The Grampian Highlander 50007 & 50049 - 24/08/24

Two hoovers over Shap and Beattock tomorrow. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U22957/2024-08-24/detailed

 

50007 & 50049 at Shap Wells .

 

50007 Hercules + 50049 Defiance seen from Shap Wells.

 

Just a few photos of the 2 class 50's working the Grampian Highlander today at York, i was hoping to catch them at Huddersfield as well, but the signaller sent them before not after the train i was on
50049 Defiance & 50007 Hercules carrying the headboard 'Scots Streaker III'
https://railway-photography.smugmug...ust-2024/-KWVR-Grampian-Highlander-/i-LTMzkd8

Neil

 

Class 50s No. 50007 and 50049 arrive at Carlisle on the outbound leg of Pathfinders Grampian Highlander weekend charter to Aberdeen and then in failing light arriving at Stafford two days later with the return to Taunton.

 

I trust 'Scot' is a person or they have a huge headboard with a superfluous apostrophe (an ever-more-common error these days, sadly, for plurals!). Interesting to see a generator van in the rake - can neither 50 provide the hotel power? I recall an incident in the early-mid. 70s when my father and I were travelling northbound over Shap behind a pair of 50s and were in the buffet car when we came to a very abrupt halt - the signal had dropped back to danger as we approached, apparently.

 

The headboard purely nostalgia (plus a Roman Numeral) of a tour that ran a number of years ago, so the rogue plural dating from before the turn of the millennium.
The Cl.50’s can provide ETS, but at request of the loco owners (Class Fifty Alliance) the would not for the itinerary. Therefore two generators were provided for fuel range purposes.