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Sat 15th March, The Cumbrian Ranger.

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by RalphW, Jan 3, 2014.

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  1. Mike30A

    Mike30A Well-Known Member

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    Thanks to VT and all for overcoming the various hurdles to allow this tour to run
    footage from Bay Horse Greenholme and Ais Gill
     
    Mike30A, Mar 15, 2014
    #141
  2. Linesider

    Linesider Well-Known Member

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    Looking forward to a report of the climb to Ais Gill - 11 plus a dead diesel - a stunning performance by all accounts.
     
    Linesider, Mar 15, 2014
    #142
  3. JohnRobinson

    JohnRobinson Member

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    JohnRobinson, Mar 15, 2014
    #143
  4. Shep Woolley

    Shep Woolley Well-Known Member Friend

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    Bittern 4a.jpg

    LNE A4 class 4-6-2 'Bittern' on the charge
     
    Shep Woolley, Mar 15, 2014
    #144
    Big Dave, stevenjcrozier, MarkinDurham and 1 other person like this.
  5. iancawthorne

    iancawthorne Well-Known Member

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    iancawthorne, Mar 15, 2014
    #145
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  6. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Thanks for the updates Ralph, much appreciated. Do you have the speed timings for Lancaster, Ais Gill, Wilpshire & Ramsgreve ? Regards, Liam
     
    LMarsh1987, Mar 15, 2014
    #146
  7. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Times from significant points will be sorted in the morning either from myself or pjh.
     
    RalphW, Mar 15, 2014
    #147
  8. pjhliners

    pjhliners Member Friend

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    Bittern flattens Ais Gill 15 March 2014

    Vintage Trains offered Crewe to Carlisle with Bittern, out via Shap and back via Ais Gill: a prospect too good to miss. Enter Network Rail, a few days before, with new gauging restrictions which threatened the whole trip. Blood, sweat, tears and midnight oil were burned to try and resolve matters. In the end we only lost the Carnforth to Carlisle stretch: despite last minute rumours, the rest survived intact.

    Bittern departed smartly from Crewe, reaching 67 by Winsford and 75 by the Weaver Bridge, continuing thus to the outskirts of Warrington where a slow spell began. We passed Farington Junction at 62 then after an amble through Preston we were doing 63 through Barton and Broughton and were up to 73 by Bilsborrow. Another slow period started before Bay Horse but was over just before Lancaster, which we passed at 65. We reached our maximum at Morecambe North Junction before slowing for Carnforth where Bittern came off.

    With Gordon Hodgson at the regulator we left Carlisle ten minutes late. Starting gently, we reached 50 at Armathwaite and carried on over the viaduct and through the tunnels, reaching line speed (60 mph) before Lazonby and maintaining it till past Little Salkeld. More slacks were followed by a fast spell after Long Marton before our 'splash and dash' at Appleby.

    Another smart departure saw us reach 55 before Great Ormside, then back up to 51 over Smardale Viaduct after the Helm slowings. Through Kirkby Stephen at 40 and entering Birkett Tunnel at 39, we had dropped to 35 by Sandpot, but as we passed Pendragon Castle a magnificent acceleration began. We reached 42 at Shoregill and 45 at Hazelgill, continuing thus all the way to Ais Gill, with an absolute minimum of 42 before the summit. All this with load 11 plus a Class 47, idling only to produce the train heating - a magnificent effort.

    We rollicked downhill at line speed through Garsdale, Selside and Stainforth before our water stop at Hellifield. Most of the fireworks were over by then, but after going through Clitheroe at 50 and Whalley at 37, we slogged up the hill through Langho at 27, then back up to 29 before a dewy rail slowed us to 18 at the summit.

    Back on the WCML, we had a burst to 72 at Boars Head, then we were back in the 70s from Winwick Junction right through Warrington to beyond Moore, and again after Hartford, for an early arrival back at Crewe. An excellent performance by Bittern and her crews, and an exhilarating day out.

    21 photos are at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p25215983

    Peter, back in a cold and misty Manchester
    http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com
     
    pjhliners, Mar 15, 2014
    #148
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  9. MarkinDurham

    MarkinDurham Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for that report, Peter. Well done to all concerned.
     
    MarkinDurham, Mar 16, 2014
    #149
  10. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    Indeed, how ridiculous that it seemed absolutely obvious to everyone that this was a tour with a problem, other than those with the power to do something about it !
     
    spicer21, Mar 16, 2014
    #150
  11. iancawthorne

    iancawthorne Well-Known Member

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    Looks like the answer to the Hadrian is now available - uk steam showing 46115 as replacement.
     
    iancawthorne, Mar 16, 2014
    #151
  12. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest


    Indeed, I noticed that. Let's hope there aren't too many people booked on "The Hadrian" who did so on the strength of it featuring haulage by a Gresley A4 : )
     
    spicer21, Mar 16, 2014
    #152
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  13. Swiss Toni

    Swiss Toni Well-Known Member

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    Crippled by last minute gauging problems and spoiled by the weather, "Bittern" leaving Hellifield with "The Cumbrian Ranger".
     
    Swiss Toni, Mar 16, 2014
    #153
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  14. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    A 'Scots Guardsman' on the Hadrian though seems quite apt ....
     
    26D_M, Mar 16, 2014
    #154
  15. henrywinskill

    henrywinskill Well-Known Member

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    Like that Ant, were there many there lol
     
    henrywinskill, Mar 16, 2014
    #155
  16. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Well Peter has said it all about yesterdays run as seen from on board, but just a few things to add, the slowing at Bay Horse was due to a restriction, according to my lineside info from there everything North was down to the same sort of speed. Leaving Carlisle WCMEs have similarly made a very relaxed run to Low House, and even after that there are various restrictions. After a brief stop outside Blackburn station once again Gordon got things moving and we were again at what I assume is line speed, 60, through Pleasington and past Hoghton. Once on the WCML again we were soon moving quickly, again my lineside contact was out, this time at Leyland and he reported that the assembled gathering of retired drivers from the area were duly impressed by the fact that the A4 was really barking, seeming making more effort that the previous best of a certain Castle:rolleyes:. As in the past we had to reduce speed approaching Weaver Junction, no doubt to allow a Liverpool train to go ahead of us. Finally after Winsford we were put on the 'slow' but pace was maintained and the Pendo that passed did not zip through as quickly as it might.

    I will echo Peter's thanks to all concerned in providing a good day out.

    In my coach I did not hear any dissent about the lack of steam over Shap maybe because in all but a couple of bays, the passengers were couples or parties of four on a day out, they had a reasonable amount of steam haulage and were happy.
    Regarding the diesel on the back, I had a chat with the driver at Carlisle, his comment, "It will be running to provide ETH, I am under strict instructions from 'Sir Gordon' ;) not to give any assistance unless he calls for it. I think that hell will freeze over first" OK that may not be the actual wording but the gist of the conversation is there:) .
     
    RalphW, Mar 16, 2014
    #156
  17. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    You just don't understand do you, what goes on behind the scenes and is not made public.
     
    RalphW, Mar 16, 2014
    #157
  18. Swiss Toni

    Swiss Toni Well-Known Member

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    Amazingly yes, no step ladders though..........................anyone you know?

    5832+0.jpg

    Don't know what the contortionist on the far right is doing though! :D
     
    Swiss Toni, Mar 16, 2014
    #158
  19. 46223

    46223 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Maybe his laxatives had just kicked in:eek:
     
    46223, Mar 16, 2014
    #159
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  20. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    Yesterday was a day for classic machines. I watched Bittern crest the summit of Wilpshire Bank (sanders on and steady for reasons already mentioned) then on my journey home I was followed for about 5 miles by a Jaguar XK150 drophead. Designed some 20 odd years apart they both retain style. In 50 years time will someone be extolling the looks of current cars and locomotives?
     
    Oswald T Wistle, Mar 16, 2014
    #160
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