Cumbrian Coast 2, 14/6/2014

Lost time at Stafford crossing over before the station then back again after the station ,but back on time at Watford Junction where I left the train.

 

2N76 - L/pool - B/pool, sat at platform for 12½ minutes, seems to have delayed 1Z86, as the latter was RT at Springs Branch Jnc.
Trouble on the train I guess. Overloaded? Too many trying to get on? Fracas??

 

I think the fire must have been not too good at first, as there was a lot of black smoke, the run up to Grayrigg seemed sluggish, and we were looped there. Even after the restart the climb of Shap again seemed a bit slow, and there wasn't much exhaust sound to be heard from where I was near the back of the train. But the turn-round at Carlisle was very smart, and the run round the coast was marvellous, with much more sound than I had expected (now, of course, near the front).

We were held for a few minutes at Dalton on an adverse gradient. On the restart we rolled back a bit and she slipped once but then got going with no further trouble.

Many thanks for the videos and stills posted here.

 

The Climb to Grayrigg certainly didn't look sluggish from my point of view, infact it was making easy work of it, and the same goes for Shap. Because the 8F is limited to 50mph it would have seemed slower than with a 75mph loco.

 

Not sure that I understand that. The exhaust beats are of course faster at any given speed, and the 50 mph limit is irrelevant when climbing much slower than that. I don't know what the actual speed was up to Grayrigg: can someone tell us? Better still, can someone estimate the EDBHP?

 

Thanks Danny , me and the car get about a bit LOL .

 

Some snaps of a very enjoyable day out behind an on form Loco - https://www.flickr.com/photos/goldsteam/sets/72157645185305875/

 

A couple from Parton Yesterday - http://philmetcalfe.zenfolio.com/p143854893/h1507fcb9#h1507fcb9
and http://philmetcalfe.zenfolio.com/p143854893/h1507fcb9#h184d95e7

 

Footage of 48151 storming up Shap , St Bees and Eskmeals viaduct .

Excellent footage again Stephen ,love that shot at St Bees very nice indeed. Thanks Simon
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/

 

Nice shots phil and all the better for your cloning me out!

 

Lovely stuff there Phil well done

 

Plenty of noise could be heard from the front of the second coach going up Shap. Did not hear much on the return. It was a good climb and better than the 2 I have had with Galatea.

 

Great shots Phil , nice to chat with you at Salterwath . What happened to your Salterwath shot though .

 

Thanks26 D,Yes a few photers taken out!!

 

Thanks Shep , Were you out ?

 

Thanks Steve and yes good to chat, nice shots youself from St Bees.

I havent looked at the Salterwath shot yet!! Will do tonight.

 

Crackin shots Phil , you were looking down on me but I seem to have vanished lol

 

Cheers Henry, if i had known it was you i would have left you in !!!!

 

There were no complaints from the punters because it was a cracking trip. Most the people I chatted to knew that we weren't going to break the sound barrier with an 8F, which put in a creditable performance on the gradients, certainly up to the standards of any 75mph-rated locomotives. It was only on the downhill sections that the 8F's speed restriction posed any problems, hance the looping at Oxenholme and Penrith.

According to my records, we romped to a 'decent' speed (+/- 50mph) towards the foot of Oxenholme, and we were doing 34mph about a mile from Grayrigg summit before power was shut off and the train naturally slowed for the loop. We got to +/- 50mph again on the couple of miles' descent to Tebay, and attacked Shap at a steady average of 34-35mph, topping the summit at 26mph. We then bowled along downhill to Penrith with the brakes periodically applied to remain within tolerances, and had a subsequent fast (for an 8F) run to Carlisle. To be frank, I enjoyed the climb of Shap, as the loop at Oxenholme meant that each bank could be attacked as separate entities. I was in the fourth carriage from the front heading up Shap, and there was plenty of noise from where I was sitting. The loss of time in Carlisle was not a real issue as once you've been to the cathedral, castle and Tullie House museum, there's only Wetherspoons and the local beer shop to keep you occupied, and there were no complaints as to the loss of layover from the passengers surrounding my seat.

The Cumbrian Coast route is absolutely stunning, and is possibly a better option in the right weather conditions than Dawlish. Although there was a haze, it was possible to see Snaefell on the Isle of Man in the distance, and the sharp curves (only south of Maryport- 'window-hanging' was not permitted before Maryport due to tight bridge clearances) provided plenty of opportunities to photograph the locomotive whilst on the move. It was also quite nice to have a leg stretch at Sellafield.