The Lindum Fayre.

Sorry to disappoint - the diesel was certainly not providing any heat worth mentioning, were were in coach D near the back and it was freezing!

 

The diesel (47245) wasn't providing any heat - it has neither a steam heat boiler nor ETH equipment - I think it was just there for shunting purposes at Lincoln. 60007 was providing all the heat - I was in Coach J (I think) at the front and it was too hot.

 

Not too sure about this given that an A1 (Gresley) can run Peterborough to Kings Cross in 88 mins net hauling 720 tons. The coal and water situation or perhaps the state of the fire could have been causing concern. True the A1 was non-stop and the A4 had two stops to make, but it is a far more capable locomotive. It was allowed 95 mins for the Connington to Kings Cross leg as I understand it - with steam it is the acceleration that can prove to be the problem. We'll just have to try it again!

 

Between Lincoln and Newark was booked for 27 mins, easy? for 16.6 miles ? Not really with three slacks (for platforms?) plus a 50 mph maximum and a slow approach round the curves at Newark. With 600t load each time you need to accelerate the train you have an impact. The train was booked to run Newark to Stoke junction in 18 mins, which requires an average (from standing start) of 65.7 mph. A week earlier 60007 took 17 minutes from Claypole Loop (5 miles beyond Newark) to Stoke with 500t. With 600t we took almost 25 min from Newark. By the way, 88 mins for 77 miles, fine performance be that for an A1, is only an average of 52 mph.