Help for heros 27/3/2010

Hope not-that will mean air cons.

 

Cannot be" air cons" as so far aa I am aware all are air braked and both 46115 & 70048 [alias 70013] are vacuum braked only. The only steam locos to use the full length of the coastal route in recent years have been air-braked and indeed hauled air-cons. WCRC will be fully aware if they put air-cons on they will lose booking which will defeat the object of running the tour. Given the nature of this train and the success everyone wants it to be something will happen to allow it to run with normal mk1's & 2s.

 

This train at present not going to Carlisle now it seems. I know last week when I was enquiring about a booking WCRC said that apart from the engineering work that meant a reroute for the return, there was now a problem about turning the locos at Carlisle. Uksteaminfo now shows this tour as Lancaster - tba. Blackburn - Settle - Carlisle have been crossed out. WCRC say this tour definitely running though but no destination as yet.

Dave B

 

Shame the tour has had to be re-routed, but great to hear WCRC are sticking with it to find an alternative, as trips nowadays can so easily fall at the final hurdles. With all the attention gained through the rail magazines and posters etc in relation to the trip, i think everybody concerned will be doing their hardest to get it to run to somewhere to aid such a great charity.

 

Understand York via Diggle being mentioned and a return via the Calder Valley to Preston.

 

Message on my phone today from WCRC, train definitely going to York. Will call them back tomorrow to find out more.

Dave B

 

Details now on ukteam. Manchester Vic both ways out via Diggle return via Sowerby Bridge.
Regards.
john

 

Well done West Coast for ringing round as most other tour opperators would let you get to youre departing station before telling you the route had changed.

 

I'd also say thanks to West Coast for sticking with this trip and finding an alternate destination. They could have so easily cancelled it after engineering works forced a reroute of the return, then once they'd just sorted that out, a problem with loco turning at Carlisle arose which then ruled that out as a destination!

Well done West Coast Railway Co. :thumb: :clap2:


Dave B

 

This is now in my opinion a far better trip than what was originally intended.The only slight disapointment as far as I am concerned is that it does not seem to be going via Morley Low on the way out.Then you could have had both the LNWR and LYR routes between Manchester and York on one trip.
This is in no way ment as a crititism,just that I beleive that to get an authentic pair through Leeds would have been a fitting tribute to our people in the forces.

 

I did actually request the re- routing via Morley and Leeds, although, given that diesel charters struggle for paths on that route, in between the TPEs, the confirmed timings, via Kirkgate, did not come as a surprise.

JS

 

Now that this railtour has been lost to the S+C I would appreciate any recommended sites from fellow photographers on the new route to York and back. Colton Junction which features regularly on YouTube is the only place that I know of so any advice would be gratefully received. I will be driving from Cumbria and would not wish to miss this railtour which is on behalf of a very worthy cause.

Shep Woolley

 

Colton Jc is good,i use the lane which is south of Colton itself,on google follow the main road from the A64 over the tracks,then take the second road on the right (just over the ECML line) and follow it to the end,turn right and then cross the ECML again,then take the next road on the right.

Come off the A64 at Bilborough top i think it is,there is a service station on the right,you will have passed on on the left about 1/2 mile previously.

On google it appears as 'Old Road' at the point where road turns left take the lane leading off to the right,its usually fairly quiet but don't block the road as the Farmer will not be able to get past.


This is the view:
http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/p60667744.html

Expect it to be on the second track from the camera,unless they cross it over to the fast. or Down Leeds,or whatever its called!

There is also Burton Salmon and Sherburn In Elmet is average but they are a little bit more complicated.

Of course,you could just use the main bridge at Colton,the only problem here is that if you are using a vid camera the cars are rather noisy,and its not unknown for them to start blowing there horns either!

Cheers,
Mark

 

Appreciated that Mark-thanks very much-Shep

 

J Shuttleworth
Thank you for your reply.In your opinion what would be the best oportunity to get something steam wise between Thornhill LNW and Leeds via Morley low.If this is not at all practable what are the possibilities of routeing steam via Normanton and Woddlesford to Leeds City.
I find it disappointing that Steam is being restricted over a 10.75 mile section because of pathing.There must be a possibility sometime during a 24 hour period.I seem to remember that the Girl Guide tour was routed via Morley Low on a Sunday last year.

 

With two 75mph Class 7s, we thought we might have been in with a chance but the TPE headways are very tight and the potential performance hit (against us) simply isn't worth it. Having said that, the couple of recent occasions when steam has run via Dewsbury and Morley has happened on a Sunday, when the service has been slightly thinner and Standedge also happened to be closed.

Short, fast and frequent trains are presently deemed to be the way forward, by DfT and the TOCs, hence the pressure on capacity and, in turn, lack of paths for slower trains. This will always be the bogey-man and ultimate limiter, for steam charters.

Having said that, however, we still seem to find slots on some of the busiest routes!

JS