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

Does anyone have the speeds from Colton to Doncaster, I'd like to know what she was doing at Fenwick.

Even the crossing keeper there was impressed and he watches electrics fly past all day!

 

As a fully-paid-up pedant, I believe we actually had FOUR 90+ mph stretches, as there were two down Stoke Bank, separated by the restriction. The last bit was of course a disappointment, but I accept the arguments above that we shouldn't blame whoever had to make the decision for playing safe.

And now today we have steam to Uxbridge: not as spectacular, but also deserving to be celebrated.

 

It is quite clear from that the locomotive inspector was unhappy being saddled on the up slow and made several calls from the footplate to control on his mobile to try to get agreement to switch to the up fast only to be rejected each time. I can't imagine this happening on other regions, even where 100mph+ trains are running. Remember, this is a Saturday night not in the peak of the rush hour. Surely it is such a pity after the early heroics only in ending in a damp squib.

That said, the reception for locomotive and crew was fantastic at Kings Cross.

 

Just like to endorse Yeti's comments.
I was on the train and we had a great day.
Eleven out of ten became 9 out of ten with the loss of the southbound 90 path but still a great day. It must have been very tempting to not run at all on Thursday and I believe that the only 90 section losses over all three trains were Thursday north bound and south from Connington last night.
That seems to me to be a great complement to all involved from the Mid Hants team that have been looking after the streak to the crews, the booking companies, the planners and the network rail controllers.
It's not all that many years since the suggestion of steam on the ECML, or for that matter the WCML and other trunk routes, would have been met by a blank refusal.
So, thank you Network Rail, and lets stop moaning.

 

A very well reasoned post Al. I can understand the frustration and in hindsight there are always different courses of action that could be taken. Regulating trains is not a science, it is very hard to predict what can or will happen. In areas with Automatic Route Setting (ARS) where the computer decides how to regulate trains the Signalman can still get blamed for the mistakes that it makes.

I'm sure the Signalman made the best decision possible for the area under his control (note, not just for 60019, responsibilty lies further than just one train at one given time). We shouldn't let any disappointment cloud our enjoyment of 90 mph steam, reliable operation and magnificent roles played by the footplate crews, support crews and those who manage and maintain 60019.

 

Thanks for all the updates guys from what has been three great days, saw her at Carlton north of Newark at what seemed 90+. Would it be possible that if anybody has an actual log of any of the three runs, that they could be posted on here for the record, and we would all know exactly the speed she was doing. Great stuff

 

I was an important day Al but 1930s steam pleasure trips will always have to bow out to present day services. It doesn't matter how much careful planning was done after the plan has gone wrong and trains are delayed. Bittern needed to be kept out of the way on the slow line and then I gather had to set off up the slow line because of a stopping service coming up behind it. As a steam enthusiast I find it as frustrating as anyone, but I think I understand why it was necessary.

I agree this incident has been made enough of now. We do sound like a lot of spoilt children! We've been given the best Christmas present we could have wished for, and all we can talk about is the little imperfections that pale into nothing when you see what has actually been achieved here. The best demonstration of that is from the people who paid their money and were onboard. I think we've yet to here a bad word from one of them.

 

Let

 

On my GPS log (recorded every 10secs throughout the journey), Fenwick (SE 589 162) was passed at 89.9 mph.

David

 

Nice to see you again too. Doubt it will be the last time our paths will cross!

Dave

 

Thanks!

 

Ah bugger.......and I was so looking forward to seeing it at 90!

Thanks David.

 

A friend and I ventured into Lincolnshire yesterday to witness Bittern on the last of her high-speed runs. It was rather a long way to go for one shot, and we lengthened the odds of getting a good one by chosing Stoke Bank! Even if she was on time, she'd pass us a good 20 minutes after sunset, and the weather forecast suggested a cloudy evening, but what the heck?! We found a good open stretch of embankment just north of Swayfield, and the cloud to the south-west looked quite broken, so we gambled on getting a silhouette. For once, fortune favoured us. As already mentioned, she reached 92 or 93 just around here.

Here are two frame-grabs from my video. I won't post more at the moment, because it might be included in OVP's disc , The Need For Speed, and I don't want to steal David's thunder.

 

Picky!!

That's 90 in anybodies book!......................................

At least you got to see her at speed, when she got to Welham Green she was doing about thirty if that...............................................

Still deciding about my effort......................................... Nice shot BTW Stuart.

 

David did you have a speed for Carlton on Trent? Thanks,
Chris.

 

My efforts from yesterday, didn't quite get to see her at 90. But still, a record of the day nonetheless.

 

In the GWR book, that would be down as about 102.4 ...

Tom

 

Ah! You've inspected the log too.

Pity about the final leg but the whole exercise was achieved so easily on the part of the locomotive it begs the question with regard to how much higher a level of performance could have been obtained.