Clan Line to Exeter - 30/6/13

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It is with regret we advise you that Clan Line will not be running tomorrow on the trip to Exeter as it failed the FTR today, Saturday 29 June 2013, with an Element Ball Joint problem which is located at the Header.

This is being investigated by the MNLPS

Alan French

MNLPS Communications Officer

Reveived from a member of MNLPS support crew.

Regards, Neil

 

What chance it will be retimed to get us back to London earlier so last trains can be caught enabling much beer to be consumed?

 

"Someone" who really is in the know just said
"the fate of tomorrow's train is still unknown, it will not however be steam hauled, there are other issues still to be resolved, including crewing, pathing and locomotive.." (From "someone" on the Ebor express).

After such an eventful day today it's really sad to see a failure tomorrow, really sorry for you that must be crushing.

 

Oh well, at least that saves me getting up far too early to go and grab a photo...

 

Blimey, that's unlike Clanners, usually seems to be as reliable as a sewing machine.

I don't know, she goes up north for a few days and comes back broken. No wonder we insist on pinching all their toys...

 

I think you've hit the nail on the head. A soft Southern engine like 35028 is fine trundling round the suburbs darn sarf with a trainload of bankers sipping champagne, but send it up north to do some proper work and it can't handle it.

 

Oh shi............

 

If you knew what Clan Line herself is capable of I doubt you would make such a comment.

Ignoring the 104 mph on the downgrade on the ACE, she reached between 103 and 104 mph on virtually level track with a decent length normal service train amongst other exploits towards the end of SR steam. The same sort of exploits a good number of other MNs achieved.

As for as her VSOE work is concerned. She has for some considerable time hauled the heaviest loco hauled fairly regular UK passenger train. Heavy Pullmans and a non working box. In places up steep and demanding grades.

Any steam loco can fail for a vast number of reasons. Especially these days when support and maintenance crews are few in number and pushed very head indeed to keep our small fleet of main line steam locos on the road as best they can.

They are the unsung and often forgotten heroes behind so many fine runs in present days. Including that of Bittern yesterday.

I think they deserve better than your comment. Said in jest or not.

 

A day with a 67 up front lots of disappointed passengers at WAT. Yes they did turn the stock, M is at the back.

 

I suspect the 16 coaches of the overnight sleeper services to and from Scotland qualify for that particular accolade.

 

There is always room for what was clearly a bit of light hearted humour, it would be a cold old world without it. Go kick an owl or summink and stop being a miserable old sod.

 

As already mentioned, West Coast lending their engine to a rival company is very, very slim but the most notable factor is that 34067 was out on the Bath & Bristol yesterday so going by the timings of the consist getting back to Southall last night and the early start this morning, this would have meant the support crew getting very little sleep, especially as they are rostered firemen too. A no win situation I'm afraid.

 

Well said your comment about support & maintenance crews. They are indeed the unsung heroes and must be just as gutted as the punters arriving at Waterloo this morning.

 

I think what is concerning is that eastbound restriction near Sherbourne, I mean if a Bulleid (which are pretty gauge friendly) won't fit, then what the hell will ?, best dig out Met1 and Sarah Siddons for any future Withered Arm runs seeing as NR are going for a Tube Loading Gauge.

 

I am one of the worst/best for humour here. Depending on your viewpoint. I know I push my humour to the limit quite often and will continue to do so.

In it's right place. Some of the banter here is really great and I'm often in the centre of it. Long may it continue.

But not for me on the very day a lot of people were hoping to provide and/or travel on a steam hauled train to Exeter behind a normally reliable and historically very powerful and strong loco. A loco that had to fit in extra work up North recently because other locos, it seems, were not available or had failed themselves. I do feel sorry for such as SD and all the issues it raises for them, for such as Big Al and of course for the MNLPs who I know work so very hard and now have a problem to sort out with limited and resources. But maybe I'm the only one who felt it wasn't an area for banter today. I'm used to being out on my own though, that's the story of my life!

And returning to my humour. I always try and avoid using the sort of rather degrading language you have used in your last sentence. But accept others like to make posts like that, so do feel free to continue with me. I quite enjoy it really. But in doing so I ask you to get it correct, as I am well known as a "Fat Old Miserable Bast..d". But you can call me FOMB for short.

Miserable Old Sod indeed. Tut Tut. I went way past that level years ago!

And, oi. you leave my Owls alone.

 

Mr Yeti, Sir,

You've just made my evening, I enjoy your humour, never mind your recollections, its of a similar ilk to my own- many a time you have brought more than a smile to my lips - long may it continue, and if I didn't have cracked ribs, I'd be laughing out loud!