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

Ah, that must have been it then. Maybe that's the last fast-to-slow cross-over before Holme Jn?

 

Bittern left London-King's Cross 3 minutes late and made a wonderful sight.

See the film below.



Barry

 

Jealous Bob? I'm not jealous.

Envious, perhaps...

 

This seems to have been an epic performance by Bittern. Special congratulations should go to Don Clarke of DBS and his fireman who clearly did brilliantly and to the loco inpsector (Colin/Gareth???).

Sobering thought and this may interest Mr Ken Yetti. The last time I travelled at 90mph was in 1963 (I had just joined the railways in Taunton) and I caught the up 1030am Exeter Central to Waterloo. This was a Merchant Navy duty but the best that Exmouth Junction MPD could do was to provide 34109 Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory. We were 10 late off Central but on time at Salisbury on a fast schedule with just one stop at Sidmouth Junction. Top speed was 93mph. Amazing.

But today is about Bittern and hats off to her.

Nick

 

lets all hope the next two runs areas good as the first one l hope adb is enjoying his well earnt pint(or2)well done all

 

Blimey! What a run that was. An absolute joy to read the on train updates from ADB. Well done to all involved for pulling the event off. Fantastic! I am on a high and I wasn't even on the run.

 

Couldn't see the Fluxcapacitor working though

 

My clip taken at the location suggested by KentYeti, near mile post 111.
Roughly the location where ADB's log stated 92 mph!

 

Great running from Bittern this morning, sustained 90 mph running on all three legs. Max 92.5 mph. Pitty about signal check at Hambleton Junc but absolutly no complaints! Very fine run and thanks to all who made it happen. Looking forward to runs #2 and #3!

 

85 mph at MP111

 

Likewise. My first childhood memory of steam was seeing 60014 and I've loved A4s ever since. Got a real buzz out of seeing her today, following the on board updates and viewing the video clips of others. A day to gladden the heart of steam enthusiasts in general and supporters of HNG in particular. Gresley was most certainly right.

 

Thanks for all the comments I'm enjoying a relaxing wander around the nrm, the star of the show is noticeably hidden from view today, though I'm not sure how often you get to see 5 A4's in one day, 60009 and 4464 are outside, 60007 and 60008 are roughly next to each other (bauxite in between), and 4489 with its Canadian whistle and bell.

The run was fantastic, the fact that it not only touched 90 but had long sustained runs above 90, and the of the rest of the trip was at 75... This felt like a true mainline express, no branch lines, detours or periods waiting for something to happen.. This was real high speed steam, and in the best events of my hobby I've witnessed.

I hope the other runs are equally as good, one thing for certain, Bittern isn't just "up for it", she's built for it..

 

Great you had such a good run with 34109 all those years ago Nick, but as you say, today is all about Bittern.

 

This video I found showing 4464 accelerating through Welwyn Garden City shows some awesome power on display from Bittern (turn up your volume):

 

Hey, just realised. We can't have much more of this 90 mph running.

Most of the video sequences are way too short! LOL!

 

'The Ebor Streak' on the 29th June 2013 with LNER A4 4464 'Bittern' seen heading to York from London Kings Cross.

Video Available Here

 

Looked like Gareth Jones to me.
Colin

 

Just a stroll in the park for HNG's finest. I do hope this leads to more locos passed for 90mph running and more tours designed around that speed.

 

Yup, Gareth Jones, Don Clarke and Steve Hanczar in the photo at York. Not sure if anyone else was involved earlier in the run.

 

Yes, we overtook the unit earlier on, it was on the slow line.At Huntingdon, we were held on the fast for it to undertake us, then we switched across to the slow and took water at Holme.
Now if the trip was rerun with the 2nd tender.... ;-)