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

As long as its not 2nd November!

 

I think 21st Sept would be a very unlucky choice as both SNGLPT (60007) and A1SLT (60163) have annual events for Members on that day so a lot of LNER people will have difficult decisions to make. If the run is that weekend I hope (personally) it will remain on the Friday.​

 

Not a good idea to clash the the SVR ASG either.

 

Really feel for those who paid so much money out the hard work they put into paying to go on these unique runs, plus getting the time off work which should not be ignored. I bet there are a few pissed off faces from the passengers aswell. NR are clearly over-paranoid over some petty little spark that could cause a major inferno, which may not of even happened if in the luckiest case.

 

Reading the above, it seems rather naive on DBS's part to think NR would make an exception based on TOC for identical equipment, always a first time for a DBS train to start a fire.

 

I agree, very naive, and they should have shared the information with Pathfinder straight away in my opinion and agreed a way forward together. Quite why NR didn't give DBS an unequivocal "no" on the Tuesday however, rather than leave them with false hope also seems odd. Sounds a bit like a mixture of misunderstanding and poor communication frankly, something that seems to plague railtours all too often.

 

So how many lineside fires and how much disruption does it take for Network Rail's so-called 'paranoia' to be justified then? What we've seen this summer and in past years, especially on the ECML, is more than enough to justify extreme caution - no-one wants to see railtours cancelled but it can only take one small fire to cause considerable disruption especially if lineside cabling is damaged too.

Chris

 

I seem to recall forecast rain Wednesday and/or Thursday before the train was booked to run, which didn't materialise in the area through which bit was booked to run. Perhaps all concerned were giving the train the best possible chance of running and the weather failed to deliver what was promised and they needed for it to happen? I suspect had the train been cancelled immediately after the problems on Tuesday, accusations of "jumping the gun" would have been the order of the day, especially if my memory of the weather forecast is correct.

Steven

 

Come on steam fans throughout the UK. It's time to rejoice and put this annoying topic of the incompetence of NR to bed once and for all. Why? Because substantial rainfall is on its way starting tomorrow.

I can confidently announce that with immediate effect, all steam trains will now run without diesel assistance unless for operation reasons.

Summer is over. Autumn is upon us and so is the rain. Yippeeee!

Nick

 

But now cometh the dreaded leaf... All lying under the wheels of the steam monster, necessitating a diesel for guarentee that autumn mulch will not delay thy thunder on hills over yonder.

And if you get past that the rail head treatment trains will steal spare DBS crews.

 

Oh, you of little faith!............................. all this doom mongering ................................................ though you may be proved right....................................... (crystal ball currently in for service!)....................................

Any way BACK on topic, any more on the proposed re re scheduled runs?...................................................................

 

Faith what's that ?
After Autumn comes the shortage of steam heat stock, and there's always a strike before Christmas.
In winter 2014 will be the snowfall that shuts the network down.
In spring will be the delays to winter overhauls
Then we have the annual "will royal scot makes this years Great Britain?".. Which it won't, and the GB is usually hauled half way around the nation by one engine, and not the half in the original route.
Which brings us neatly back to the summer steam ban again.

 

PMSL................................................. ROFL...........................................

DOOMED, WE'RE ALL DOOMED!!!!!!

Having said that one of the lads in the MHR wagon group has a mate who is a farmer and has been talking to his cows (I know, I know, don't go there.............) AND the word is we ARE in for a long hard winter..... and he's been proved right for the last few years............................................................................... so you may well be right!...................................................................

Now FFS........................................................ BACK on topic................................... any flesh on the bones of rumour?..........................................................................................

 

Nope, I have a vid of Clan line being the only train running in the snow storm of '13

 

Can you ask your mate to ask his cow when Britannia will be overhauled ?
If he's right I think a few more people may have a few more questions to ask them.

 

??????????????????

Last I heard she's at Crewe having dodgy firebox stays renewed, AND she's still shown on the MHR website as confirmed for the autumn gala, but as its so quiet on the news front for 70000 I have my doubts.............time is fast running out! But that's for a n other thread.................................................

 

so, do we have any whispers when these two holly grail runs will take place?