Scarborough Spa Express 2010

Excellent running on the whole, though I get the feeling that a 5 on 12 is getting close for comfort in places.... However some very good sustained even time running where possible. A loco with good potential when it's finally run in properly! Nice touch seeing the headlight wired into the battery so the lens can go in the oil lamp casing!

Shame about the late running on both trips, followed by A64 closed due to an accident and A19 shut due to road works. Have spent 3 hours stuck in roadworks / discovering the B1222. Glutton for punishment, am travelling again on Monday.

One downer, a lot of the water tanks were getting low on the stock.... are they really only getting serviced once a week?

 

Coaches are tanked during the layover in Scarborough. Watering facilities provided in the sidings but you could probably p1ss harder.

 

One from Thursday.

http://www.stuartbrown.me.uk/cpg/displayimage.php?pos=-1685

 

:yo: Link altered.

 

Some footage of todays SSE in and near Wakefield now uploaded here =

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhowctqqWLY
http://www.youtube.com/user/1Goldsteam?feature=mhsn

 

Brilliant vid there Alan!

Absolutely fantastic run tonight,the noise from 46115 out of Wakey was simply fantastic. One of the greatest bits of steam mileage i have ever had.It was literally ear piercing!!

I reckon its been a success judging by passenger numbers. Seems to me like it was a mistake to doubt the route. The noise up through Outwood beats anything the Harrogate line can offer.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Thanks Mark,
The spur to Westgate and the stretch North from there seem to have produced to quite a few fine sights & sounds by all accounts.
The Black Five was tramming along Southwards this morning looking resplendent through Colton, pity someones battery went as soon it appeared.
Alan

 

I did one better this morning,Alan. Managed to go without the video camera at all!!

Nice to meet you today Simon,not uploaded my morning shots just yet but here is my evening shot from Burton Salmon:

http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/p66885972.html

Cheers,
Mark

 

Yes nice to meet you at last Mark. I really like that shot. I was much further down towards Burton Salmon when I did it... What was the motorway traffic noise like there? I may give it a whirl tomorrow evening. Simon

 

Nice shot there at Burton Salmon Mark. It looks a good location.

 

I've done the SSE twice in the past week, with different locos. I think the route is a success. I think you need to accept that the loop is great for the enthusiast with sustained fast running and hill climbs, and for everyone else, it's a trip to the seaside with convenient local pickups at a sensible time (which really is what the loop serves as to most passengers) The train was fairly empty leaving York both times, but filled up significantly from Normanton onwards, and was definately heaving by the time it set out for Scarborough. I think the product is right, it's not as scenic a route, but seems to tap very well into a market that wasn't previously served. And it works. Hopefully we'll see something similar again next year. Maybe the people of Harrogate and Knaresborough are too posh to go to Scarborough! West Yorkshire certainly seemed keen, I never saw similar numbers get on along the old route.

I really hope the SK used as coach H get's some attention though... it's appalling, split, dirty upholstery, damaged window fittings, wonky armrests, big hole in one door where someone pulled too hard with the bolt on

 

Cheers Simon,i could hear it a little in the background but from that distance its pretty quiet,i reckon your mic would cut it completely. I came in from the top end as you know,only a 5 minute walk...another guy took a much easier route across a grassy field from the road that leads from the A63-Fairburn (the lane i followed you up yesterday morning).

 

The rest of my shots from today are now up:

Little Fenton:
http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/p66888588.html

Fairburn:
http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/p66888590.html
http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/p66888591.html

Burton Salmon:
http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/p66885972.html

Cheers,
Mark

 

Managed to get the shot i have been wanting near Sherburn all season:

http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/p66910254.html

Cheers,
Mark

 

Lovely Mark, It was really nice tonight... I went down towards Burton Salmon but opted to be stood on the bridge rather than your location, worked out really well, really pleased.

Now it's off to pack we go and head for Norfolk

 

Great shot Mark, lovely evening colours.
I went on the morning circle and to the Coast and had a wonderful day out.
I got off again at York so I was not on it then but dashed to Outwood to get a last vid clip =
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNQoIA4cisw
Pics on Flikr and another clip eventually to follow.
Many thanks to all the crew and staff of WCR for a job very well done.

 

in view of what i have been here the sse site its been a brilliant summer for these trains especially the run between wakefield and ardsley tunnel.living here in the deep south i've read and listened in envy to accounts of the sse climbing between these two points.so i'm asking on here if there is anyone who could advise me of any places that can be got at without the use of a car,suitable for 'sound recording' mainly but also video.i not keen on high vantage points such as high bridges.but places where it is fairly quiet.one last request,does the sse usually at wakefield stop well down the platform or does stop well forward? i ask because i would like to record the departure.so if anyone could supply me with any info i would very grateful as for any future runs i will make the effort to try and come north,thanks.

 

Here is a vid clip form the last circuit departure from York last Thursday evening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Z7vjY6lyg
Having not long arrived from its day out in Scarborough, 44871 heads South out of York under Holgate Bridge with the Spa Express.
The morning 'circle' and return trip to the Coast were yet another wonderful experience, full Marks go to all the staff and crew of West Coast Railways.

 

The missus and I just got back from a superb week in York. Had a York to York ride on the SSE on the 31st behind 46115 and have to say one word sums up the loco for me - elegent! Sooo happy that Hogwarts Castle was deemed out of gauge and couldn't be used or else we wouldn't have had a ride this year. I guess last year's ride behind Cromwell on the SSE will still be my best ever mainline trip but 46115 is something a bit special. Will upload a video clip I took from my K7 DSLR of Guardsman leaving York on the 31st as soon as I get chance.

Overall a great week in York for us, visited the NYMR on the 1st Sept. and despite the first train being diesel hauled, got some good piccies of the 9F, 45428 and Super D at Goathland. Four new cops for me - 46115, 44871, 45428 and 92214. My Dad was just a little jealous although I did phone him when the locos were passing so he could hear them just to wind him up, especially when the Duchess whistled loudly out of York on the Flyer last Friday.:dance:

Cheers

 

That's a cracker!