PMR Tours The Royal Scot - 6201

A couple of pics from today.
Brock - http://philmetcalfe.zenfolio.com/p268550676/h2572dddd#h2572dddd
and at Burton - http://philmetcalfe.zenfolio.com/p268550676/h2572dddd#h3ab8a9aa

 

My video of Lizzie this morning on the outward leg:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yYtvSCWcDI

Chris

 

Enjoyable trip behind Lizzie yesterday, thanks to PMR, West Coast and the support crew.12 coach train (Lizzie Support coach, First Brake for PMR staff, 3 Dining coaches. Kitchen car, 2 first class coaches, 3 standard Class (including buffet) and Generator Car.

Driver on the outward leg was Peter Kirk, and Gordon Hodgson on the return. Mike Notley described the later as looking like Stan Laurel but drives like Michael Schumacher.
A steady run between Crewe and Carnforth with few burst of speed including through Lancaster. We were making good progress through the Lune Gorge about 70mph until approaching going a 50mph speed restriction and the brakes came on and we came to a stop. Mike Notley thought the brakes had been applied too hard and Peter Kirk were not intending to stop (No adverse signals).We then had a slow slog to Shap summit, were lopped at Penrith and arrived just over 20 minutes late.

The return with Standard on the front (behind Support and generator car) was the highlight. We had a good steady and very noisy climb up to Shap summit, and some fast running down to the water stop at Carnforth. They’re was fast running on some sections of the final stretch including Wigan to Warrington.

 

A very lucky strip of sunshine saved the day
Henry

 

Thought it was an excellent trip. Having surmounted the first part of the northbound ascent of Shap very capably we were up to app 70 mph approaching Tebay when there was the TPWS intervention - it seemed to kick in very early approaching a 50mph TSR and inevitably brought us to a complete stand. Getting away again Driver Kirk really seemed to be going for as much recovered speed before the 1 in 75 but she lost her feet a couple of times and it was my impression then that he settled for a safer and more sedate climb rather than really pushing hard. The return climb out of Carlisle was excellent. Again she lost her feet a couple of times once into the climb but a minimum of just over 40 mph was good going. Driver Hodgson told me he was using 35% for most of the climb pulled back into the 20's through Penrith and then back out to 35 or just over for the final climb. She seemed good for steam all day often blowing off when we were checked (which was too often sadly). The PMR staff and food were excellent. It would seem to me that 12 on - appx 440 tons - would be the maximum you would want to give the Princess especially given the comments about being slightly light on her feet when really pushed.
Thanks for the terrific videos.
Mike

 

A selection of my photo's for the trip can be found at http://paulsimpson.zenfolio.com/p570363332

 

The Princess over Shap 15 October 2011

The final 2011 tour by PMR Tours was over its classic route Crewe - Grayrigg - Shap - Carlisle and return. In the absence under overhaul of its Duchess loco, another Stanier 8P 4-6-2 substituted, No 6201 Princess Elizabeth. In glorious autumn sunshine throughout, and with no threat whatever of diesel assistance, she headed north.

To Preston the running was unremarkable, but then she reached 63 at Bilsborrow and stormed through Lancaster at the loco's top speed, only slowing after Hest Bank. Following the Carnforth water stop, she reached 59 at Elmsfield, 43 at Oxenholme (well into the climb) and a minimum of 34 at Grayrigg summit. Her race along the Lune gorge ended in a sudden stop approaching Tebay, and restarting, she only reached 31 mph before hitting the punishing climb to Shap. She slogged away, dropping to 26 at Greenholme, 20 at Scout Green and a minimum of 18 at the summit. Though we were looped at Penrith for a Pendolino to pass, we had a lively run down into Carlisle.

On the return she passed Penrith at 63 and climbed steadily on the easier southbound approach to Shap, dropping only to 52 at the summit. Then she ran rollicking downhill all the way to the Carnforth water stop, having to brake hard to pass Oxenholme at 69. Again she was into the seventies between Lancaster and Preston and between Wigan and Warrington, and she arrived back in Crewe within a few minutes of time despite several checks in the final stages.

An excellent day out in every way.

See 15 photos at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p761586345

Peter on a wild wet Manchester night as winter draws on
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com
Tip: View in Slideshow to see pictures in full screen

 

Thanks Peter for clarifying the speeds - must remember to wear the old stop watch in future! I cannot quite make my times on the southbound ascent tie up with yours but it had been a long day - Driver Hodgson mentioned that both injectors blew off approaching the summit southbound and he eased her a bit as there was only about 1/2 inch of water showing. Totally agree with your assesment of an excellent day out in every way.
Mike

 

Thanks for your comments Mike. I admit my records of the southbound ascent of Shap are thinner than usual, as my usual GPS/laptop setup had packed up and I was winging it with a gizmo I wasn't used to. Usually I find I am within 1 or 2 mph of Mike Notley when he publishes his figures. What figures do you have?

Best wishes

Peter, on a sunny but cold Autumn morning in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

Some lovely pics and vids from last weekend. Lizzie really did look nice in the sun, for the day out to Carlisle.

Please see my effort from Docker, just before she slowed nr Tebay.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oli_g_15/6255188443/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Cheers
Oli