4464 Bittern to do 90mph on ECML - 29 June & 27 July 2013

Can't see it happening, given the hoops that have had to be jumped through for Bittern's authorised runs at speeds up to 90mph.

However, if all goes well on those runs then it will strengthen the A1 Trust's case for 60163 to be cleared to run at 90mph as part of her Safety Case, I would think.

Mark

 

Here we go!

Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54875/2013/06/29/advanced

Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54876/2013/06/29/advanced

James at SVN

 

On the fast through my neck of the woods in both directions. Woohoo.

 

You sound overly excited about seeing a class 90 on the fast in the dark

 

Hmm... Timed at 75mph.... So I guess that means if we go faster we just get to spend more time in the loops then ?

 

behave yourself

Edit : forgot it's steam one way only

 

Not a brilliant schedule for 90 mph running, but it is still fast steam in 2013 on a busy railway and that really has to be applauded.

I don't expect there are many of us who would accept an 01.00 departure from the Cross, (or whatever is needed), to get a 3 hour schedule to York with just one water stop! LOL! I wonder what the ticket price would be to make that financially viable? . It has been done in Europe in the 21st Century. 012 100-4 on an overnight express from Hamburg to Osnabruck and return. 140 kmph and even time running. Not many more than 100 in the ten car train I think. So someone made a big loss on that.

A very quick look shows, I think, a 78 mph average, pass to pass, Grantham to Retford. On what could be an even time start to stop section, (I don't have exact distances for Holme Junction and Babworth loop). So hopefully a clear road and plenty of running at or near 90mph.

I might check for a late ticket. But I think I'd rather stick with those 1950s and 1960s A4 runs brother Don and I used to drool over every time Railway Mag came out. The Locomotive Performance pages got more dog eared than those on such as Parade etc!

 

I think the 2008 Coronation had shorter times outward and that was with the 75 mph limit and if one removes the water stops on the return Bittern was timed almost as fast as this years electric! .

 

They appear to be more or less the same............................................................. 4hrs 7mins................................ if I can count!

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t08/t0705a.htm

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54875/2013/06/29/advanced

So, there must be some slack in the timings somewhere, early arrival at York, anyone?............................................................

 

That 2008 return run allowed 3 hrs 8 mins non stop if you take out the water stops. A reasonable time for 75 mph running, even with a decent load. The electric return this year is indeed not much faster at 3 hrs 1 min, but it does have 4 stops within that. Even not knowing much about electrics, that does look quite a relaxed timing even with the stops

Would be nice to think it runs early next week on this schedule, but how does that fit in with other traffic at such as Donny and approaching York?

 

Yes I took the view from about md 1965 that the only way to be quite sure about the accuracy of high speeds was to take a lot of times at full mileposts. We also got into a routine with the old stop watches to ensure consistency and yes of course some milesposts were not in the right places but we knew that. Somewhere I have got a complete list given to me by Alan Wild. All 6 of my 100 (+) mph runs are fully supported by the average speeds over reasonable distances and were also all timed by other experienced timers. And yes there were many, many runs with speeds of 95-98 mph. As a matter of interest I still time the 444s on SWT with a digital stop watch as the window coating isnt good for gps. I have just looked at my last run and the average from Hook to Brookwood was 99.4 with a min of 98.5 and a max of 101. Not bad reactions for my advancing years I would suggest. There are many more mileposts in the wrong places now than in 1967 especially in the Weston to Winchester area.

Don

 

I dont think I am going on one of these. Somehow the hype takes the edge of the excitement which still surrounds the occasional (considerable) excess over the 75 limit which occurs and to me is very highly valued. No names no packdrill

Don

 

Times now posted on UKsteam for The Ebor Streak next Sat. Any info on where it will be running at 90?

 

I posted some details of locations on page 4 of this thread:

29/6: 75-plus sections identified as Hitchin to Offord, Great Ponton to Crow Park, Arksey to Colton Jc... 66miles approx.

Taken from Steam Railway magazine from a few months back.

James at SVN

 

Bit of a coin tossing job I imagine!

If I wanted to see her going fast I'd probably end up between Barkston and Hougham. Somewhere Just North of Milepost 110 maybe. Over ten miles of mainly decent downhill from Stoke summit to there, (ie circa 7 miles at 1/200 down).

But I'd ask here if there is a tsr there at present!

 

Thanks guys. I will probably try to find somewhere quiet North of Hitchin. Barkston looks good but is too far from me in Berks.

 

Just watching some recent vids of Bittern and her chimney squeaks on on particular beat of her exhaust - is that just an internal baffle or something ?

 

I've wondered about that. When no 9 was based on SVR I could always tell when she was in Bewdley but the other A4's that have visited don't make a sound and you could not tell they were there unless they whistled.
Do they all have Kylchap exhausts or has no 9 got a noisy blower? Bittern's whistle in the exhaust effect was quite common on some GW engines at slow speeds.

Cheers Dave

 

- this was uploaded fairly recently - sounds pretty loud!