Churnet Valley Railway General Discussion

I'll answer my own question .......
TkH - TE 21630 ; Drivers 4'6'' Heating area 790 sq ft (73 m2) No superheat ; Grate c.19 sq ft
N7 - TE 20512 ; Drivers 4' 10'' Heating area 1,291.7 sq ft (120.00 m2) Superheated ; Grate 17.7 sq ft.

So the TkH is under-boilered for prolonged ' 'high output' work I'd say.

 

OK, OK Lads - you've got me lol!

Now, thinking out loud.............................. just what cost are we looking at for a private charter with the TkH and a couple (?) of Mk I's to do run pasts past every station/pub, and wait for us to have a pint in the pubs? . Up the branch, and how many bodies would need to commit to make it a little less painful on the wallet for everybody?! Annd, could we get a headboard made up? - "The Druid Express" as its the Autumn Equinox?.............

Oh, and how would the 20th September sound??.............. I plucked the 13th out of mid air, as its my birthday and thought a trip to the CVR would make a nice present to myself!........ seeing as how Ralph is otherwise engaged........... So I don't mind hanging back a week, and you can all buy me a pint Lol!

 

DD - 13th no good for me, on hols. 20th is good, and don't worry about the Black Lion if the trains have ceased - it's just a scenic 2 mile stroll along the canal to either Ched of Froghall - simples

It's getting back from either of these that's the challenge!

 

Stick me in a barrow and cart me about lol!

So, we're looking at the 20th then?

If Lil Bear, or whoever, can come back with a figure, and if it do-able, so that we can work out just how many bodies would be needed!

 

20th is Severn Valley ASG, which is where most steam enthusiasts will be.

2015 is 10 Years of NatPres, and Glyn has spoken elsewhere of mini events at various railways. Anyone fancy a NP RAT up Ipstones one Saturday afternoon / evening?

 

I'd forgotten about that!

Problem solved, for now............................... though seriously lil Bear, IF we were to have an NP gathering later in the year, just how much are we looking at for a charter train? To see if its a go-er or not!

 

Err not sure, going up Cauldon costs more than sticking to CVR though. Can always ask but we'd need to know if there is genuine interest amongst a good number of people if it is to happen. Issue is though you are moving into the off-season, and are people going to come out into deepest, darkest Staffordshire on a cold winter's night? Personally doubt enough will.

Hence I'm thinking of seeing if something can be done to coincide with NatPres10, when we have longer days. Need to wait for 2015 running dates though, to see which dates are available. However if enough people do come forward now, I'm sure we could look into something for December. Add a couple of extra coaches onto 1 of our Xmas Diners for a Nat Pres Beer-ex.

 

Not knowing the line, I'll take what you say as gospel, BUT I was looking at a day time thing - earliest I could get there on a Saturday without staying over would be circa 11 am, which would probably suite the original proposer of this idea, oh, and I need to be on a train back down South circa 6pm! So food for thought?......... last time there was a mini NP get together was last December...........

SOooo if you can ask, and come back with various options/prices to see if things are viable, I for one would be grateful!

Think of it as a dry run for Nat Pres 10 next year - you never know!

 

Ahh, now you've said that there is our Mince Pie services (or October 5th). No need to hire a specific train or anything, would simply cost £17/person.
First train is 10am off Froghall, but then it returns to Cheddleton for a 1150 departure to Froghall.
Then at 1235 departs Froghall to Ipstones, returning to Cheddleton 1415 / Froghall 1445.
It also does a third departure at 1510 for Ipstones, returning to Cheddleton 1650 / Froghall 1720.

So you could get 2x return trips in for £17, or could do 1 trip and hop off at Consall to visit the Black Lion for the other half of the day. It depends upon a) Which station you want to start from, b) how late you wish to stay. If you wanted to make it an official Nat Pres Day, sure if Glyn brings the NP Headboard it could fitted onto the front of whatever operating. Your call

 

Did you see my reply Dave, or did you miss it with the forum crashing?

 

Missed it when things went t*ts up, or should that be down?!

Now that I've read it, I don't know what to think, or do - being self employed means that I cant plan too far ahead!

One thing I do know though, is I don't to see any damn tinsel or fat bearded bloke until as close as possible to 25th Dec! (If I want to see a fat bearded bloke, I can do that every time I look in the mirror! )

What I would suggest is this - to save clogging up this thread, we take the conversation "underground" by PM where all interested parties can decide what happens!

So, yourself, myself, Ralph, Sheff and more likely as not Victor, and there's an outside chance of Belle1 and Spamcan too!

RALPH, RALPH will you do the honours please!

 

Perhaps we ought to try to timetable services to that it would be easy to hop off, get a pint and get back on again ready to continue the journey to the next hostellry without losing too much drinking time.

 

Now there's a novel idea!

 

Struggle though as come September we alter to the LOW season TT with only 3x return trips along CVR, with first train 11.30am and last train 3.00pm.

Hence I suggested Cauldon day, as still 3x return trips but longer day as we run on the Ipstones extension.

This leaves Sunday 5th October, Saturday 27th December, Sunday 28th December or Wednesday 31st December (unless any additional dates have been added that haven't been publicised yet).

 

Evening all,

Shots from today's trains along with a wedding train (Note; Scottie dog on top bracket, groom is a 37/EE crank!!) To view todays shot click: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157646768109442/

 

Those ribbons didn't stay white for very long!
Wonderful atmosphere today, I can only assume that everyone involved was pleased that the rain cleared up (certainly including myself - the only raincoat I could find this morning still had traces of multi-coloured paint on it - wouldn't have looked the part at all!)!

 

Yes excellent weekend, and the wedding party certainly enjoyed themselves. The wedding cake itself also featured a mock Polish Tank being driven by Chewbacca due to the Groom's liking for Star Wars as well. Rather ironic combination for the rest of my CVR volunteers don't you think?!

 

Back in action! A bits and pieces day today. Started with oiling points and clearing flangeways at Leekbrook Junction followed by a walk up the line towards Ipstones clearing vegetation from the lineside and changing bound bolts. Nice sunny day which looks to be different from the rest of the week.

 

Evening all,

Photographs now online from Wednesdays running day: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157646514558827