RTC 2024

Would seem to be 44871 on both CME and NWCE this weekend for those heading out. “Riley International Rescue” the phrase used on Facebook. Tangmere must be staying in to watch England!

 

Now amended - The North Wales Coast Express is a special steam hauled summer train that runs from Liverpool and Chester to Llandudno

 

It was a typical sort of morning at Wistle Towers, Diego was already waiting to come in as I drew back the curtains. Straight to the kitchen for three helpings of breakfast before heading out again, presumably going "home" for yet another breakfast. Mrs W was up and about. I readied myself before heading north for a "steamy encounter" (of the locomotive kind - before you get any wrong ideas about Oswald). The weather forecast was dull, overcast, no wind to speak of but with the chance of a little light rain around lunchtime - oh goody! I thought that I'd give Woodhouse at try.

As I left home there was just the odd spot of rain but it stopped as quickly as it had started. Travelling up the M6 by the time I got just north of Preston the sky had brightened and there was even some watery sunshine. The was a very light shower near Lancaster and by Carnforth an ever darkening sky was yielding a few spots of steady rain. The rain continued, never amounting to much but just enough to keep the wipers interested. I found a parking spot at Woodhouse, not always easy, and had a recce; it was dull, dreary, dismal but thankfully dry. I had a check on RTT to see the current "state of play", the CME was in Carnforth Loop and the various service trains appeared to be on their best behaviour. Back to the car for a few minutes, time for a drink and a snack (flapjack).

As I began setting up there was just a hint of rain in the air. I set up one camera and tripod and popped a bag over it "just in case" before heading back to the car for the second camera, tripod and umbrella "just in case"! The rain was light but steady and showed no inclination to stop, but equally it showed no signs of becoming heavier. Another guy had arrived and set up his video camera and tripod a few yards away, sensibly he took cover under his umbrella, I left mine on the ground.

Traksy showed that the CME had departed Carnforth and was making its way steadily towards us. After not too long a wait a copious amount of white exhaust appeared under Rowell Lane bridge. [Back in the times of Henry VIII all this land around Rowell belonged to my "12 Greats" Grandfather. What a shame there were no trains and what a shame Oswald doesn't own it now!] Quite a distance away there was little sound from the Black Five, for it was not Tangmere today, but as she drew nearer the sound increased and there was the wonderful crisp and even beat from one of IR's finest. 14C, light rain, 3L & 53mph. Very enjoyable.

The rain persisted for part of the journey home but by the Blackpool junction the rain had stopped and the sun was shining, albeit weakly, and the temperature had reached an unbelievable 18C.

 

Probably less in the limelight than 60532, Ian Riley's 44871 has been busy today with the RTC NWCE (did we ever find out why this didn't go to Holyhead ?).
Seen at Helsby and Ffynnongroew - as an aside (trivia alert) anyone notice both today's locos in the north west carry Scottish region shed plates.

 

No mention of WD

 

I’d lent it to one of the Mods, something about “a nut being on the wrong thread”

 

Anybody booked on the West Somerset Steam Express this Saturday?

There's times for ECS around Southall/Paddington on realtime but none for the trip itself.
The WSR had an adapted timetable in place but their website has gone back to the usual one now.

Just wondering if it is actually running or not?

 

Looking at the information it seems the black 5 will take it down to Minehead and back to Paddington. Instead of the heritage railway providing a locomotive for the line

 

Yes presumably due to the stock being air braked.

 

Lot of work coming up in next week or so for 44871. Great.

 

Been a change to the Dorset Coast Expresses this year. Now steam hauled from Victoria to Southampton via Andover & Mottisfont, then diesel hauled to Weymouth. Steam hauled from Weymouth to Waterloo directly up the SWML.

 

Times are up for the West Somerset Express to Minehead on Saturday 20th July.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2024-07-20/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/.../2024-07-20/detailed

 

So the whole train is working through to Minehead

 

As the stock is airbraked there isn't much choice apart from a diesel on the WSR.
Cheers Neil

 

It's the first sentence that hasn't been updated. The rest of the text on the website says that 44871 is going through to Minehead e.g. "We leave Minehead steam hauled by Black 5 No. 44871 and head for Bishops Lydeard...."

 

RTC are good at lots of things, but ensuring entirely accurate information on their website isn't one of them.

 

I noticed the same, a little confusing though as the website suggests it "takes the Bournemouth Line, heading south through Winchester and Southampton." which would make the reversal impossible. Your suggestion via Andover seems more likely.

 

It's only us on this forum who would notice, or even care, about that sort of thing though. The majority of people on that train will want a trip to the seaside with a steam engine at the front. That's it. I've no doubt there are non-railway parts of the travel industry where there are specialist forums like this one, in which enthusiasts of that method of transport notice mistakes on websites that go un-noticed by people unfamiliar with that form of transport, which may include each of us.

 

While I agree they do have a large customer base of enthusiasts too. I think minor mistakes like these on the website don't really matter too much either way.