As good as it gets on the S & C

Filmed by me in 1996 no. 2968 crosses Batty Moss with a charter

 

Thank you so much for putting that up, and the kind heading. I'm going to put a link to it on the Stanier Mogul Fund website.

The train was the Christmas Cumbrian Mountain Express, 1Z49 of nine bogies for 335 / 365 tons from Hitchin to Carlisle on 21st December 1996. Rostered power was A4 60009, but the VAB didn't sort her certification in time and 2968 substituted. She was brought to a dead stand at Settle Junction, right at the foot of the incline. Despite enthusiasts' comments that she would then need banking assistance up to the summit (I had to listen to this!), she worked the train up to 42 mph at one part of the climb. She reduced speed to 27 mph to cross the viaduct, but was back up to 31 mph by the time she reached the tunnel.

It was a pivotal day in the history of the SMF and, indeed, that of the class. Thanks again for sharing this.

 

you are very welcome

 

Box free heaven

 

Anything to do with it being over 100 tons under the standard loan for most railtours these days, I wonder?

Steven

 

Is that with a Class 5? The late Mike Notley was on the train and provided a log of the run. To say he was impressed by the performance is an understatement:

"Talking with Gordon Hodgson a little later while we took water at Garsdale, he said that the majority of the climb was done on full regulator and 60% cut off and Paul Kane confirmed that she steamed easily. All the crew were very impressed by this pocket battleship of a locomotive. A breakdown of the average e.d.h.p.’s gives the following :-
Section Average e.d.h.p.
Settle Junction to Settle station 822 Slipping
Settle station to Milepost 240 1,192 Slips near Stainforth
Milepost 240 to Milepost 243 1,263
Milepost 243 to Milepost 246 1,297
Settle Junction to Milepost 240 1,022
Milepost 240 to Milepost 246 1,279
Settle Junction to Milepost 246 1,132
From this it can be seen that once the problems with slipping had been overcome, 2968 was capable of producing a constant figure of close to 1,300 e.d.h.p. or around 1,675 i.h.p. For a loco with just 27.8 square feet of grate and 244 square feet of superheater this is an impressive figure."

 

Superb video, plus, a top performance by 2968, I would dearly love to see it repeated sometime in the future. Another like? yes, a Stanier loco with a, ahem, proper whistle!!

Cheers

Alan

 

I was referring to Spamcan81's noting of the lack of a s diesel - and yes, there are numerous occasions when a Black Five is put on 12, quite often with a friend......

Steven

 

Fair enough, Mr Bean-Counter! No hard feelings, I hope?

The limit of nine bogies (one of which was the generator coach, by the way) was a Railtrack decision; this was only 2968's second main line run and I think there were some uncertainties. I remember that we were disappointed at the restriction at the time.

 

No problems - just wanted to make clear I wasn't saying anything about the locos ability, just that what was being expected wa srather more realistic and therefore no need for assistance. The quote from Mike Notley was certainly worth sharing!

Another thing I noticed was that the generator van was the only brake in the consist, so presumably had to be used as a temporary support coach? These days, it often seems to be the case that with support coach and staff brake up front, the nearest fare paying passengers get is the 3rd coach. I reckon that consist (Generator brake, 2 x TSO, 5 x FO and kitchen as far as I could see) gives 338 seats, whereas the standard these days of POB, Staff brake, 2 x TSO, RMB, 6 x FO and kitchen gives just over 400 - not that many more for over 100 tones extra. Of course, the problem, we are told, is that the profit is in the last coach - but presumably the 2968 trip didn't run at an expected loss with a known load limit?

Steven

 

Nope. That's how it was back in the day. Stock was rarely if ever turned at a destination and boxes weren't on the back. If one was needed for a shunt release then a local one was used.

 

A very good performance. 1675 ihp is Type 3 diesel territory.

 

As far as I remember, the load would have been 14 bogies behind 60009, but was reduced to nine in view of the smaller engine's use. There wasn't a support coach as such within the rake as a means of maintaining something near the original seating capacity. What would have been the support coach travelled to Carlisle behind the Class 47 which had brought the train from Hitchin to Crewe, via, I think, the WCML. The support coach and 2968 were reunited at Carlisle and the 47 returned the train to Hitchin.

It's amazing to think that this all happened eighteen years ago, so apologies if my memory has slipped a bit in the interval!

 

You raise a good point.

I cant see why on trips which the steam loco's Origin and Destination is the same on the same day, that the BSK cannot become the support coach with a bit of planning, especially if the loco and stock are coming off the same shed. (Tyseley seem to manage it, as does the West Highland)
Additionally the need for a Buffet & a Kitchen could be dispensed with by replacing the Buffet with a trolley... that's either 2 less in the consist, or 2 extra revs in the consist depending on which way the operator goes with it...(of course a profit share with the Loco for giving up a vehicle and sitting with the "plebs" wouldn't be a miss) plebs plebs ... no I didn't say that. I said "chlebs" - polish for bread - support crew are hungry.

 

Super video of a momentous afternoon - many thanks for the upload. I was also there and have fond memories - my father's photo is at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/peterainsworth/8379791735/in/photolist-dfvfDx-9nXyTm-dLuC8R

My shot from between the box and the tunnel is less good, but I was only 12 at the time

 

Your Dad's shot, like the video,. is magnificent - seems to instantly recall a simpler time for mainline steam as well as being totally timeless!

Steven

 

I'm sure I was on this. Family day out, joined at Hitchin. Very good trip from what I remember. Shame there's nothing on Six Bells Junction about it, I can't remember why the tour went over the S&C so late in the day.

 

Wasn't 2968 about halfway through its ticket then? Must admit its a cracking engine, not the most glamourous but 'does exactly what it says on the tin'. I can't wait to have a trip behind it out of Bridgo in the LMS Buffet again, beer in hand...!

 

Yes, she re-entered traffic on the SVR in April 1991 and her first mainline run was 7th December 1996. As to your wish, we’re working hard to achieve it!
http://www.staniermogulfund.org.uk/pages/index.php

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