The National Preservation mainline run of 2010 - Your Nominations.

I thought we could start this thread now as we come towards the end of 2010 and discuss nominees for the Nat Pres run of the year to be put into a poll in the new year.

Straight off the top of my head are the non-stop Bristolian and The Pride of Swindon.

 

Definitely the Bristolian just for the planning and the on the hoof running of the Up run.
Once again hats off to Network Rail, First Great Western. And Mike Notley who's meticulously worked out timings were completely wrecked by the Up Bristolian!!!

 

My votes:
1. The Pride of Swindon, and I was on it
2. The Bristolian, saw both runs and both positioning trains, what a weekend
3. The Tin Bath double-headed thingy the other week
4. 6201 and 9600 on the Britannia Banker, for the Lickey Incline bit especially

And loco of the year, definitely 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, surely a contender for best ever Barry restoration.

 

Difficult to choose between two runs, both by 5043

The Bristolian for the immsense planning, thought and on the day decisions and running, or

The Pride of Swindon for pure Engine & crew performance.

FRom a personal point of view (ie travelled on), the Midlander with 6201, the New ST 'first' and a Princess Royal on the blocks at Euston.

 

Have to agree with Steve from GWR about the Tin Bath Extra. What could have been a last second cancellation was turned into a triumph by the close cooperation between WCRC, RYTC and Network Rail in working out an alternative route at the last minute.
Another great example of what steam on the mainline can achieve when everyone works together.
Looking back over the year, maybe there should be a Nat Pres Oscar for Network Rails Charter Train Planning Department.

 

How about a category for the People who put the show on the road (that should be rails)?
Let's name some of those who plan tours months in advance, the people at the two Steam TOC's, and last but not least the support crews that start work at stupid O'clock in the morning and are still there putting the loco to bed long after all the passengers have gone home to bed.

 

And the winner is........ Saltydog! :clap2::first:

 

I'll propose Tornado's Border Raider blitzing of Grayrigg and Shap on 24th June. A record breaking run for the two banks and she barely broke into a sweat.

 

No contest. The Bristolian

Good runs over Shap or S&C happen every year, but a Castle non-stop Bristol to London and Fast Line all the way - that is unique.

 

I'm going with the foreign option, which I feel didnt get as much publicity as it deserved...

but 2009 would be the Winton train.. steam hauled from Prague to London.
and 2010 would be Dampfspekktacle in Trier.. 5 days mainline running with 18 engines on 14 diagrams from 5am to 10pm daily covering a 150-200 mile running area, something the likes the UK hasnt seen since 1968 and most of europe since the late 1980's... my absolute favourite.. 01 509 doing 90mph on the 6.24am to Koblenz.

 

Two railtours that I definetly enjoyed this year were, the Lickey Banker with 6201 (with Black Pannier 9600 banking the train up the bank). And the Cumbrian Mountain Express, again with 6201. Shap & Ais Gill in 1 day.

 

To throw another in the mix. 70013 on the GBIII, particularly the Springburn - Inverness leg, but it performed superbly throughout. 6233 up Beattock on the Stirling trip also sticks in the mind. Can't get too excited about a lightweight pootle along the GW mainline, but it was impressive to see the cooperation between everyone that made it happen.

 

also GB111 for another last minute alteration, due to the threatened signallers strike, that saw 44871 + 70013 blasting up the Lickey with no banker. It doesn't come much better than the spectacle displayed in glorious sunshine on that occasion.

 

Another vote for GBIII: Nine fantastic days; 44871 + 70013 Plymouth - Bristol - Lickey - Preston over 2 days; 44871 + 45407 (literally fresh from overhaul, paint still wet in places!!) Glasgow - Stranraer and back; 61994 in perfect conditions on the Kyle line....

 

For a decent amount of high-speed running, an excellent climb of Beattock in poor, damp conditions, and attaining the southbound preservation record over Shap, I reckon 6233 on the 'Royal Scot' to Stirling last month. It was certainly the best trip I had this year in terms of performance, as I have mostly placed more of an emphasis upon attaining steam mileage of late. Mind you, for sheer slog, my second nomination would be 5029 unassisted over the 1 in 50 Evershot and Upwey banks on the Weymouth Seaside Express. It may not have been a multi-day tour or an out-and-out enthusiast's bash, but it certainly did the job, and was great value for money. Will probably do it again next year, particularly if there are a couple of Bulleids involved...

 

Oooh this is hard.

5043 on the Bristolian
5029 and 60019 on the Mayflower (mainly because I was on it and was a great run over the Devon Banks)
GB3. Even after all the route and loco problems it still ran and rather impressively.
Cornish Riviera with 5029 and 6024

But for sure 5043 has to be a contender for loco of the year. The Bristolian and The Pride of Swindon sounded like fantastic trips and a great way to mark GWR 175.

 

Thought I'd enter into the nominations,

Trips on,

4965 & 5043 on the Cornishman - Brilliant weather and a spritely performance all day long. Can't stop watching my video's of the climbs of Dainton and Hemerdon.
5043 on the Pride of Swindon - No words can describe that trip for me other than outstanding.

I know it's biased with the above, but I caught the "bug" of 5043 after seeing her leave Beaconsfield on the Beckonscot Charter into London, and thought she can't be missed out on.

Trips Viewed,

5029 & 6024 storming through Taplow on the up fast having just crossed over at Maidenhead with the Cornish Riviera.
6233 heading through Kings Langley on its way to Euston.
70013 powering through Datchet on the girl guide trips, tremendous noise from her.
70013 storming away from Hitchin on it's run to the South Coast from Norfolk....could hear her from miles pounding away.
60019 and 60007 on the ECML at various locations mainly on the Cahterdral Express runs to York.

Might try some foreign non copper mainline runs next year, as I've realised, this year it's only been copper and brass!....then again it's 6024 possible last year next year.........plus the Collett Double header is teasing........

 

Thank you very much, but I'm only a small cog in a brilliant and hard working gang of people.
You'd be amazed at the type of people who make up a support crew, every one like late comers like me, to ex BR men and youngsters who have the same feeling for steam coursing through their bodies.
I've made some great friends since I started and If you have a favourite main line loco and want to get involved go ahead and do it.
No one expects you to be available all the time and like the preserved ( I hate that word makes them sound like there stuffed and mounted) lines even a couple of hours a month is appreciated.
And you will have some wonderful and rewarding times, actually playing a small part in 5043's exploits this year is something I will always treasure and I'm grateful for being given that opportunity.