The Cathedrals Express Sun 27th September

Does anyone know why Kinlet is coming off at Exeter on the return for this trip. Is it just logistics?

 

Taking part in the West Somerset Gala 1st To 4 th October.

 

Yes I'm aware of that but why then is it not coming off at Taunton?

 

I would guess that the layout at Exeter is more conducive to loco changes than Taunton

 

Anyone know what support coach Kinlet is using on Sunday/Tuesday?

 

Should be its own, which from memory is ?17015?

 

From the horse's mouth. A diesel will be in tow on Sunday's tour on the Wesbury to Paignton section. Pity really but I suppose there is Whiteball to contend with!

 

And why should that be a problem for a Hall and 10?

 

Had Email from SD. Tuesday's train postponed due to gauging issues. Presume applies to Sunday too.

 

Depends how fast you need to go up it....Torre bank on the return is probably more of an issue too. Loading close to the maximum limit or beyond is foolish on today's railway as has been shown several times. You can't guarantee the weather will be dry and the leaves won't have started to fall at the planning stage. Sensible IMO and dare I say it on here - if I was on the train I'd feel much happier with a heritage diesel on the back as insurance, particular now we are approaching leaf fall season.

 

Sunday 27 Sep train will now run diesel hauled throughout on the main line.

 

Does anyone know where the Hall doesn't fit?

 

It's a 4-6-0 Hall not a Pacific. The timings to Newton Abbot weren't tight.

 

DOH!
You really couldn't make this up. What a lot of wasted effort by those involved in getting 4936 lined up for this trip. Again, last minute gauging issues have surfaced. I am not on the trip but this makes me quite angry. Why do they leave it so late to inform the Railtour companies that their rostered motive power doesn't fit?
At this rate all the currently registered loco's will eventually be out of gauge (or is that the plan/idea with NR?). I bloody hope things will get better for ML steam in 2016.

 

I agree! I have spent the best part of a week working out a plan to video this out on the mainline to be told at the eleventh hour that it got gauging issues. Where the hell doesn't it fit?! Surely a Brit and Tornado are bigger than a Hall? Absolutely di
sgusting that they have seen fit to pull this one again within 48 hours of the trip running. Yet more angry passengers who have booked purely on the traction!

 

It's not really a big surprise. There's almost nothing wider across the cylinders than a Hall, with the possible exception of a Manor! Even back in steam days, there were large parts of the network, away from ex-GW lines, where they couldn't go. There's a famous story of one that strayed into Yorkshire one day, taking chunks out of platforms along the way... Of course, next week's tours are in ex-GW territory, but as we all know, the old clearences have gradually reduced.

 

All part of the plan to stop it
in my view!

 

Even less excuse then to drop this at the last moment.

 

This is quite scandalous. Where should the opprobrium be heaped? As far as I can remember no Hall has taken a train this way for 30 years and Halls are well known to be restricted on some of their old routes such as the Shrewsbury to Chester line. Steam Dreams are bright enough to realise this. Was Network Rail asked to confirm if the Hall was in gauge at the time the trips were planned? If not why not? Did they get early confirmation from Network Rail that the Hall would be OK? Did Network Rail prevaricate until two days before the tour runs? Did Network Rail say OK then change their decision? Has Steam Dreams been trying to get an answer to no avail re gauging or just hoping for the best. I was only linesiding these trips but have spent £4000 this year with Steam Dreams so no guilt there. The passengers on these trips and no doubt SD themselves must despair.

 

I think it was actually a Grange that found herself unexpectedly in Yorkshire.

Edit - checked and it was 6858 Woolston Grange