The Elizabethan 11 June - Tornado Kings X to Edinburgh, Alycidon back, all in a day!

At last Pathfinder are taking bookings for this marathon of (planned) high speed running.

The A1 Trust have been advertising it for many weeks - Latest but Pathfinder were refusing to take bookings until all confirmations were received that the train could and would run.

Today, making the latest of my many telphone requests for updates, I was told I could book!

Should be a great day - certainly a long one!

Peter, at the end of a lovely spring day in Manchester - at last!
Zenfolio | Peter Hewitt's Transport Pictures | All my photos

 

Having travelled on last year's 'Elizabethan' I cannot wait for this year's..... It has the bonus of all the steam running being in daylight (last year saw 'Tornado' run into London in the dark) and 'Alycidon's' return in the afternoon should be wonderful. The long-range forecast is looking good as well! Woot!

Foxy

 

I forget the date too but a memorable occasion.

Only problem now is the current and long range weather forecast is for hot and sunny weather for days and weeks to come. And you know what that means.....diesel assistance or even steam replacement on mainline tours. It even threatens the 90mph high speed tours on the ECML which, after all of the build up, test runs et al, it could (pardon the pun) be a damp squid.

Time to start the annual rain dance, me thinks!

 

I don't think a squid would survive if it wasn't a bit damp.

 

An occasion I remember well.

I was at school on the day of the northbound non-stop run - a Wednesday, but on 4th May I walked six and a half miles in each direction to get a rather poor photograph with the wind in the wrong direction for the smoke at a level crossing on the ECML. If I'd realised what a poor view was available at that particular crossing before I set out I would probably have gone to a more familiar (and closer) venue.

 

At the beginning of May it was forecast to be a hot, dry month. They got that one wrong so who knows how accurate this latest forecast is.

 

They can't even get the forecast correct 12 hours in advance, what chance do they have of days/weeks/months?

 

Got to admit, I am disappointed not to be able to do this years excursion, however last years was a top day out, the way Tornado accelerated to 75mph, time after time again was jaw dropping.

Recommend the Pulled Pork sandwich in Hard Rock Café in Edinburgh as well!!!!

 

We need some oil fired steam locos on the main line!

And if the current issues re getting decent coal are correct, and the impact that is having on it's price, (allegedly), then maybe we are slowly moving closer to that and all that is needed to achieve it.

And if we do get oil fired steam locos, how many of the fare paying customers will be bothered I wonder?

As for the rain dance. Isn't there an Ashes Test Match due soon?

 

Errr..... that'll be damp *squib* - squid are normally damp and this doesn't seem to affect their performance, however, a damp squib won't function! ;-)

I don't think the weather is going to affect June 11th unduly, sufficient showers beforehand to reduce the risk and 'Tornado' is one of the tightest mainline locos when it comes to losing sparks or embers so let's keep positive chaps!

Foxy

 

Timings from A1 steam trust: http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

(Scroll down to view.....)

 

Interesting photo by Jack Beeston on that web page.

I reckon we must have been almost on one another's toes and pressed our shutters at almost the same instant.

Here's my photo from the same place. The loco is about 3 inches further along the track on his, (using the shadow on the far rail as a reference).

 

Yikes! Looks like I won't be home til 2am then. Good job I've booked the Tuesday night off work, though going straight from work in the morning probably isn't a good idea...

 

Steam path looks pretty good actually having looked over RTT for the journey.

Following stopper all the way from KX to Peterborough, then SL up stoke (fast possible but not likely) to Grantham pick up and water stop. Then amazingly seems to be a clear path for a non- stop FL run all the way to York (but that can't be right surely......) though A1 website shows a stop at Doncaster (presumably a crew change?). Runs SL to Northallerton, and then must stop in the Down loop at Darlington for water or pathing for 15/20 minutes which might explain the hour taken from York to Darlington. Must be another stop in Tyne Yard for about 30 minutes for water (and coal - don't think she can go all the way?) and again at Berwick?

Hopefully full timings will be up on uksteam soon. Can the SL/FL running info be indicated as well please if it is available? Should be plenty of opportunity for fast running. What is the latest line side vegetation moisture reading from the east coast?

 

I posted a few days ago that the weather forecast for June is hot and sunny. Yes, the weather forecasters got it wrong in May but so far this month they are bang on the button with the forecast up to and during the weekend to remain settled and getting warmer with temperatures widely in the mid to high 20C with NO rain. One can only imagine that the line side is getting very dry and the place where those in authority will take no chances with line side fires, especially mid-week, is the East Coast mainline.

I am afraid it is looking ominous unless the weather breaks on Monday, but that may be too late by then.

 

Full timings on RTT

Outward

Return - note timed for 95mph - trailing Class 47 or in case Alycidon won't make it?

 

Don't think DBS drivers sign 47s anymore or would be able to get hold of one.

 

Last year no trailing loco, and made it to 100mph on more than 1 occasion.

Remember a deltic is twin engine, and will quite happily run on one.