Churnet Valley Railway Steam Gala 25/ 26th February 2012

Thanks Chris,

Absolutely brilliant! Can't wait.

I guess you meant that "Both locos will be working UNassisted to Cauldon Lowe....". I hope the rails are not too slippery on the 1 in 40/49!

 

I think I'll speak for most on this one. We'd like a double header with 5199 & 45379 up Cauldon Lowe this weekend... Need it sounding like: PSOV Rarest & Finest 7802-70000 Slogging up Dainton - YouTube

Wishful thinking or not?

 

Wishful thinking for 2 locos to maintain a 2 train service when they're double headed? Quite wishful, aye!

 

True that is! Evening special tho...

 

I would not say no to seeing a couple of monsters clagging up the atmosphere for the last run

 

No you don't! That would look rather odd and unprototypical.

 

Please see attached the working timetable for this weekend.

Regards

Chris

 

Chris

Thank you very much for making the timetable available, please could you explain what the loadings/consists are in the two train sets being used?

 

Both locos will be running with 5 coaches.

The LMS 3rd class coach will be running in the rake behind 45379. The rake behind 45379 will be all Maroon coaches.

Regards

Chris

 

Thanks, I didn't know the railway had that many Mark 1's available, I thought perhaps the DMU set might be part of one set. Six trains to Cauldon Lowe sounds better than any rival events to me!

 

Thats why I said "Most" and Preseivation has to be abit crazy, everyone's aloud there own opioion...

 

That looks a good timetable - plenty of photo ops there! ... and the weather forecast for Saturday looks reasonable as well. Plus time enough between trains at Consall for a quick visit to the Black Lion.

 

How long does it usually take for a train to get to Apesford crossing, Bradnop and Ipstones bridge from Leekbrook? (And return times from CL?)
Just trying to work out a schedule for this weekend if conditions favour a visit

 

You can only do one location, on each run, each way.

 

Speak for yourself! Mananged to chase most trains last year without any wreckless driving, and that was when they were banked!

EDIT: Then bought a rover and travelled after dark, before we get back into the 'freeloading photographers' argument.

FURTHER EDIT: As in, so as not to turn the thread into a debate about 'freeloading photographers', but it seems it's too late!

 

We have to stop just after Apesford at Threshing Barn for the crossing there, so you can normally get a photo before and after this location depending upon where you go.

 

In my experience train journey times from Leekbrook are, typically, Bradnop - 9 minutes, Apesford - 13 mins, Ipstones - 22 mins, Winkhill - 28 mins.

It is possible to get from Cheddleton to Apesford quite safely and comfortably by car via the lane that runs behind the loco yard at Cheddleton (I think its called Basford Common Lane?) but when I was at Cheddleton a couple of weeks ago this road was closed for repairs of some sort. But if it is open again (perhaps somebody could advise) then you would be able to see the train leaving Cheddleton and see it again at Apesford or even Bradnop. But it is impossible to see the train at Leekbrook and get to Apesford in a safe and legal manner before it arrives there!

However, after the train passes Apesford it generally stands a couple of minutes at Threshing Barn Crossing for the 'stop and proceed' so it is safely feasible to 'leap-frog' the train by car and see it again at Winkhill and then drive the 1/2 mile to Blackbrook where the train can be seen working hard upgrade on its return from Cauldon.

But please, in all this I am also not condoning reckless driving and dangerous parking just to get an additional view of a train!!

The remarks about 'freeloader photographers' would be totally valid if the steam weekend was a Plandampf-style event. But it is not, and should any good quality video appear on YouTube resulting from the weekend's event then I would like to think it constitutes good (and free) publicity for the CVR/MCR. So I would have no issue with people who spend one day riding the trains and the other day watching/photographing them!

 

The road passing Cheddleton yard that brings you over Apesford level crossing is open again.

The "passing times" seem fairly accurate however i would not expect 5199 to be doing any quicker than 15MPH on the bank so it would be easy to overtake it by car without breaking the speed limits!

Regards

Chris

 

Thanks for the info on the road to Apesford, Chris.

 

Just be careful. That lane has numerous blind bends and some you go in two track and come out single track.