LE movements, ECS and test runs 2025

You did well, on the last leg back to Crewe 57002 was leading the cavalcade.

 

Happily only just round the corner from me so not a long journey on a bit of a punt! Where did they reshuffle, I thought it was more or less straight back to Crewe after Bristol?

 

Must have been during the Worcester stop.

 

5029 Nunney Castle and 57311 at a wet and windy Bankland en route to Crewe.

 

37676 piloting '45627' and support coach is on Railcam Kidderminster cam waiting to leave for 10A on 5Z59:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U50254/2025-04-22/detailed

Info courtesy of Railcam.

 

Was the 37 piloting leaving the SVR? If so another absolute disgrace.

 

To confirm it is being piloted by the 37 so don't bother heading out unless that's your thing.

 

??

Its a light engine move to benefit the operator, not photographers - hardly a disgrace!!

 

Photography wasn't even mentioned. There is literally no point in mainline steam if everything's being dragged otherwise any loco can run on the mainline even without ticket with rags in the chimney.

So yes, a disgrace.

 

If this was a railtour with paying passengers I would understand your argument, but given this is a loco movement back to base then I am afraid time, convenience and money will be the main factors here. I doubt West Coast gave the slightest thought to photographers.

The loco was hard at work at the SVR for 4 days without a diesel, for which I was very grateful to West Coast and the SVR for arranging - hope you managed to visit.

 

Isn't the yellow fire risk status still on? And red in the north west? If I'm right, the operator had no choice today.

 

Quite simply the cost of diesel v the cost of coal makes the economics of this move stacked in favour of a diesel pilot. If this in anyway made the hire more viable for the SVR then even better.

 

Ralph, it still needed a water stop at Crewe on its journey to the SVR, I saw it being done on P12
Neil

 

37676 leading Galatea through Brock working 5Z59 1011 Kidderminster S.V.R. to Carnforth Steamtown 22/04/25.

 

Do not feed the troll ;-)

 

The morning had dawned a little misty but this soon cleared and the sun emerged, some clouds gathered but it was a predominantly sunny morning. However, towards lunchtime the clouds thickened and rain looked a distinct possibility. We have had several days where rain has fallen, sometimes just a brief shower but a couple of times it has been moderate rain for several hours. Having seen nothing to the contrary I assumed that NR's Fire Risk Index for the NW remained "Red". Galatea had gone to the SVR with a diesel and the diesel would need to return - so not much hope of "pure steam." Still, they might tuck the diesel inside, I thought/hoped/wished with little or no expectation that it would happen. Alas, my dreams were dashed (Thanks Trevor ). Even with a 37 on the front I really should turn out and watch Galatea (and Sierra Leone) move back from the SVR to 10A.

The move was booked up the slow line north of Balshaw Lane and my favoured spot would be Euxton Balshaw Lane station. But things can change, if switched to the fast line and Oswald would be "snookered" with no platforms on the fast lines and no view of the fast lines from the station. I decided to head a little further south to one of the over bridges at Charnock Richard. The satnav reckoned around 35-40mins, I added another 30mins for faffing about. As I left home the clouds had gathered and there was just the very odd drop of rain falling, it stopped without really starting. On the M65 despite some sunshine a very large heavy black cloud had ground to a halt in the gentlest of breezes and the spit-spotting started in earnest; but still the odd swish from the wipers quickly cleared it. The rain continued until I left the M6 at Leyland, then stopped. The sky remained threatening, would Oswald need his brolly?

I reached the bridge that is often/usually deserted to find someone already parked up. I wandered down to the bridge, still cloudy but dry. I went back to the car and gathered up my stuff. Back to the bridge to prepare; there were now 3 of us, me the guy who was already parked up (hand held camcorder) and another guy who was taking video on his DSLR (hand held). Galatea was running 2 blocks behind a Liverpool LS to Blackpool N "stopper" service (a 4 car 331) and would follow it up the slow line. The 331 sped past and we would shortly be in business. As the 37 appeared in the distance a good friend arrived on his cycle - cutting things fine, Ian! Ian usually takes video and has lots of subscribers on YouTube, but today he was just watching.

37676 made her leisurely way towards us, there was a feather at Galatea's safety valves (and Sierra Leone's). The single coach trundled along behind. Once beyond the bridge the diesel put on a spot of power and the "Tractor" grumbled off into the distance with its motley train in tow. The light had improved, the rain held off and all was well with the world. 15C & RT. When I returned home I discovered that around 13.30 Oswald Jnr, out for a lunchtime walk, had got soaked by a heavy downpour that included hail - at 13.30 I would have been around 5 miles away where it was just spitting. And that boys and girls is what makes it very difficult for the NR man or woman to relax the current fire risk precautions.



(Maisie notes: Maisie has had a couple of "interactions" with Dennis, a large, friendly ginger cat who lives in the next street. These spats don't amount to much, a bit of glaring and hissing, and more recently next to nothing. However, several days ago, Dennis's mum was wandering the local area looking for him, he had not been home for four days. We promised to look out for him and secretly hoped that Maisie wasn't somehow involved in his disappearance. A few days later and Dennis had turned up. Apparently he's done his disappearing act several times and gets someone in the neighbourhood to "adopt" him for a few days and then returns home. Maisie has been exonerated.)