The Wansbeck - 4th April, then 10th October, now 2nd April 2016

On the strength of that and my PhD supervisor forwarding this email (as well as receiving it myself), I've booked it. Will have to stock up on grub for a solid day on the rails.

 

Quite happy with the following:
1. Lynemouth has made it into RTT, but until we are physically there, I'm not counting my chickens.
2. The out and back over the B&T- wanted to get it done northbound, so it provides another difference from last year's trip.
3. Steam starts at York.
4. The provisionally earlier arrival at York.

The icing on the cake would be better weather than last year over the Boulby branch. As such, I'm starting to feel glad I booked, although it will be a long day.

 

I've noticed another set of timings of something from Holgate sidings to Grangetown & a Grangetown to York NRM around the same time as the tour, does this suggest steam is coming off at Grangetown on the return?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...4/0600-2000?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=WR

 

I think at least one of the steam locos will come off there and will be heading south. As its timed for 50mph, I'd hazard a guess that its probably 62005. The logistics of this particular trip are quite something... I calculate that if it is steam hauled from York to Newcastle (box Newcastle back to York) as currently planned, then it will be around 263 miles of steam, which is pretty good going for the moguls.

 

61994 is also still at the NRM, so it probably isn't going anywhere between now and next Saturday. The trip did Morpeth last year, so I don't think its necessarily NR throwing a wobbly. I think its a question of priorities, as getting to Lynemouth Colliery seems to be the USP for this trip. As stated on RTC's website, the only way you could successfully get there and traversing the the Stillington line was by lopping-off North Blyth; presumably tight timings has meant that Morpeth has also had to go the way of the Dodo.

As an example: we lost a lot of time (about 50 minutes) on the B&T last year trying to get onto the North Blyth line, and we were slotted-in between coal trains which seemed to be running every at other block. Therefore, from Morpeth South Jn to North Blyth took from 09:19 until 12:05 (there was a half-hour water stop at Bedlington North). By reducing this risk, it turns what could have been a severe endurance test into something *slightly* less taxing. We were running pretty close to the closure of the Stillington line for the afternoon that day.

 

It looks like 62005 comes off at Grangetown and returns directly to York, while 61994 comes off at Middlesbrough and retires to Grosmont. The tour is then diesel hauled Grangetown-Newcastle(reverse)-York, if I've got it right !

David

 

Thinking about it, 61994 will be facing north as its still at York and has only two minutes in Middlesbrough, so its either coming off at Grangetown or not at all. If the former is the case and the opportunity presents itself (we'll probably go sailing through unless there's a crew change), I'll either bail out at Middlesbrough or Darlington (scheduled for Platform 1 and 4B respectively), where there are services back to York at 19:30 and 19:33 respectively, arriving between 20:00 and 20:30. Either way, its a logistically complex tour.

 

Surely it should be 62005 returning to Grosmont and 61994 to York

 

Ah, but won't 62005 be heading off to Fort Bill soon? If so, then I would expect to see her going York-Carnforth next, before heading 'Oop north'...

 

K1 going to moors for week or two apparently. Then over to Carnforth later before Scotland. K4 will be going to York as it has furhter mainline work due soon.

 

This tour was originally advertised as diesel hauled from York to Newcastle. It is now going to be steam hauled by two LNER Moguls.

We will be steam hauled now both ways along the Blythe and Tyne, Benton to Lynemouth and back. This is because the Lynemouth Branch is limited to 15mph for passenger trains and by going both ways via the Blyth and Tyne we were able to save thirty minutes, enough time for a waterstop at Ferry Hill.

Boulby was also difficult as freight trains are operating on Saturday this year. Fortunately the Boulby Mines were kind enough to reschedule a freight train to accommodate us.

Steam will now be detached at Grangetown on the return but it will have been quite a day.

 

Just been posted elsewhere:

FOR INFORMATION Please be advised that due to ongoing safety concerns, Network Rail has taken the decision to serve a Suspension Notice upon West Coast Railways. The suspension of West Coast Railways will take effect from 00:00 on Friday 3 April 2015 and will apply to allservices operated by West Coast Railways on all NR Routes. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes charter passenger services, freight services, NSC services and light engine moves. From 00:00 on Friday 3 April 2015, West Coast Railways are not to be permitted to operate on our Routes.


Looks like thats all for Wansbeck

 

Let's hope it's just postponed...