Welsh Mountaineer - 5.8.09

Railway Touring Company host The Welsh Mountaineer on Wednesday 5th August by Black Five 45231.

Orginally to be steam hauled from Crewe-Chester-Llandudno Junction-Blaenau Ffestiniog & return, it will start at Preston & proceed to Chester via Warrington & Frodsham. On arrival at Chester, the locomotive will be detached & go on the triangle to run tender first to Llandudno Junction. This eases the pain of going to Valley!

The locomotive will be facing smokebox first to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and tender first for the return, with a simple run-round at Llandudno Junction for the journey back to Preston.

 

Timings now up on UK Steam.

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t09/t0805a.htm

 

Going to be a very steamy atmosphere at Preston on Wednesday morning then ! This and the Fellsman one after the other

 

I forgot about this one, thanks for the reminder. I was supposed to be going out to lineside 76079 on the Cambrian on Wednesday (we were supposed to be camping down there this week but someone forgot to book the days off ](*,) ) I think the Conway valley will be my destination now.

Neil.

 

I am on this one, joining at Chester.I can provide updates, please PM me.

 

Getting on at Preston,should be a good trip especially with the steep grades on the Blanau line.

@Ralph,i will happily give you updates,just send us a txt saying where you want em.

Cheers,
Mark

 

I will be at Chester...

 

I'm travelling on this as I missed the double header in May. This will be my first time down the Conwy Valley with steam. I'll be at Chester before it arrives to see it run-round.

 

A friend of mine is out with his camera for this. Just received a text: Train was 12 late arriving Llandudno Junction. 8 coaches. "This will be interesting..." Indeed! 8-[

 

Just heard that 45231 failed to get as far as Betws Y Coed. Train has returned to Llandudno J to remove two coaches then try again. I wonder which ones they can remove - loco support and kitchen car?

 

I was suprised when I saw the post saying there was 8 on. I thought they may have removed the support coach and kitchen/buffet coach so the intention would have been to try with 6 in the first place? Lets hope all goes well if they make a second attempt.

Bit off topic but, and I am not happy about...
I was supposed to out for this one but I have been waiting in for a plasterer to arrive since mid morning, who of course has not even phoned to say why he hasn't turned up yet ](*,) I had taken this week off to chase a bit of mainline steam, The Cambrian (Mon-Tues), Fellsman or this one today and the Scarborough Flyer Friday. The Flyer is still a possibilty, though after my previous luck this week I'm not expecting things to go to plan....

Neil.

 

Had another message, at 14:01, saying she'd cleared the summit with 5 on. Probably left the other three in the loop at Llanrwst since could not have got back to the junction in that time. Will she go back for them, or did all the passengers manage to crowd into 5 coaches? If I hear any more, I'll let you know....

 

Found this vid of 45231 through Rhyl, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPpkkFv8-3o

It only has 7 on and not the 8 mentioned. I gather that both the support coach and rear BSK were removed which means that all the passenger carrying vehicles were still in the rake.