LE movements, ECS and test runs 2026

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Define 'often' in your sentence and provide some real world examples please. What proportion are you referring to as 'often'? 10%? Hopefully providing more clarity should answer your own question.

 

I will provide some specific concrete examples to hopefully emphasise the point of ECS moves that I have seen. There are others as well - just can't recall them at the minute.

45699 Rowley Regis (Sept 2025) - diesel drag
60103 New St (July 2025) - diesel drag
71000 Codsall (Oct 2025) - diesel shove
45407 Penkridge (Sept 2025) - diesel drag
4930 2968 Rowley Regis (July 2025), diesel drag
2968 4930 Rowley Regis (July 2025), diesel drag
60103 Small Heath (March 2026) - HST drag
60163 Wolverhampton (April 2026) - solo

Eight ECS moves above with one without diesel support giving a 12.5% ratio. Even if you exclude the moves with 2968 and 4930 conscious neither are mainline approved and it's still less than 20%.

Also worth pointing out that the photo you have added to the post on the top of page 3 depicts 5029/34046being dragged, you guessed it, by a diesel.

 

I mean 46115 ran Stafford to Kidderminster, and Kidderminster to Stafford no diesel in 2025 for a Start.

45407 couldn’t have been dragged through Penkridge in Sept 2025 as it was in Fort William.

 

There is a case for diesel haulage of loco & PO brake moves.
Only the DL driver needs full route knowledge, whereas the crew on the steam loco are there to maintain boiler pressure for loco lubrication. This will make it easier for train crew provision.

Cheers, Neil

PS Of course the crew on the steam loco could be PTS trained support crew who are competent to operate the loco.

 

Tangmere with 47812 on the rear heading to York for tomorrows Edinburgh Flyer, Church Fenton.

 

You only have to look back through the images in this thread to see how many are not diesel dragged, and why now for example with the opening of the East West line so many go that way from 10A to 81C so the loco ends up the correct way round.

 

Flying Scotsman I would say is the only one that is quite frequently dragged by a Diesel locomotive across the network currently. The others more often then not go light loco + support coach. It's usually only in fire risk periods or unusual circumstances whenever a Diesel is on the front. Putting aside Scotsman movements, the only time I've been aware of a Diesel dragging a steam loco this year was when Nunney and Braunton visited K&WVR.

 

on the same day 57314 hauled 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier from Carnforth to York but that’s about the only other one I can find, but I think that’s an operational working as the diesel was needed for the same tour to Whitby