LNER 4464 - Merseyside Streak - 1st November 2014

Just had a letter through the door from Vintage Trains, who have confirmed the Trans pennine Streak is a non starter. VT, have said the following. We are proposing to revise the destination to Liverpool Lime Street, whilst maintaining as much of the outbound route as possible. Instead of turning right over the Transpennine, we plan to turn left down, Miles Platting and through Manchester Victoria, joining the Liverpool & Manchester Railway to our destination. The return route will be more direct commencing with a spirited departure from Liverpool passing up through the tunnels to Edge Hill and onwards to Earlstown, before rejoining the WCML for a charge back to the Midlands. All passenger pick up points will remain the same.

 

This has now been cancelled, due to gauging, typical NR not getting their finger out to check, perhaps if the passengers on the line know about it, there would be a alot of concern for their safety, perhaps a mention to my MP may pull strings.
This is the only time I would see it pass as a passenger train on that line before overhaul and am annoyed with NR and Wcrc, for not being adults in this.
As to risk of fire, we have had continuous rain,and the ground it waterlogged,so no chance of lineside fires,well not unless you threw petrol on it first.

 

Gauging issues on A4s, Duchesses and Scots were highlighted a week or so back.
Black 5s etc may be Ok.
However any tour venturing into LNE territory must have been at risk anyway with the ban on steam operations currently in force.

 

I cannot understand the mentality of NR, as we are in September,have rain and colder weather,yet we have steam ban in the Manchester area. Gauging issues should be done when it is noted, or is it just a lie, as to stop steam from using that line.
If I was the powers that be, then he would be out of his job for not doing things properly,and quickly.
A train is a train, and if it stops a steam loco using the line then it should be also stopping passenger trains too.

 

Odd that 46233 has worked 2 routes out of Bolton in the last week that must have needed gauging permissions. Last week the route was new, or certainly not used in a long time. Today's route via Chorley has had extensive reworking over recent months and has been closed to all traffic.
NR can accomplish what is required quickly but not everywhere. Maybe it depends on local prioritisation.

 

I don't see anything odd about it, different routes have different clearances with the age of the data used to measure them (and thus the allowances made for subsequent movement) likely differing too. The lines currently affected by the Northern Hub/North West Electrification projects may also benefit from work to increase clearances for electrification and higher linespeeds.

Chris

 

Good points and odd was the wrong word to choose in retrospect. I just thought id read there is a presumption of being out of gauge if a loco hasn't used a route for more than a certain length of time and that getting it reauthorised has often been a lengthy process. There have been numerous late cancellations or subs over the years because of "gauging issues".
Happily 46233 hasn't been troubled this last week.

 

Transpennine Streak , people running naked over Snake Pass

 

*shudders*

 

Will these gauging issues affect the two A4's heading to the ELR gala?

 

If coming from York then yes, but if coming in via Manchester vic then I do not think so.

 

Might 60007 in particular be affected by the present nr/wcr dispute assuming it is not resolved by then?

 

Two points need to be made:
1) The VT train with Bittern hasn't been cancelled as such, but re-routed and renamed.
2) Why has a new thread been started in the Steam Traction section when there's already at least one thread in the right place - "What's Going On"?

Maybe a Mod can move/merge this thread?

 

Haven't been into Liverpool behind steam for years but seem to remember trains being hauled out by a diesel up to Edge Hill. With the current track formations, can 4464 come off the train, run around and haul it away tender first?

 

The last time VT ran a tour to Liverpool (with 5043 in October 2011) 47773 was on the rear to drag the train empty from Lime Street to the triangle at Earlestown to turn the entire set around. If I recall servicing was then carried out in the loop just outside Earlestown before 47773 then took the ECS back into Liverpool with 5043 facing the right way for the run back to Tyseley.

 

Perhaps Ben can confirm one way or the other.

 

So their box on the back is a cert then.