S&C Pathfinder Charter - Aug 2018: Now 16/3/19 and with 60163

The diesels done good (dives behind settee)

 

No 9 at Salterwath
CME by Henry Elliott, on Flickr
CME by Henry Elliott, on Flickr

 

Having said that, on leaving Appleby the DL seems to be winning the clag contest. I totally respect NR's decision on the fire risk but from the train most of the steam hauled sections seem to look out over a green and pleasant land which is maybe why 45699's crew gave it a go as did, from what I could see, 60009's south of Farrington Junction with the rain lashing down.

 

They are having to cover so many trips at the moment cleaning must be a very long way down the lists of tasks needed to be undertaken. Having said that I far prefer its appearance to the "museum look"

 

From some of the videos on YouTube, looked like John Cameron was on the footplate.
A remarkable gentleman.

 

Ok, try this for size.
You don't believe there is any cause for dissatisfaction with show pony - correct?
You don't think a customer should provide constructive feedback to a steward when invited to do so - correct?
You don't think its the job of a steward to receive customer feedback - correct?
What am I misconstruing or indeed misrepresenting?

 

I was more interested in this concept of being paid!, had do go and lie down in a dark room for a while.
I am sure the stewards who were at BTM for an 04:44 departure & back at 0002 on Sunday morning were glad they volunteered their services to allow it to operate.

 

Same here - there's no doubt JC cares greatly for his charges as I have said many times on here - and a bit of honest dirt just adds to the 'look'. Well done, I say

 

Speaking with John Cameron yesterday, he did say the support crew have had no time to give her a clean due to the extra work load.
For me yesterday was a mix of feelings, firstly unhappy about the 66's involvement, but that has been discussed to death already, but as the day went on and meeting old friends I felt much happier about things and as this may by my last run with Number 9 before she retires, well you've got to make the best of a bad job. The S&C was lovely in that end of summer sun and the final sprint on the WCML in the rain felt right, no matter what loco was working the hardest (Shame about the stop at Wigan for 142 to plod across us!)

I hate to single anyone out but a big thank you to John and 9's support crew who came and put on a show when the main event seemed doomed to be wrapped up in the rights and wrongs of a no win situation.

 

The Settle & Carlisle Golden Express I 11 August 2018 – 60009 Union of South Africa + 66172 hauling 12 + POB

So what were you doing on this day 50 years ago? I confess that I can’t remember. I know what I was doing on the Saturday before – watching football, but the Sunday? During the trip it was announced that there were 3 passengers on the train who knew exactly what they were doing, they were passengers on “The 15 Guinea Special”.

Earlier in the week heavy rain had been forecast, I had hoped for a last minute reprieve and that the diesels would be kept in their box, but it was not to be. The day was dry, cool and sunny as I drove down to Crewe. The train arrived behind 67002. I was in coach C the 10th of the 12 but I was travelling backwards and would be near the back of the train and travelling backwards for the whole journey. (The train took the Upperby curve and did not reverse at Carlisle as most other trips do.) Another passenger joined at Crewe and, as there were 2 “no shows”, we had the table to ourselves. Mick proved to be a good travelling companion, a steam enthusiast at heart but who enjoyed many diesel rail tours. He was delighted that No 9 had been provided as a substitute loco and didn’t mind the diesel at all. (I was tempted to add, “whingers please note”).

Into platform 6 at Preston where 60009, 66172 Paul Melleney and No 9’s support coach were waiting at the north end of platform 7. 67002 was detached and ran south through platform 5 presumably to run back to Crewe for the return journey. Our new motive power was attached, I returned to my seat (now in the 11th coach) and 6L we were off. I didn’t expect any power to come from 60009 and from what I could see and hear No 9 didn’t contribute, other than with plenty of lovely chime whistling. We shot through Lancaster at 78 (5L) and by Oxenholme (69) this had been reduced to under a minute. We made our scheduled stop in Grayrigg loop almost 1E.

A wait for a couple of Pendolinos and then we got a green and were out before the very late running TP to Edinburgh. We were quickly up to 64 before we braked for what appeared to be a 20mph TSR around the North Lune Viaduct. The 66 dragged us up Shap at 42 with 44 at the summit board. 70 through Penrith with a nice whistle and then a quick run on towards Carlisle with a max north of Calthwaite. We stopped, not at Upperby Bridge Jn as indicated on RTT but a little beyond, with the loco at the road crossing on the Upperby curve. Here the loco took water from a tanker, we then drew forward and added water to the kitchen car. Whilst we were waiting we had a good view of Galatea heading the northbound CME along the WCML to Carlisle.

We were off again and emerged onto the S&C about 5L. 66172 soon got a grip of the train and we roared along in the high fifties / low sixties irrespective of the gradient; there was nothing to indicate that 60009 was contributing. Just north of Appleby we passed Leander heading the northbound Waverley. We drew into Appleby 3L where we disembarked before the train drew forward and then reversed into the siding.

Pathfinder had provided 2 coaches to ferry passengers to and from the town. Mick and I walked down and had some lunch in a cafe; the cafe quickly filled as passengers made their way from the station into what is a very small town. We had a stroll around and it is very picturesque and worth a visit (on a dry day) – Pathfinder had thoughtfully produced a guide to the town. We walked back up the hill in good time to see the arrival of the southbound CME. 45699 was leading 47746 at the head of 11 coaches; Mick Rawling was driving and Martyn Soames firing. Galatea didn’t take water but coal was raked forward in the tender. Appleby station was maybe as busy as it has been in recent years; ice cream sales were soaring (I helped, ginger, £2 – sorry @Victor, no retro pricing, “fourpenny ones” weren’t available even though it was the fiftieth anniversary). Soon 45699 whistled and headed off southwards.

Whilst we waited for the service trains to pass I saw Gordon Hodgson on the platform, he looked fit and well; he was out with his grandson taking some photographs. It was good to remember some of the runs with Gordon at the regulator. Soon, with drain cocks open and chime whistle blowing 60009 headed the train out of the siding and into the platform. John Cameron was sitting in the fireman’s seat; I gave him a clap and mouthed, “thank you” which he acknowledged with a smile and a touch of his hat. Mainline steam would have been much poorer without the contributions of these two gentlemen, and I mean gentlemen.

Back on board and away just a few seconds late. The climb held no fears for the diesel, we hit the foot of the bank at 60, 57 at Crosby Garrett, 51 at Kirkby Stephen and 51 at the summit (7E). By Settle Jn we were 11½E, we were checked for a few seconds approaching Hellifield but then held for 10 mins in the station whilst the CME cleared Horrocksford Jn. Once away we were straight through Horrocksford Jn and Clitheroe but were stopped for a couple of minutes approaching Whalley. Once away, 66172 had us up to 16 at Whalley, 36 at Langho and 38 at Ramsgreave & Wilpshire. We had a clear run through Daisyfield Jn and stopped in the goods loop behind Blackburn station (17E). The loco took water from the hydrant before we drew forward and presumably watered the kitchen car.

We left Blackburn 22E and ran slowly behind the Colne-Preston but we remained over 20E as we forked left at Lostock Hall Jn. We were then held for 32 mins approaching Farington Jn. As we waited fine rain began to fall. 6L we joined the WCML on the fast, still 6L at Leyland we were soon running in the seventies and we were RT by Euxton Balshaw Lane. The rain was now heavier and appeared to have been falling for some time, the tracks and trackside were very wet and then a chime from the front and puffs of exhaust began to drift down the length of the train. We were held just south of the platforms at Wigan NW but were still RT. There followed a good run south with 74 at Warrington BQ (2E) and a chime from the front. We were 5E at Winsford, stopped for 2 mins north of Crewe, waiting to cross to platform 12, but still arrived 8E.

Thanks to all who planned and operated this trip in difficult circumstances (fire risk). The stewarding was as good as any trip that I have been on. Pathfinder cannot be blamed for the weather conditions and in my opinion did a good job in arranging a very suitable substitute loco, 60009 (thanks again Mr Cameron). Just imagine the stick Pathfinder would have got (on here) if they had cancelled only for heavy rain to fall during the week thus allowing RTC’s offerings to run unassisted. Also, I suspect that the run on the 15th would not have been postponed had No 9 been available.

Today proved a popular day for lineside enthusiasts who were out in force particularly on the exit from Grayrigg, the hillside before Birkett Tunnel and at Aisgill – I’ll be looking for the results of your efforts. One amusing incident, on rejoining the train at Preston a man sitting a few seats away told his companions, “David Cameron is on the footplate, he owns the loco”. Then there was my fellow passenger from the Scarborough Spa on the 2nd August, who left the train at York after telling anyone who’d listen that diesel was ok and steam was ok but he wasn’t going to ride behind steam AND diesel – well there he was sitting at the table behind me (and seemingly having an enjoyable time).

I travelled back up the M6 in quite heavy rain, south of Wigan a matrix sign displayed the message “Danger of flooding” – a day of two halves, fire risk and flooding! Back home for 9.30, 15 hours door to door; passengers from Bristol TM must have neared, or possibly even exceeded, 24 hours.

 

60009 Hay Fell
David

 

And here is the gentleman to whom we enthusiasts owe an enormous debt. A possible reason the loco looked so grubby is that working softly the smoke was seen to drift down over the boiler barrel and the long drag from Southall on Friday and the Weymouth turn on Thursday won't have helped. What an effort from everyone concerned over the 3 days.

 

When I worked at BA we were expected to "volunteer" to work in the terminals or on the ramp (baggage loading etc) in times of industrial action, bad weather etc. Volunteering meaning how much you did or did not was recorded for use in your annual appraisal. As a paid company employee I would take and expect whatever was thrown at me, and may have at times, even be able to have some influence to get things done or changed. As a true volunteer as a rail steward I am a representative of the company but not an employee so I can listen and pass on to those who have the ability to change things, but I can not change the company policy, as Ralph said that is why there is a TM.

 

I fully accept what you say, you don't deal with complaints because you're not paid so its unlikely you will have heard any adverse feedback of any sort. Not quite sure what pay has to do with it mind but if that's the remit I'll take your word for it.
My perception that you do not believe / understand dissatisfaction with show pony being justified is based purely on your posts staunchly defending the principle, without any acknowledgement of it being greatly inferior to what customers expect when booking, nor countenancing any notion that it might be gracious to offer some form of compensation.
As I've said before we seem to be a polar ends of the spectrum when it comes to consideration of "the right thing to do" in any given circumstance and no amount of online stranger-argument is going to narrow that gap, I suspect.

 

really do think its time you gave us a rest now we all know your opinion because you keep repeating it repeating it repeating it and we are all getting a bit pissed off with hearing it

 

Looking back you'll find I only reply or contibute to ongoing debates, so if you don't want to hear from me don't quote or respond to me. Otherwise you'll continue to be wearied by having online arguments with strangers.

 

quite happy to hear from you as you do make some valuable contributions and I am not looking for arguments just pointing out that you do seem to keep banging on in the same vein sometimes