15/12/2011 4492 The York Yuletide Express

In footage on YouTube 4492 took only one tender to Norwich yesterday. The timings for today do not appear to show any water stop.

 

Spamcan81 has just posted this info:

A report yesterday said the stock would be t&t 47s with 4492 on front of it all and a progress report this morning gave it as a steam/diesel double header with the diesel shoving. Either way I'm glad I've not booked on this one.

 

Now confirmed as Class 47 top and tail with steam on the front of the lot.

 

Passed Ely Nth. Jct at 08:46.

 

Passed Whittlesea at 09:22, about 30 late. A lorry hitting the crossing barrier at Ely has caused some delays so looks like the tour has lost its path.

 

I've spoken to a friend of mine at Southall who tells me the second tender is fit and available for use. If that's the case, why not use it? All very mystifying. I wonder if anyone from WCRC or RTC can give a definitive answer as to why this tour is running in this fashion.

 

One for Class 47 fans. The tour arriving/departing Thetford.
1Z66 Norwich to york yule tide express @ thetford december 2011 - YouTube

 

The times looked a bit suspect to me. Norwich to York without a water stop? At a rough guess that's about 220 miles. Even with the second tender that would be pushing it, especially on a slow route and lots of stopping and starting across the fens.

 

IT REALLY MAKES ME CRY! Somebody needs to take these people to court & make an example of them. It's the lesson they need.

 

Whilst less detailed, the times on RTC's web site match those on uksteam.info
Will be interesting to see what transpires as the tour progresses. The Thetford departure did not bode well for those expecting some thrash from the A4.

 

I see that the 5305 Website has been updated today suggesting that 70013 is hauling the outward and 4492 the return on Saturday.

Therefore if that is the case is it likely that the train this evening will be diesel hauled throughout with 4492 staying at York until Saturday?

 

Steam hauled return from York to Ely, where the diesel takes over for the run back to Norwich.
4492 is running from London Kings Cross to York and return on Saturday 17 December.

 

It is perculiar. I can only think of it as NR playing it safe in case something happens that causes another round of delays but 2 Class 47's is a bit much and having one inside the loco and the train is more of a summer idea.

 

No it isn't. 70013 is doing the run on 17th as confirmed by my mate of 4492's support crew. The reason he gave was that with 4492 not due back to Southall until Friday, it is deemed that there is insufficient time to prep her ready for Saturday so Ollie gets the run to York instead.

 

Ulleskelf more than 10 early. Front diesel doing the work 60019 cruising with enough steam on to satisfy still but not video photographers IMHO. Glad I was only stopping off during another journey and didn't travel out specially pity the folk who paid to travel behind "steam" for the day.........

 

My apologies. Nice to be put right.

 

Just to confuse matters, on another thread someone has quoted the 5305LA site that says 70013 northbound and 4492 southbound.

 

This is not the 1st time that Bittern has had heavy diesel assistance. There was a Cathedrals Express in October 2010 where Bittern and train were literally being pushed by a diesel.
This is dreadful.

 

It is now the same on UKSteam.info
No times as yet on the website.