The Elizabethan

My mate on board has just reported "am just arriving Doncaster 21:03." That makes it about 15 down on published times.

 

East Coast were not responsible for the unexpected trip through the middle road at Durham and pulled out all the stops to ensure the passengers left at Durham got to Newcastle on a service just 5 minutes behind The Elizabethan, station staff smoothed the transfer at Newcastle, making copious announcements and shepherding passengers to the special. A big vote of thanks to the staff concerned....

Foxy

 

That's really good news. Maybe at last we're beginning the journey to a "joined up" railway system

 

Still at donny buffet shutting 3 hours before we get back. Glad we're getting picked up. Been great but its just a bit too epic. Other half not impressed anymore!

 

55 late off rmt

 

Thanks for that, Foxy, and yes, well done & thank you to all concerned. I've just heard from my wife, who was one of those left at Durham this morning. Apparently when it happened, the station staff at Durham were just as surprised as the pax when the tour hammered through!

Still, all's turned out OK in the end, despite all the trouble this morning. That was one hell of a way to clear out Alycidon's exhaust system!

Mark

Edit - well, it was all OK until further delays further south - sympathies to those still with some distance to go, but perhaps some time can again be clawed back?

 

I know what you mean there. It's when you loose all the daylight after being on the go for what seems like weeks that the enthusiasm can wane a bit I find. That's when you consider a trip to the buffet normally but it sounds like you haven't got that option tonight.

Hope you get back ok. Might be expensive winning back the other half though !

 

anyone who has actually seen the outside of the train since steam came on how many are we pulling people seem to reckon 14!

 

Yep, 14, if you count the support coach, judging by an earlier pic of Tornado.

 

its cos its near the sea

 

What, exactly happens now or rather when the train gets back? Off Northampton at 8.15. tomorrow. Same stock or what? Does she run back with that used today or is SD's at the moment regular rake somewhere local or at least on it's way. Whatever plan it's a hectic 48hours for the A1 and supporters.

 

All the ECS movements for Wednesday and Thursday's trains are on the bottom of the UK steam timings for these two trains. It makes for two near enough non stop days on top of everything from Monday. Hat Off!!!!

 

Sent down hertford loop and ground to a halt....

 

Oh dear, not good. Sounds like another case of two days merging into one !

Good luck

 

We got back at about 00.45, no delays down to the loco, just pathing. 60163 seemed very happy trotting down the ECML with 14 on, speed just above 75mph for hundreds of miles. Issues such as Durham can be resolved if you have a team on the train who are in contact with control and the TOC's - the wonder of mobile telephony. Full marks to the support crew who have been on the go since the weekend, prepping the loco for the Royal Train, yesterday's epic run, a trip today and a rumoured duty on Saturday as well.... Supplies of Red Bull might be needed!

I have to confess that this was my first blast up the ECML with a Deltic and apart from the spot of, ahem, 'lung trouble' near Stevenage, Alycidon ran superbly, so full marks to the team who prepared her and got the paperwork sorted at the 11th hour (OK, the day before!).

Foxy

 

My photo from yesterday of No. 60163 "Tornado" hauling the tour past Prestonpans, following a mad dash by myself from Chester to the photospot, then on in to work :


The Elizabethan by JonathonAG, on Flickr

 

I think it ran down to Warrington light engine when it finished it's duties in Edinburgh.

 

Where to start with such an epic day out?????

Bit apprehensive, upon hearing about the exhaust fire, waiting at York, but once Alycidon arrives, and we boarded, speed was up into the mid 80's quite quickly, which we maintained for mile after mile, before nearly reaching the ton, at Tursdale. Abviously missed the passengers at Durham, but sound tour management got them on board at Newcastle. After leaving Newcastle, we then allowed a 225 set past, and then it was announced non-stop to Edinburgh, and that was happened.
With a genuine straight line ton by GPS just short of Goswick, anybody taking video footage as 9009 joined the Royal Border Bridge got a treat, as we fully opened the taps, and accelerated hard towards scotland. Arrival was about 10 down, so 20 made up from York.

Southbound started with late arriving stock, but we got underway about 10 down, speed was at 75mph within 3 miles of leaving waverly, and basically stayed there until the first water stop, on leaving the water stop at alnmouth, we again quickly regained 75mph, for the run into Newcastle, mile after mile despatched in style.
Leaving Newcastle, taking water and coal, we then rejoined the ECML at Tyne Yard at 12mph, on a adverse grade, we passed through my local town of Chester le Street attaining 65mph shortly after, then ran onto Durham. Many on here wondered about the exit from durham, after the Blue Peter incident, however this time, a surefooted rapid departure followed, with 65mph again just after Durham City Golf Club, looped at Tursdale, we never actually stopped, joined the main again, then basically ran up to 75mph, and held it for mile after mile, until we reached York.

Massive thanks to DPS, a1trust, DBS, who all made for a day that could have northbound, unravelled, but stuck with the people on the ground who had experience of the situation. My first experience of Tornado on the mainline, and you feel she has so much more to give (90mph), its just so effortless the rate of acceleration.

 

What was the final arrival time at the Cross?