Collett Double is now a Collett Single 18th June 2011

Vintage Trains has had to halve the number of engines on this trip due to ‘gauging issues’. I booked this trip in March to co-inside with a birthday but the trip was postponed until 18th June (not VT’s fault). I specifically booked this trip because it was being drawn by two Castles-never been on the main line behind two engines before, it then became a Castle and a Hall (again not VT’s fault) and now just a Castle (again not VT’s fault).
Last time we went to Bristol behind a Castle it failed (although in our opinions VT did everything they possibly could that day). But the fact is we could have booked a journey to somewhere else other than Bristol but we booked it because it was double headed!

 

Not work rail strikes again

 

What a shame I was hoping to go to Hatton to see 4965 and 5043 absolutely tear the place apart like last time they came through back in 2009. I'll try a different location instead I suppose.

 

Oh well you may not have double locos but there is still that double chimney to look forward too!!

Mike M. (70c)

 

Having seen 5043 'tear the place apart' on it's own several times at Hatton I suggest staying put!!!

 

I wonder why one castle is out of gauge and not the other. What is it? Weight, perhaps. Surely they are both in gauge height and width wise.

 

4965 Rood Ashton Hall was standing in for 5029 (due to other commitments) and it's the Hall that's out of gauge.

 

What is 5029 doing on the day? Nothing mentioned on uksteam for it.

 

And nothing on 5029's website either!

 

Perhaps 5029 couldn't get a support crew together for that day.

 

I remember seeing 5029 advertised for this train months ago (6 months at least). 5029 was then removed from the webpage being replaced by the Hall. I'm sure 5029's crew would have had more than enough notice.

 

5029 is at Tyseley awaiting its next duties at the TLW open day and The Cornishman (Bristol - Par and return) on July 10th.

 

Not being an expert on these matters, could someone explain please what "out of gauge" is and what causes it?
Thanks.
Alan.

 

In a nutshell, it means some part of the loco would hit some part of the railway infrastructure on a particular route. It might be a bridge due to height, or a platform edge, or something else . Halls are pretty restricted in where they can go outside the former GWR, as the GWR built to a wider gauge than most other railways, and the Halls have particularly sticky-out cylinders I believe.

 

Thanks Steve.
Alan.

 

Or more exactly that the loco in question would not have the required minimum clearance to a particular lineside feature. This is not the exact science it might seem as track does move to some extent under traffic & when p/way or other work takes place new restrictions can arise or old ones can be removed.

The tragedy is that having got a railway with certain gauge allowances, modern maintenance sometimes allows reduction rather than expansion of these dimensions.

 

So knowing that things can change, even if a loco has had clearance on a route previously then shouldn’t checks be made before publication of a loco being assigned to the route rather than it having to be “publicly” withdrawn later?
And who is responsible for checking?
Alan.

 

The problem is track is moved towards the platform as there is a wide gap on the modern units therefore gauging for steam is a problem