Winter CME's, February 2012.

Great stuff so far from a very difficult day...

I've uploaded the clips from Nappa on the approach to Hellifield and passing Selside Cottages once the snow had set in...

Video Available Here

 

Footage from today at Paythorne , Sheriffs Brow and Oxenholme. Steve 45305 The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 4/2/12 - YouTube

 

Steve/Steaming Yorkshire. Thanks for your efforts. The footage today really reflects the landscape at this time of year up there and it must have been awfully cold. Much appreciated.

 

Thanks for all the updates on todays train.I notice from the videos that the stock did not get turned at Carlisle as booked,was unassisted and that the load was eleven.

 

Fantastic video entertainment on our run back to london, 981smithy, apologies that was me hanging out the window in the last shot.
some brave people who went north today and stuck it out !

Kudos has to go to everyone who organised today's train, we were warm, ontime ish and the 5 did exactly the job.
the late running in the end came down to the delay coming in at Carlilse, subsequently knocking the time for departure.
it was noted that a freight was looped for us (having overtaken us at Carlilse), subsequently giving a fast run through Penrith (here it would have easy to loop us and let VT pass.. On a day like today that could have been bad).
Additionally, as James stated... No diesel... At all.
the stock wasn't turned so were 2 from the front over Shap..
were an hour late heading back, but considering everything in..that's not bad.

Very good day out.

 

Splendid achievement by all concerned to run this trip successfully today given the network problems and weather. Just got home, 4in snow, so no wife, no buses and no taxis. Cue four mile yomp in blizzard.

 

Thank you for the kind words . Steve

 

Also just got in after a very enjoyable day. Had to walk home from Euston though as no buses were going further than Camden Town on my route. Not to be bad as a 40 minute walk through a very chaotic Camden was quiet fun to watch. All the young things desperately trying to find a way home dressed for the summer, I had to laugh.

I think our train was one of the last to arrive today as the Departure board had lots of cancellation including what appeared to be a complete shutdown of the Watford line due to signal failure. As I got in the snow had turned up to about 7 or 8 if that makes sense.

By the way I only live 3 miles north of Euston.

 

Well I have just got in, trains cancelled, buses having problems, roads closed due to drifts. Officially been up 24 hours, and i'm tired. Update when I am more awake.

 

"Horrified" doesn't even come close. Lets face it lads, a fella has got to be desperate to drink that stuff. :tsk: :tsk:

 

Sheff? :jaw::faint: Oh dear, the poor man.:tsk:

 

I'm in shock, I don't want to talk about it.........................John Smiths???????????? :tsk:

 

I've enjoyed watching the videos, top marks to all who ventured out and braved the weather, sounds like the folks on the train had a decent day. Well done to ALL concerned.
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John Smiths???????????? :tsk:

 

A great day - finally crawled into home at 1.30am after sharing a cab across south London.

Although we were 1hr 15min late into Euston, it looked like we were fortunate. Trains had been seriously delayed over the Settle & Carlisle later in the day, and there were few other trains running out of Euston when we got home. Congratulations to the organisers and crews for getting us out and back with so few problems on a very bleak day. As for the videos/photos which have been posted, you guys need a medal. My hands were frozen in seconds just trying to film out of the train window.

Some work still needs to be done on the train heating - our carriage flipped from sauna/gas mark 10 with the electric loco to seriously chilly behind the chuffer, although there was steam coming out of the train further down.

Now I've just got to work out how to download the vids/photos from my new phone. Where's that cable gone ... and why does it smell of flapjack and pork pies?

Richard

 

Well, since we're all recounting our horror stories of getting home last night, here's mine....

We arrived in platform 5 at Crewe at about 20.35. I watched the train *leave then wandered across to platform 1. After a couple of minutes, the 20.50 train to Manchester Piccadilly arrived so I got on and we left on time. Got off at Stockport and walked home (about 10 minutes, arriving about 21.45), but I did have clear a 3 inch deep snowdrift from my front door before I could get in. No problems - you Southerners just can't cope with a few flakes of snow.

 

Had the same thoughts and Network rail treated WCR with contempt and therefore its customers with the same. However WCR do need to help the Tour Companies out as well with simple things like a working on train announcement system so they can keep passengers updated more easily on difficult days but also perhaps provide interesting updates for normal service. Also the lighting in the brake coach flickered most of the day(not good for those sensitive to such things) and its also difficult having a pee with only one dim bulb working. Also why does that one first class carriage have stupid hinged doors.

Ok whinge over as it was a good tour and excellent performance by the Black 5 and also getting us all back to London when most of the bigs boys couldn't.

 

Here he goes again .................. a "charter" standard for tour coaches and mangement - charters to be treated like the Class 1 trains that they are - it NEEDS a proper concerted co-operative approach by all players - when the companies concerned can get off their mutual rear ends and respect their customers.

If the DfT can attend Network Rail agms - why can't we?