70000 Britannia on Freight

Yep, steam on timber trains is such a silly idea...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5944/5504091847/in/set-72157632381633503

 

Have to say that I read it the same way as you.

 

Meanwhile, back in Sheffield, do we have any indication of when this 3-day event will happen? The Beano article was vague, saying only "mid-June". AFAIK, 70000 is still under repair at Bury.

 

Not possible yet, but once MCR are set up we'll have freight working to/from Cauldon Lowe (with air braked S160s ready on site!), normal passenger services between Leek & Stoke with a connection to the WCML as well as our current heritage route along the CVR. Plenty of potential for Plandampf style events

 

I was speaking to a member of Britannia's support crew earlier today and he thought it was all looking a bit tight time wise. He also told me how much the repair bill was so far - let's just say that I hope the insurance is paying!

 

Any more news on this one???

 

There's a provisional light engine move Bury to Sheffield on Friday 14th June listed on UK steam site.
Brian

 

1. If that's how you feel about Steam Railway, why are you reading it ?.

2. Who's going to pay for this mainline steam freight run then, you ?, freight doesn't hand over cash to ride like passengers, plus an FOC is hardly going to go to the trouble of expensively hiring a steam loco and crew and repathing a freight to allow for slower acceleration and water stops when they have a perfectly good class 66 for the job.

Short of someone going to DBS with over £100,000, it's a non starter.

 

That looks promising. I've heard various suggestions about alternative locos whose owners may or may not have been approached. I don't suppose there's any substance behind any of them, but you never know...

• 48151 seems a popular choice amongst line-siders, except that I'll bet the wagons are air-braked, in which case it might be too tricky to arrange brake control. (How did Foster Yeoman arrange braking for Black Prince and that S160 during the ESR 150 celebrations at Meldon Quarry a few years ago? I don't recall seeing a DL on the other end, but I would have been concentrating on the steam locos...)
• The other WCRC locos would be ruled out for the same reason - so the young lad I overheard yesterday enthusing about Galatea shunting steel will probably be disappointed.
• One old sage suggested Clan Line, which made me laugh aloud, until I started to think what other air-braked locos might be available (assuming it's happenning this coming weekend).
• Thinking back to Meldon, the best alternative I can dream up is the S160 at Cheddleton, which I believe is air-braked. It's not main-line certified, of course. Would that matter?
• Otherwise, could they wait until Tornado has finished her Scottish tours?!

 

45407?

 

Is the steel works line network rail, or privately owned ?

 

Privately Owned I believe.

 

I guess the important point is whether they will just be shunting within the works, or whether they will also be working to/from NR loops or sidings. If the latter, though the loco might not need some of the gadgets, like OTMR and GSMR, it will probably need the normal mainline inspection and certificates.

 

I'm pretty sure they had their American 'switcher' on the back, both to provide braking and to haul them back after each run.

Chris

 

Yes, the Sw1000(?) switcher was used on the rear of the trains at Merehead for the runs with 92203 in the early 1980's.
As for tomorrow, expect the unexpected! But the steam loco & PO brake will be DL hauled for their journey to South Yorkshire.

Cheers, Neil

 

Braunton?!

 

The S160 is dual braked anyway.....

 

I'm guessing that this is a publicity thing for the steel works rather than some sort of re-creation of steam freight workings, so the fact that the loco is not entirely approriate on a steel train is not really relevant. I'm sure all will be revealed in due course.

 

I think it's also timed in with the 100th anniversary of the invention of stainless steel.
Brian