LE movements, ECS and test runs 2024

D345 out on a loaded test run from 10A on Monday 15th

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C04713/2024-07-15/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C04716/2024-07-15/detailed

 

Does anyone know what the stock move from Carnforth to Fort William is today?

Mutteringa from up that way suggests they are getting extra capacity, but I could only see that working with MK1s being usable

 

Pair of Riviera Mk 2 air cons hauled by a pair of 37s.

 

I knew getting my hopes up of CDL MK1s was a bad idea! Plenty of time before my trip in September for things to change!

 

The HST power cars have left the Watercress Line but the two Class 50's and the electric unit have still not left yet (departure from Alton was 11.21 but there is no activity on the RTT schedule).
Is there a problem?

 

BR Class 40 D345 + 37706 seen passing Starricks Farm.

 

D345 on a test run passing Brock, always good to see a class 40
The working was 5M53 1238 Hellifield to Carnforth Steamtown 15/07/24

 

This from SE GEN
50008 & 50021 on 5Z50 is unable to leave Alton today due to a gauging restriction on Class 50's between Aldershot and Aldershot North Junction. There has been an issue with the paperwork which once
By The Basingstoker · #310695 · 1:37pm

 

Someone isn’t reading the correct paperwork. Class 50s have an open ended NRSC which supersedes Sectional Appendices by stating Class 50s are the same as Class 47/2.

 

The LSL "naughty coach" finally left Poole today I believe. There was a two tone green 47 attached to it as I passed over the flyover to visit my Dad in Poole Hospital earlier. This appears to be the move, although not sure what stops it hitting the juice rail today.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U19344/2024-07-15/detailed#allox_id=0

 

They eventually left Alton at 16.21, 300 minutes late.

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

You'd like to think so, but it doesn't look likely. Smithy must be spending a fortune hiring in stock from Riviera. Add in the loss of a couple of hundred seats per day on the Jacobite and the vastly reduced WCRC and RTC programme, he's a fool not to make an effort to sort it all out.

 

It seems he would rather lose money than give in to what he sees as an unreasonable demand. Although he comes from nowhere near Sussex, he seems to be applying the Sussex principle "We wunt be druv".

 

I am sure all of us on here would like it resolved, but WCRC is not a public company, it really is up to the owners to plough whatever furrow they want to.
Funny how many seemed on various forums seem so concerned about the company finances.
Yes I do not want a de facto monopoly in the market for LSL, but that is in reality a WCRC decision to make.

 

There's also the issue of West Coast's four in-ticket locos doing very little (apart from 35018's foray to Swanage) because they aren't air braked. I find it hard to imagine that nothing is happening behind the closed doors of 10A. I would not for a moment wish to speculate what might be going on nor how long it might take for the current stalemate to be resolved, but it can't be in anyone's interest for things to continue as they have been for the last six months or so.

I feel very sorry for RTC, which has been caught in the middle of this débacle. Like @2857Harry, I had in mind a trip in September - in this case the Atlantic Coast Express behind 35028 but I can't say that a 400 mile marathon in aircons is a particularly enticing prospect, even with Clan Line up front. RTC seems to be managing still to run most of the advertised trains, but will it be easy to sell seats on those which are more enthusiast-orientated, such as the "ACE" commemoration?

 

Did not stop the EOSS being almost full, and although it was a cool day there were no real complaints I heard re the aircon or lack of. The issue there was could have equally have happened with a rake of Mk1's.

 

45407 currently working 5Z38 Fort William - Carnforth ecs:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K15842/2024-07-16/detailed

Andrew N

 

Seems odd to bring the steam south unless it’s got issues

 

I happened to be passing heading north to a site visit but 45407 was definitely on the morning Jacobite this morning. Saw it at Fort William.

Additionally, the morning set now has what looks like a Riviera train Blue and Grey Mk2 in the set as well as the chocolate and cream one.

 

Lovely for a bit of photting that morning train!