Saphos Christmas White Rose: 16,20,23/11/24

Excellent.

The northbound shot at Doncaster did it for me, nostalgia by the bucket load, thanks.

 

Thanks both, getting an A4 along there at speed with the whistle salute to the works has been a bucket list shot for a while, it was a fantastic sight that certainly got the adrenaline pumping.

 

Why do I keep thinking about chalk and cheese?

 

Selby canal with Drax on the horizon.

60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley"

 

60007 Sir Nigel Gresley on the White Rose down the ECML. Enjoy

 

I would echo that. Since I encountered my first A4 in late fifties at Leeds Central I admit to being hooked on these fine locomotives. I had the privilege to ride on the footplate of Silver Link, still a school boy, from Kings Cross to Leeds...a family member was in BR hierarchy... they fixed it. The shot brings a lot of memories back...thank you so much...

 

Platform 4 was occupied by 44871 as that ran late. Held outside to cause a 29 minute delay. Not sure about the 65 minute delay when it left though

 

No.7 would've had to have waited at Peterborough for whoever rode on 44871 as the pilot with the Fletton - Orton Mere single line token to return to the station with it to allow another train to enter the NVR boundary. Adding 47712 back onto the London end of the consist once No.7 was away would've been another factor.

 

Was great to see 60007 storming through her hometown of Doncaster yesterday, plenty out for it too!

 

Now, just repaint SNG into green, number it 60016 and hey presto! You have a 12":foot Hornby-Dublo EDP15 set

 

Having almost recovered from a long day on the tour yesterday, plus an early start (with little sleep inbetween) for work today I’ll beable to sum up yesterdays journey

I brought the tickets as an anniversary present for my mrs back in September, initally wanting to book first class until that was already fully booked so standard class it was, in retrospect this was the wisest idea given standard class is being discontinued next year and given my previous standard class experience in July with Saphos it was defiantly one to say ‘don’t get use to this everytime you take a Thameslink train in the future!’

First I’ll discuss the performances/speeds/timings before going on about the service of the train, off the get go I’m by no means an expert on measuring performances from the trains as per some well talented members on here, my view was to mainly pick out the key locations and some standouts of note and also to provide the speeds at locations for a few mates that were out filming during the day

60007 backed onto our 11 coach train with 47810 on the rear, plus support coach for a 12 coach consist at Peterborough and we set off about 10 minutes late, an easy get away saw us reach the mid 50s before Helpston Jc and we picked up speed to the high 60s on the lower part of Stoke Bank, speed kept consistent in the mid-low 60s all the way up to Stoke Tunnel, we were held outside Grantham to allow an EMR unit to clear platform 4 before getting away, passing Grantham around 25mph, we kept to the mid 70s all the way through Newark (73mph) and kept consistent in the low 70s to our water stop at Babworth loop now only 8 minutes down

The lenghty time allowed for water meant we departed on time to rejoin the mainline, picking up speed well we passed the centre road at Doncaster (69mph), crowded platforms as expected! From Arksey to nr Colton Jc we averaged between 61-67mph, no real rush it felt like and seeing a few members comment on some locations along this stretch, hope that bit clears up one to two thoughts, signal checked nr Colton and a clear run into platform 9 at York just 2 minutes down, a good job from Drivers Andrew Taylor/Peter Sheridan

4 hours in York was spent with a lenghty lunch at Pizza Express, a visit to the Xmas Market and of course the NRM! I don’t think the Mrs would’ve been too keen on popping back to the station to see 44871 inbetween!

For the return we were towed to Gascoigne from where 07 would lead back to Peterborough, not very familiar with this part of the route between Knottingly and Haywood Jc but 57mph was topped before turning onto the ECML at Shaftholme Jc

Before we knew it Driver Phil Murgatroyd worked Gresley hard and Doncaster was reached at 67mph once again on the centre road, we topped 76mph (the fastest we’d reach all day with 07) before we ran into Ranskill for our first water stop

The delayed York-Kings Cross stopper meant we left Ranskill 7 minutes late, from what I understand this service which stopped at Retford took longer than expected in the station and alas we were signal checked and went through the centre road at about 25mph, this was the only occasion we could feel the diesel on the rear assisting the A4 ahead of Gamston Bank but nothing more than a short shove and nothing else, more high speed running was the norm with Newark passing at 73mph, looped once again this time in Claypole to allow an Edinburgh-Kings Cross service pass, this was late so alas we left 6 minutes late, we picked up speed and passed Grantham at 68mph, once over Stoke Jc onto the slow line it was very much mid-high 60s most of the way downhill with Tallington passed around 71mph

We were held outside Peterborough for almost 30mins whilst the delayed 44871 occupied our platform for its move onto the NVR, this in turn caused us problems once we arrived, as Jack stated the NVR pilotman/gaurd on 44871 had the Fletton Jc-Orton Mere staff and has to be brought back to Peterborough by taxi so the other NVR pilotman for 07 could take the engine onto the NVR, this allowed enough time to catch up with a few members of the support crew I hadn’t seen since I worked on the engine last year, always great to catch up with those guys

60007 eventually left an hour late and 47712 could eventually couple to the rear of our train, and departure was over an hour late, the rest of the journey home was rather entertaining with our fellow passengers and a shout out to them for thier good company

To now give a sum up of the on-train service, it was second to non, the staff worked thier socks off for providing the top quality service and regular tea/coffee service was never a long wait away, I don’t know if any of the Saphos staff are on NatPres but I can’t thank them enough for giving us the best experience and top levels of service and kindness for all of us, Debbie was looking after our coach and she was amazing, hearing stories from all the trips and adventures she’s had you have to think ‘how do they do that?’ with the hours and days away they commit, standard class may be discounted for next year, so even if the best you can pay is upward of £220 first class it’s honestly worth every penny, I’ve not tried first class on Saphos but did with Steam Dreams in 2023, I don’t believe it’s much different but if anyone else is the better judge so say!

As always a massive thank you to LSL, Saphos and the SNGLT for providing us with a memorable tour, I must admit to being rather envious on seeing the many lineside shots with the weather! Me and the Mrs look forward to traveling again!

My next tour is with RTC in a couple of weeks time and I’m very interested to see how different the passenger experience is (we don’t need to mention the coaches for a start!)

Should anyone wish to ask about further specifics about the trip do let me know and I’ll beable to provide further to assist! Thanks all for the read, this one took a while to type out!

 

Especially on the ECML.The A4 wafting through Doncaster brought back a lot of memories.
Fabulous videos and photos, thanks to all the fellas who posted.

 

Any confirmation of loco for Wednesday’s Christmas White Rose? Heard rumours it will be 61306 Mayflower
Thanks in advance

 

As far as I know B1 it is. Same for the one on Saturday too.

28th to York is booked the Brit.

 

At 5:18 I can see the 37 that brought 60007 into Orton Mere on Friday night. There was a lot of looking between its bufferbeam and that of the support coach for about ten minutes or more when I watched it on RailCam.

 

A few photos from Peterborough Saturday morning...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/54145237722/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/54146555135/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/54146375428/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/54145237252/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/54146374738/in/dateposted-public/

 

Blue Peter has been confirmed by a member of LSL on Facebook for this Wednesdays White Rose