The Great Britain VIII

Just seen a report on the SW rail gen Facebook group that says it'll be the 66 piloting the Brit as far as Exeter, but with 70000 continuing on solo to Bristol.

James

 

the train has 13 on - so yes from PLY tomorrow the loco 70000 will need diesel assistance over the Devon Banks to EXD

 

Ha, I like it !

 

Now cancelled, see #391

 

13? I thought it was 11 + support. Whatever, it will need assistance. The point of James's post is that the DL will pilot 70000 - i.e. coupled in front, rather than as banker (on the back, as yesterday between London and Exeter) or as the train engine, with steam pilot. I rather hope SW Rail-gen have got it wrong - my mates waiting at Hemerdon will be rather disappointed...

 

Hmm... the Grosmont-Shrewsbury move is cancelled, since there's no point going to Shrewsbury now. However, I take Ian to mean that his locos are still intended to leave the NYMR to join GB8 at some point. What I'd like to know (if indeed it has been decided yet) is when they are going to leave and where are they going? I guess there are 2 possibilities: either a move to Carnforth tomorrow (Thu) to work GB8 from Grange on Friday, or a move to Inverness on Saturday to work GB8 to Kyle and the Far North line Sunday & Monday - in which case perhaps only 1 of them will be needed?

 

Not half as disappointed as those poor souls who've paid to travel behind steam.

 

Wheelsets for 100MPH cleared 86/2's are hard to come by now, probably only a few sets still left, most UK places won't refurb a set now, and sending some to the EU to be done costs £££, no cheap easy fix for 86259

 

Disappointed with despair not far behind I suspect

 

They are.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Well I'm not too worried about the feelings of freeloaders and I'm sure those who've shelled out a few grand for this trip will really be worried about you and your video.

 

Yes, it's 11 + support coach. <BJ>

 

I know what you mean, but there are some photographers who travel as well as we all know, so not all freeloaders. We also get to enjoy much of their work on here. Bit of live and let live never did anyone any harm IMHO,

 

15 mins timed stop at EXD this afternoon to shunt the locos off, back and around doesn't sound that long - could be the diesel stays on the back out of PLY ?

 

I'm glad I didn't book that's for sure. I suspect there will be a deal of "stiff upper lip" on board but in spite of that there must be huge disappointment for some.

 

arrived 14 early at PLY platform 8
due off at 1347,
dawlish at 1502
EXD 1516

tomorrow diesel to carnforth http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U51629/2015/04/30/advanced

 

Don't worry, my remark was aimed at a particular individual not photographers as a whole. I know many who are great contributors to the movement in one way or another.

 

From on-board, how much difference does it make whether the DL is pilot or train-engine? The fact that it's there and doing an unknown amount of the work spoils things for the performance logger, the sound recordist and window-hangers. Video and photos from on board might look slightly better with steam on the front. I'd have thought that all concerned would prefer the DL to be on the rear.

On the other hand, maybe the passengers are happy to trade a DL pilot Plym-Exeter for no DL beyond Exeter?

 

Indeed, it's a bad situation for everybody, mainly the passengers who have paid, and been looking forward to what should have been a wonderful experience. The organising staff (all of them) and the passengers must be well brassed off with the uncertainty, the crews don't know, things are changing by the hour.............a bad situation. The very least the passengers and all the staff should quite reasonably expect is a positive itinerary for what is left.