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

Arlesley - I'm afraid !

 

Maybe there will be a nice and noisy climb to Stevenage now. Depending on which line they are on, and if they still have to cross over at Hitchin as booked.

 

But on the positive side it looks like two very fine start to stop sections earlier on.

 

Passing South Muskham just north of Newark: http://daviddepperphotography.zenfolio.com/p406767241#h3e091ac2

 

Sounded rather pleasant acceleration through Hitchin on the up slow, couple of slips coming over Cambridge Branch Junction.

 

Brilliant, brilliant brilliant!
Judicious use of the chime, going like stink and closely followed by what else but "Flying Scotsman".
You couldn't make it up.

Seen HERE at FENWICK.

 

"Hmmm, sorry to be a "party pooper" all this back slapping and praise for the organisations/ crews/individuals involved, but no one (I think, until now) has mentioned the efforts of the lads at Ropley in getting her up to mainline standard in the first place, and those that have carried out the subsequent TLC on her thereafter!!.................................. Hat's off to you Lads!! "

After the first run I was chatting to friends about it and mentioned 60019/4464 was another first class job from Ropley MPD. She has a great team looking after her now and I think some of those involved are from Ropley & the MHR.

 

Excellent run as far as Connington. max about 92 mph. But slow dawdle on slow line after Huntingdon. Now running 40 late.

 

Tremendous spirit.

Well done.


Smooth Bugatti blues by newshot., on Flickr

 

The good thing for the future of steam on the main line is how Bittern performed impeccably. Any mishaps could have put an end to the idea of 90+ running in the future, but the fact that Bittern apparently had no problems keeping to schedule and the only problems were caused by service trains demonstrates the capability of doing it in the future.

I've been soaking up the video - it's been great to see one of Gresley's finest doing exactly what it was built to do.

 

LNER A4 4464 'Bittern' seen at Ryther this afternoon.

Video Available Here

 

Good post Al. The 4th para sums it up for me. With the background you provide it does look to me as though the right person could have kept Bittern on the fast to Hitchin ad booked.

But history will still show those two excellent start to stop sections.

 

It wasn't too warm at Welham Green either!!

Though she did make a fine sight as she trundled past, and do you know I'm sure I saw someone give the "Royal Wave" as they went past Lol!!

 

Having seen at first hand an A4 flying at 90mph+ the thing that will stay with me most is the rapid staccato of the exhaust and the way its intensity increased, much more dramatically than at 75, as Bittern flew towards us. There was no place for the smorgasbord of adjectives that headline countless videos on youtube of locos working hard: - "storm", "shatter", "flatten", "destroy", "annihilate" and so on, to describe the scene. An A4 at 90 simply purrs and flies - and there really are no two other words to describe it better. Seeing Bittern do exactly what Gresley intended it to do, cruising at 90mph+, was a memorable experience. I feel privileged to have been able to witness it not once, but twice today - and it is sad to think that such a sight may never be seen again.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved from every organisation and to everyone who bought a ticket to make these events possible. Who cares about what happened at Huntingdon? What would we have given this time last year just to go up to 90mph and back down again? Let alone cruise at 90 for mile after mile after mile.

 

Here's my effort from this afternoon at Rossington Foot Crossing :



The image/s and hopefully some footage will appear on the website within the next week.

 

Home safe and sound. Highlights? A fair few. Effortless acceleration away from York and topping 90 along the level. Stunning acceleration away from Retford and up Gamston Bank. Another 90+ max before Newark.
Stoke Bank flattened with 72 at the tunnel mouth. Sustained 93 either side of the bridge slack and a couple of brief peaks of 95. Superb restart from Connington and a noisy climb to Abbots Ripton but then it went down hill.
We approached Huntingdon to be faced with a double amber and a feather indicating a turn on to the slow road. The driver drew up to the signal and words were exchanged but to no avail and off up the slow we went only to be brought to another stand north of Sandy while we were leapfrogged by a local and then held again until the Hull went past. "Here we go" we thought, back on the main now everything has gone past but no luck and the slow line trundle continued. Daft thing is, had we been given a clear road from Connington onwards, there's little doubt we'd have reached Hitchin without further ado and the late running expresses could have passed us there. At least the climb from Cadwell to Stevenage was nice and noisy. Still a great day and one to remember.

 

I've just got back home with my wife after a wonderful day. Who would have thought that in the year 2013 one would be able to travel on the ecml behind steam at 90mph for mile after mile? Congratulations to all involved in overcoming all the obstacles.