Nene Valley Railway

45596 to return to NVR this winter

 

Why have they hired that when they have the Polish and Danish tanks and (hopefully) 92 Squadron?

 

Visiting named engines usually pull in a few more punters I guess

 

I wonder if the danish tank can take the full seasonal loads, and if they are unsure about 92's schedule to return?

Gives 45596, plus the the TKP as spare?

As said above, may also draw some more folk in to the railway in the post Yule/new year lull when folk don't really know what to do with themselves.

Glad to see Bahamas have a relatively busy program, given the lack of opportunity to pick up mainline work now.

Chris

 

Santas are usually load 6 or 7, top and tail steam and diesel. 5485 has done it in the past but I doubt they'd want to risk 656 on that load, even with the diesel assisting. 5485 hasn't been in use for a year, and 34081 is still awaiting new superheater elements. Probably wise to get a loco booked in now than risk not having anything available nearer the time.

 

One thing I have noticed about this year passed is the absolute paucity of mainline running, especially on the ECML: unless of course you fancy travelling across the border to join all the Harry Potter wannabes...

 

656 has almost single-handedly carried the NVR steam service this year.

My understanding this year is that Santas will be 7 or 8 mark 1s, top and tailed so on that load she will require significant assistance.

The polish tank has been trial steamed a couple of times but not made it out the yard at all this year.

92 Squadron has had firebox issues, grate issues and now super heater issues, and she's currently awaiting new super heater elements.

Considering the luck with those two engines I can see why a something spare has been hired in!

 

I didn't think the NVR had that many Mk. 1s - I thought it only had six...

 

6 currently operational, an SK in the carriage works which isn't car off finished and another TSO which I understand doesn't need a massive amount of work to get it back operational

 

Also, many railways hire in MK1s for their Christmas work, and its not as if WCRC's MK1 fleet has a full diary right now.

Though going off the state of the one at a railway I visited recently, you'd be as well dragging one of storage in the tunnel and putting it straigt into service...

 

I thought the Continental stock was favoured for the Santas though as they are physically wider?

 

They have been for the last 40 years... All change this year however.

Gone is the traditional method which has built up over time. In is 'The North Pole Adventure' ... 'a fully immersive festive experience with 14 professional actors playing our Christmas characters'...

 

Uh oh...

I'd have thought if you're going to have thesps milling about, again the wider-bodied Continental stock would be better. I'm not sure which of the continentals I was in on Saturday (it seemed to have many tip-down seats?) but it was very well turned out and many people commented on the delightful ceiling it has!

 

You would have thought that... I couldn't possibly comment!

That would have been the 1927 built Wagons Lits Restaurant car, which was restored with the use on Santas in mind to supplement the first class offerings couple of years ago, at considerable expense... Before the change in approach to Santas of course!

 

It does look rather splendid inside, I have to say.

 

All the more surprising to hire Mark 1 stock given the American stock of the Polar Express film looks far more like the NVR's continental coaches than a Mark 1 set!

 

But they're not hiring Mk.1 stock; I refer you to Chris Hallam's post here.

 

I would expect they'd have to hire in one or two as spares. If you're booking to fill 8 carriage trains and you only have 8 in service, it only takes one small failure to cause chaos.