Castle Over Shap - Sat 20 Jun

Superb videos and pics so far, especially liked 71000's shot at Warrington, absolutely brilliant. I for one never doubted 5043's ability and as Bob said i think a few people may be eating humble pie at the moment! Things to consider though is that the previous GWR attempts particularly involving 6024 were totally overloaded and I for one would love to see another attempt by the King with a coach or two less than the 13 she had back in 1998 and I think we would see a very different outcome. 6024 certainly has unfinshed business up there and with the same crew combination as yesterday I believe we could see some re-writing of the record books. I hope this isn't the last we see of Edgcumbe in the north, how about northbound over Shap and southbound over the S&C? You would have an immediate booking from me that's for sure! I'm still gutted I couldn't get on this, how about a Castle over Shap 'relief' later on in the year?
Well done Bob, Tyesley and WCRC for an immaculate loco, train and performance-you are true professionals.

 

Magnificent pics and videos chaps, thanks all for contributing, of all the days to have to work ](*,)

Matt

 

Congratulations to all on an excellent performance yesterday with an unfamiliar crew. However (and without wishing to denigrate 5043's performance) but for historical accuracy wasn't 46115's epic runs with the Great Britain on 10th April and on 9th May both with one additional coach (11 bogies)?

 

46115 definitely took Great Britain over Shap with load 11, and I believe, faster than she managed with the Scot over Shap tour. Three separate video posts covered almost the whole ascent, and they were epic. Perhaps one of the dedicated timers / readers of Steam Railway among forum members could confirm the comparisons?

Two, no three, things I'd like to say to Bob Meanley. First, I do think that much of the doomsaying on here before the run was banter, and meant in jest. Anyone who really wanted the Castle to fail must be a sad, sad person. Second, you did a fine job yourself on the return. Third, you lucky, lucky *** !

 

Conratulations to Bob Meanley and everyone involved in the trip.

Whoever would have thought when 5043 was a rusting hulk at Barry and as a skeleton of a one-time locomotive at Tyseley, that on June 20th 2009 she would achieve that sort of performance on Shap. I remember reading in Steam Railway some time ago that 5043 might possibly be the best of all the preserved Castles, when fully restored. In almost every video of 5043 on the main line she is showing the white feather at the safety valves, no matter how hard she is being worked.

Although 5043 was apparently just a few seconds off 46115's timings and the load may have been one coach less, I think Castles are smaller locos than Rebuilt Scots. In fact, if 46115 is a "beast", then so is 5043.

It was a great day for the Great Western.

 

Friday and Saturday are two days that will live long in my memory. From our arrival at Crewe Heritage Centre with what we consider to be an engine turned out as 'normal' and to see the looks on the guys faces as they walked round her. And then when we started to give her a quick wipe over one of them said "She's not dirty". She is to us was the reply.
Then the next morning to have the priveledge of standing on the footplate behind Bill Andrew between Crewe and Carnforth and watch a master at work. =D> =D>
Then came the bit between Carnforth and Carlisle, it was my first run over the hills behind steam so I have nothing to compare it to,but boy it was magnificent.
The return leg was just as good and the way we blasted through places like Lancaster,Warrington and Wigan to see the looks on the unsuspecting publics faces was something else. \/
I won't say anything about performance, except to say Mike Notley's log should make very interesting reading in next months Steam Railway.
All in all an excellent couple of days that make volunteering well worthwhile.
The feeling of quiet pride I have now in a job well done,well money can't buy it.

 

Could someone who was on the train yesterday provide figures relating to the relavent sections.
i.e Going north, the time between MP 13 to MP 26 and the time between MP 31.5 and 37.25
Going south the time from Carlisle to MP37.5 and the time from Penrith to 37.5
Once this has been posted then I might Mr M be able to make a comment.

 

I would also like to comment to and to congratulations to the all concerned at Tyseley for the run and to some great videos taken each way over Shap.

I had to work in the afternoon which spoilt my chances of going further north and getting home this morning I`ve been busy baking and eating humble pie!

Great to see a castle on the mainline up north and hope with some goading from me and this thread we could see it run over the S & C in the near future.
(made a spare pie which is in the freezer - just in case)

John

 

Hi Ralph think i was standing next to you at Salterwath yesterday. We had a conversation bout falling over tripods before the castle came (I fell over mine)After the shot we had a chat about Tornado on Top Gear.If it was you nice to meet you (Geordie accent is a clue)
Henry

 

As well as the Castle over Shap the diesel involved was the Stratford 47 Group's 47580 which was making its mainline passenger preservation debut. A few photos of it here with 5043 at Nuneaton. http://railways.mjspencer.com/gallery/m ... itemId=554

 

Thanks everyone for your kind comments about my video, I've warmed to the first shot as the day has gone on!!
Great to read the comments of the Tyseley boys, i reckon they will be on a high for weeks, as well they should.

 

:smt003 :smt002 - Thank you

 

Well just got home after the trip and a night away. Superb trip and thanks to everybody who made it happen.

Grayrigg (MP13-26): 13m 53.78 sec
Shap (MP31.5 to 37.25) 5m 58.94sec
Shap and Grayrigg 24m 69.99sec

Timed from the 6th coach.

The two individual times are very good but it’s the combined time that is most outstanding in my book. I have to say the handling of the engine was absolutely top class, you would expect nothing less from Bill Andrew, but even so it just took the breath away, no thought of a ‘breather’ after Grayrigg just a superb continuous acceleration that peaked at the foot of Shap.

 

When you say 24min 69.99 sec, would that be 25min 9.99 sec, or 23min 129.99 sec?

 

No 7
Thank you for your reply.I think that your overall time should be 24.59 which compares very well with other trips over this route.I understand that the load was 10/350 one more than the Jubilee and 30 secs quicker.I would agree with your comment about no breather being taken.You know then that everything is well and they are really going for it.
This trip proves that it can be done with a GW product if all the conditions are correct.Engine fit and a crew who know how to get the best out of her.This trip however has been the exception to the rule,and how many years has it taken to get a performance like this one.Congratulations to the Tyseley team.
Finally could you confirm the time to 37.5 on the return journey.I understand that this could well have been as good as the overall time of 24.59 for the outward journey.

 

Yes my apologies, I had just got in and was in a bit of a rush. Should have been 24m 59.99 sec. Speed at Shap summit I made as 40mph.

From Carlise to Penrith I made it 23min 26.49sec (72mph) and to MP 37.5 time as 37min 15.82sec at 60mph. As can be seen on some of the videos I have seen, the loco was feathering so boiler was certainly not being mortgaged. At one point (around MP44) it looked like it might have been fully blowing off but it could have been heavy feathering.

Attention has focus on the climbs but 5043 ran very well all day. Following the delays at Euxton 5043 was given the fast line all the way to Crewe and she did not disappoint producing some excellent 70 mph plus running. It must have been a spectacular sight seeing a ‘Castle’ dashing through Warrington Bank Quay at 74mph. Having travelled on the trip to London last December it was clear that, when given the chance, 5043 was superb very free running loco.

Once again my thanks to Bob Meanley and all the team who gave us an excellent day and restored 5043, they have clearly produced a really top notch locomotive. As to what next, personally I’d like to see 5043 heading for GW territory rather than the S&C, e.g. Whiteball and Devon.

 

What a rich thread recording such an epic run.

I have been trying to track down comparable figures for the Scot over Shap run in May and its Great Britain II leg in April - can anyone help?

Not that I'm seeking to score points, just that it's very exciting to see Class 7 power doing so well on one of the great challenges.

Many thanks

 

Well just got home after the trip and a night away. Superb trip and thanks to everybody who made it happen.

Grayrigg (MP13-26): 13m 53.78 sec
Shap (MP31.5 to 37.25) 5m 58.94sec
Shap and Grayrigg 24m 69.99sec

Timed from the 6th coach.

The two individual times are very good but it’s the combined time that is most outstanding in my book. I have to say the handling of the engine was absolutely top class, you would expect nothing less from Bill Andrew, but even so it just took the breath away, no thought of a ‘breather’ after Grayrigg just a superb continuous acceleration that peaked at the foot of Shap.[/quote:1is8j19y]

This is right off my patch, so I cannot get a handle on this yet.

But I'd love to see some indicated hp numbers for the best of the climbs. So little ever seems to get reported for ex GWR locos these days.

I wonder how the climb of Shap compares with 34067's ascent of Sole Street last week?

A Castle on 10 with presumably a reasonably high speed at the foot of the 1/80. Then 39 - 40 mph over the summit.

Compared with a WC on 13, (circa 500 tons), with a severe speed restriction at the start of the mainly 1/100. And 39 over the top.

Sounds like two superb efforts just a week apart. it would be great to see ihp figures for both.