Llandudno Victorian Festival 30 April

I sincerely hope not. As I suggested above, a double-headed 10 coach train on a virtually flat line should not cause four lineside fires. I can only guess that either the spark arrestor on one of the locos wasn't working properly or one (or both) of the locos were being driven a bit too enthusiastically given the conditions.

 

This message was posted elsewhere (I've corrected the spelling)...

Sounds like my earlier guess of over-enthusiastic driving (or firing?) may not be far off the truth. Let's hope that Network Rail don't over-react and impose a blanket steam ban as a result of this.

 

Just a note of caution, re the post of MIKEP and his image shack picture, my Kaspersky security says it contains a virus. Anyone else get that warning?

 

Just to add more detail - the 30 minute early gain resulted from omitting the booked stop at Llandudno Junction - not over enthusiastic running ! Sadly the area is extremely dry - as a visit to Bodnant Gardens in the afternoon confirmed - and I suspect any steam activity would have set lineside fires. Let's hope that NR takes a balanced view of the situation although I hear that certain parts of NR are constantly seeking reasons to ban steam haulage on the nework altogether.

 

Here's my footage of the day. Unfortunately, because of the very brief stop at Llandudno Jnc on the return, I missed my planned shot at Abergele As others have commented, let's hope there's no immediate ban on steam until we have some rain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2SB6XGyiWU

 

Have you got a funny dictionary? Rain is not in my English dictionary.

 

The fire at Abergele has turned into a nasty incident. What would help is if anybody has any photos or video of 1Z50 between Abergele and Prestatyn. Many thanks,
A

 

The driver on 4965 did have the regulator open, while 5043 seemed to have been doing very little.

 

My Macafee security unfortunately didn't pick up the virus which was called MS Security, a nasty piece of malware which masquerades as a false security scanner. Taken me half a day to remove the wretched thing!

 

Hi acw71000 and 46118
Don't understand about the virus. I am on McAfee and had no indication there was a problem.
I am sorry for any inconvenience.

 

[youtube]OqWRN4cBA6g[/youtube]

A short clip of the pair passing Stableford on the outward trip

 

Go Great Western to Llandudno 30 April 2011

Another Vintage Trains journey brought GWR locos No 4965 Rood Ashton Hall and No 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe northwards to Crewe, where we joined for the westward run to Chester and along the North Wales coast, headed for the annual Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza. We dawdled out of Crewe for the first few miles but were then quickly into the sixties, continuing thus to Waverton on the outskirts of Chester. After a slow passage through the city, we were up to 60 again by Saltney Junction, but signal checks meant repeated slowings, followed by quick accelerations to the sixties, all the way to Llandudno Junction. Here the Hall detached and ran round to the rear of the train, in order to release the Castle from the terminus at Llandudno, so they could go together to Valley to turn while the stock remained in the station.

A sunny though windy day at Llandudno permitted a ride up the Great Orme on the tramway and a vintage bus ride to and from the Transport Festival before returning to the station. Here both locos joined the head of the train together, dispensing with the need for further shunting at the Junction. Thus we were able to leave ahead of schedule, and were treated to further bursts of fast running, interspersed with frequent signal checks, arriving back at Crewe 11 minutes early after an excellent day out.

See 16 pictures at my new website: http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

(Fotopic has gone and I did not find Flickr to my liking)

Peter, on a sunny Bank Holiday afternoon in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

There are usually a number of people out with cameras for mainline steam in the area. Surely some Nat Pres members could put the word out via other channels regarding this request?

Thanks, Neil.

 

"What would help... " Help with what? If there is a real need to investigate officially, I could possibly assist. But wildfires are becoming common across the country in these extremely dry weather conditions, and we should be wary of allowing steam to become a scapegoat for what is a much bigger issue.

Peter, on another dry, sunny Manchester morning
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com