Central Wales Explorer April 5th

Yes it can be very simple. Tornado once went on a Kent Circular with only its 'teapot' whistle working because there was a problem with the feed steam to the chime whistle. Had that been the only whistle on the loco then it would have failed its FTR. Mind you having two air pumps didn't save it on the Holyhead trip but it passed its FTR with just the one working, till that failed at Rhyl.

 

I think that the GSMR has to be shut down properly after each trip otherwise it will not engage the next time it is used. (I think that's the gist of what needs to be done. Someone please correct if this is wrong)

 

It started with points failure at Castleton, it seems that because of this the locos and support coaches could not use the triangle there so had to run down to the stock facing the wrong way. So then had to turn at the triangle at Brewery junction amongst the usual Saturday morning traffic, so the train eventually arrive in Victoria just after 8am.

 

We stopped short of EarlesTown and several members of the support crew and I guess Ian got down to have a close look in the area of the rods etc, we then restarted and it appeared then that 5407 was not doing much work.
From what I heard later it was a precautionary decision as going further and under load might have caused more serious damage.

 

Because of an issue with the local signaller, although they were able to take 5407 off the train and it was the train loco, it was not possible to attach a diesel so Mike Kelly was given the task of getting the train to Crewe with 44781 alone. But remember we were in the East platform and were signalled down past Arply sidings then up the drag over the Mersey and Ship Canal on wet and greasy rail, this he did very well with only a couple of small slips, once over the top he really got things going and we flew to Crewe in fine style. However the problems were not all over yet, first there were mutterings of putting the diesel on the front but then it apperaed on the back. OK are you still with me, the two diesels arrived at Crewe with the County of Essex leading, and it was the one with fitted with ETH, but someone somewhere said that the back one had to be used as it involved less shunting.... So meaning that 44871 had to provide the train heating.......
At least we got back to Manchester on time and coinciding with thousands of fans leaving the Arena having been to see some I believe the term is 'Boy Band'. The styles of dress was .............................

 

Yes there did seem to be a bit of a leak there.....

 

I am greatful to you for pointing that out, if it's the only error in my posts on this subject then it must mean that not only do I have a reasonable command of the English language, I have also got my facts right.

 

Finally got round to my log of this trip, the only bit worth noting was the brief run from Warrington to Crewe, where Mr Kelly coaxed 44871 into the lowish 60s soon after Weaver junction until having to slow for the turn onto the slow line after Winsford. Hopefully something with a bit more to report on from next Saturday.