The Christmas Cheshireman,19/11/16.

Another offer for the Christmas Trains - including this one. £25 off in Standard Class.

Early Black Friday deal - £25 off per person in standard class on our Christmas daytrips 2016

We are emailing to offer you an early Black Friday deal of £25 off per person for any new bookings in standard class on our forthcoming Christmas daytrips. This offer will be open until close of business on Thursday 24th November.

In order to obtain your discount please quote code EBF when placing your booking.

 

Is Mr Riley browsing today? Dave Randles has added the dreaded diesel assisting indicator to this train on UKSteam this morning. Surely this is an error?????
Correction
There was an assisting diesel on the running notice received from NR last night. It's now been removed apparently.

 

The standing start from Abergavenny will be interesting. A 66 hauled freight slipped to a stand a couple of nights ago so hopefully the RHTT will have done its job!

 

The weather forecast is good for Saturday. The combination of rain and leaf fall has been causing problems in the Abergavenny area. Went to the Monmouthshire Railway Society meeting in Newport last night from Abergavenny. There had been a heavy shower just before the train was due and the two car 175 unit came around the curve down the 1 in 85 and failed to stop in the station much to the surprise of passengers waiting and those wanting to alight. Fortunately Abergavenny still has a manned signal box and it didn't take long to sort the reversal out.

 

Propelling has been fine in the past with various movements at Chester.

 

Same tour, two years ago, load 12, no problemo !

 

http://uksteam.info/tours/t16/t1119a.htm shows the diesel being crossed out and also confirmed by Mr Riley on his forum

 

Confidence once again demonstrated that the steam traction is fit for purpose without supplementary provision.
There is a 33 on the stock at Bristol depot this afternoon which will doubtless be discarded as soon as its mundane tasks have been completed leaving the steam to tackle the main job in hand.

 

Correct, diesels are not added on a whim more for expediency. Trips like this, with reliable steam traction commensurate with the load show what can be done. I daresay the loco owners have some say in the matter too which is perhaps something else to reflect on.

 

Is it also a matter of whether the train is air or vacuum braked? As I understand it WCRC do have air braked stock and some of the locos they use including the Black 5s are air braked. It seems to be the Stream Dreams set that presents a problem.

 

If that is a factor should we expect all trains hauled by Carnforth steam locos (34067 excepted) to be supplemented by a diesel?

 

It probably also depends on the route and how much potential disruption would be caused if one broke down. It certainly seems to be the case that vacuum braked trains are not allowed out in the South these days without some backup. A post from Andy Taylor of WCRC a few weeks back suggested that was the case.

 

The loco taking locos down to okehampton for polar express should be stabled at temple meads in the morning.

 

Stock arrived late.

 

Stop start out of Bristol due to TPWS playing up on the lead loco. Currently at a stand still.

 

On the move.

 

Now taking water at Magnor.

 

Leaving Magnor water stop. 28 min late.