The Roses Express

Great video Phil Thanks

 

Hmn, :mmph: so off I goes (in the pouring rain) to Wakefield to see The Roses at Kirkgate station, I made a social call (pot of tea etc). at my Jaguar garage and then down to Kirkgate. At the station there is an underpass for passengers to get to the other platforms, I was just in the middle of the said underpass and there was a thunderous rumbling overhead and there it was......................gone................ in a cloud of exhaust. As I emerged the fellas were packing their cameras up and that was that.............I'd missed it.
I blame NR, WCRC, the driver, the guard, the signalers and .........erm.........the stewards on the train wink because the thing was 2 minutes early.
Strewth, I was like a drowned rat and I'd missed the whole event. :tsk:
So I went to Wetherspoons in Wakefield. :thumb:

 

Yes, it does seem to have been a very successful series and I hope it has been commercial one too. Roll on the next one.............

 

If there to run it again... I'd suggest the one that goes through stockport to go in the easter holidays!! :rant:
its ashame that I couldn't go on the trip because as soon as I saw it going through stockport back in November/december, I was well up for it, but college got in the way because our two weeks are up! D:
Hope they do this again!
Matt

 

It did remarkably well up there in the conditions.......

 

Are you sure Ralph ? Viewing 981Smithy's excellent video the 47 does sound as if it's doing a little more than ticking over; agreed not doing all the work but certainly a little rear-end support as it passes in the 2nd camera sequence and the diesel exhaust seems to confirm it.

 

Firstly the ETH was on at that point still I think so it would make the exhaust more noticeable and the loco sound more "chuggy" + There's an option of opening the power handle ever so slightly without actually notching up the handle, which on a light engine would just cause a slow roll or on the rear take the weight off an engine, without it actually pushing the train really. Haven't studied clips but perhaps the driver had simply done that to reduce the factor of the 120t in extra weight for the steam engine to pull. If it was pushing the train would have jolted more and we'd have certainly noticed up front + there were a few lads at the back who were liable to have told us I understand. I think it was all (or virtually all) the 8F earning the merits yesterday evening much as I'm far from against 47s personally.

I'm sure there will be more spring steam outings from the North next year as interest levels were pre-dominantly good.

 

He has a point about the ETH, I can't speak for a 47 but when 37/4 is 'plugged in' it revs more than it would on pure idle.

 

Thanks and glad you enjoyed.

Cheers Phil.

 

Thanks for the explanation of the possible reason for the higher revs on the Class 47 - which was not meant to detract from the performance of the 8F on the day. As many note it is an under-rated little locomotive and great credit to David Smith for both recognising the fact and doing something about by keeping it on the main line.

 

Since when was an 8f classed as a little locomotive? All that time doing secret work for the government must be clouding your judgement!

 

If two - EIGHT - nought is small, I wonder what Fred considers large? - There isn't much left.

 

Fully appreciate that especially having sampled them on heavy ironstone trains around Corby and climbing out of the Welland Valley with coal trains between Toton and Wellingborough. Obviously the English didn't appreciate the Scots vernacular in which "little" can be used as a term of endearment for something which does its job well and - when referred to locomotives - is often used to express admiration at the power and size. (It's similar to the current youth vernacular where "Wicked" in their language means "Great" in common parlance.) Really must try not to mix languages / vernaculars - it'a almost as bad as mixing drinks but then I leave that to the younger generation !