70000 Britannia on Freight

I see in the latest edition of Stean Patroniser that 70000 has been booked for 3 days of commercial freight work at a steelworks in Sheffield. A great idea, but you will not be invited apparently.

This has got me thinking, any suggestions for a freight train/route on the main line that 70000, or one of the other air braked steam locos, could be used on, in a sponsored form of course.

I don't know, but there may be too many conflicting issues with such a plan, in which case, I await to be enlightened. However, in the meantime, to start things off, my suggestion would be one of the Chirk timber trains, say, from Chester to Chirk. Your thoughts anyone?

Cheers

Alan

 

A Steam loco, hauling a Timber train.

And when would you suggest it ran?

November 5th.

 

HI
YES good idea when it rains. fish7373 81c fitter

 

Where have you been!! Never seen a wood fired steam train before!!

 

This ties in for my idea of steam taking over all trains on the S&C for a weekend, jubilee's, scots, 5's the black 8 and brits, the motive power is out there.

 

A UK Plandampf would be excellent.

 

Need to add some 9Fs but then the idea becomes even more fantastic.

 

Is this not just another stunt to prove the power of a loco? 48151 at Tunstead, 92203 on a 1000t stone train, plus more.

On the UK plandampf. The S&C idea would be fantastic. Just the thought of all the locos in the correct liveries, plenty of either maroon or blood and custard coaches around to be used. The image is one of fantasy.

 

Timings and load wise, you could also do something with the Bedford to Bletchley line and some panniers.

 

Problem is getting photographers to pony up and keeping the timings quiet.
Neither will happen.

Best you would get is several railtours on the same day, problem again with that is, it isn't really a plandampf and the passengers wouldn't really feel part of it as everything would be pre-booking end to end journey.

The European steam model wouldn't really work in the UK, unless say it included incoming/outgoing operations on a preserved railway during a gala.

 

I meant Plandampf but didn't want to say as much as worried I would spell it wrong!

 

What's wrong with that? How do you think loads such as timber, petrol, gunpowder, ammunition etc were hauled pre ca. 1960? By magic? Or by good old spark-throwing steam engines, and railwaymen who understood the correct way to protect such loads from accidental ignition?

Tom

 

Such as Soham 1944.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soham_rail_disaster

 

At the enquiry, the cause of the fire was inconclusive. Given the fact that the wagon had prevoiusly carried sulphur and had been "cleaned", it is possible that it was still highly volatile.

 

Without wishing to minimise that disaster, or the bravery of the railwaymen concerned, literally millions of tons of ammunition, petrol etc were transported behind steam engines, with very few accidents. And to put it in context, there have been train fires with e.g. petrol tankers since when hauled by diesels. So I hardly think a single accident proves that the practice is dangerous.

Tom

 

The point I was trying to make was the professionalism of Railwaymen who know how to protect their loads and the public at any cost. Those men did both and they were not believed to be the cause either.
It is certainly not a dangerous practice when that level of professionalism is present.

 

Ah, I see what you mean - I read it the other way. Apologies!

Tom

 

Oh dear, what have I started?? this thread has gone all "incendiary"!!!

 

It's not quite a flame war yet....


(Sorry)