 30mph onwards to Mallaig.
Where the train came to a halt is just 1/4 mile out of Glenfinnan where the train is restarting from, no chance of any run at the incline which starts off the platform.

 

Isn’t a certain TOC not happy about using the Turntable at Fort Bill?

 

I am not sure of the latest, didn't one of the locos get a turn last year or did it return facing the other direction following tyre turning?

 

Absolutely no idea

 

45212 was turned before Tuesday's trip.

 

Not sure there s much scope for running any faster than that on the WH, whichever way round you happen to be.

 

There seems to be a lot of misinformation on here about the running of the Jacobite. The reason for normally having the engine facing west is so the passengers can get some proper pictures of it at Fort William, its off the end of the platform at Mallaig. The spat about using the turntable was resolved years ago so I assume there was not time to turn it. It's on a tight curve off Fort William Junction not at the depot where there would have been plenty of space for it. Two of the locos remained facing East in 2021 as the turntable was out of action
The speed limit on the Mallaig road makes no difference to tender first running. Speaking to engine crews over the years I think the eastbound climb up the Mhuidhe to Glenfinnan Summit is more challenging, perhaps one of them can confirm if this is correct. If the train came to a halt on the first part of the climb then it suggests more of a problem than just sanding, although there are a lot of overhanging trees on that section, but as with all these situations the only people who know what happened are those on the footplate at the time. These things happen so good luck for the rest of the season.

 

I knew I could come on here to find out what happened
Sanders were tested and all ok on shed, dried out before starting out from Glenfinnan and then when stuck on the hill in filthy weather conditions they were checked and no longer working. They’re not infallible. A fault was found on shed and rectified.

The reason for not turning was simply time or lack of due to Sunday arrival, shunts, yard setup etc.

Anyway first time not getting over the top after nearly six years on the handle so must be doing something right.

 

Thanks Matt, I was hoping that someone at the sharp end would clear up the speculation. I think it was you who told me the climb up the Mhuidhe was the biggest challenge on the line.

 

Much as I don’t have a lot of time for those at 10A, I do happen to agree with you, we do appear to be disappearing into a world of if’s, buts and maybes.

 

One puzzle (of many) is why Mr Smith declared that they would not run aircon coaches in the summer because without power they would be too hot, but hasn't bothered about a whole train of MkIs and MkIIs being too cold. Having the train then stall was very bad luck for all concerned, staff and passengers alike.