Tornado to haul certain timetabled trains on S&C: Feb 14-16

He took the time to put his name into the camera so maybe he should have removed it when he sold it, not my problem.

 

Not your problem? so why are you making such a lot of noise about it then?

Cheers,

Alan

 

Enjoyed my visit after your tips from Tues/Weds. And kudos tot he stewards in the second coach, who whilst enforcing the "no standing" rule did lower the droplights allowing us to still hear the A1 tackle the long drag this evening. Was a great touch and added to a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Let's hope this is not the last.

 

Enjoyable day on the S&C today. I like her moods.

Good atmosphere on the 17.15 to Appleby. Fantastic value, especially with the railcard.

Well done to everyone who made it happen, and for going the extra mile to make sure that everyone who needed to travel was able to travel.

And thanks to everyone who has posted pics and videos. Much appreciated.

 

16/02/2017 - 60163 "Tornado" "Plandampf" service Day 3 - 1st northbound service from Skipton to Appleby at Helwith Bridge.

 

And wouldn't it be nice if the doom mongers in chief had the humility to admit that they were wrong?

 

Bet this has been long day for the support crew on Tornado , which they have followed up with this move to Doncaster: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54848/2017/02/16/advanced.

Saw it go past the Kirkby Stephen webcam, 67 leading Tornado and support coach plus ECS.

This looks like the onward move back to Stewarts Lane: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54852/2017/02/17/advanced

Helluva trek

Dave B

 

Not in their remit, although congratulations have been given in some cases.

Dave B

 

I think you've missed the point. The doom mongers saved the day! It was only because of them pointing out all the things that could go wrong that the organisers implemented a contingency strategy. When planning the event, it had never occurred to the organisers that the services might be busy, but thankfully by keeping glued to NatPres they were able to find out that might be the case and add an extra coach and relief service. Hooray for the doom mongers!

 

The 10.44 Skipton to Appleby 16 February 2017 – 60163 Tornado hauling 8+POB+67029 Royal Diamond

I arrived at Skipton station around 09.45; there was already a long queue of people (100/150) from the booking hall along the left side of the car park – this was for those without a reservation. As I had a reservation I was allowed to enter the station and make my way to platform 3. Initially, platform 3 was exclusively for passengers with reservations, later other ticket holders were allowed through the subway. On platform 2, I counted at least 20 staff (Northern, DBC and Network Rail) in orange waistcoats and 4 BTP officers; there were also some “normally attired” Northern staff and several in “plain clothes” but wearing name badges. Best of all on platform 3 was a class of excited very young school children, all in yellow high viz vests and all revved up and ready to go – “Are we nearly there yet?”

After 10 minutes of repeated announcements for “Passengers on platform 2 to stand behind the yellow line as a fast train is approaching” 60163, travelling tender first in front of 67029, trundled slowly into the station and stopped; the passengers disembarked and Northern staff began an interior clean and updating the seat reservations in coaches A-D (the remaining 4 coaches were unreserved). 60163 was detached and moved off towards Leeds, came back through platform 3 and off towards Hellifield then reversed and coupled up to the POB (which remained on the Hellifield end of the train throughout). 67029 then drew the train out towards Leeds and finally 60163 hauled it back into platform 3 ready for departure. It was already 10.44 (our scheduled departure time), but a couple of service trains and movements to and from the Rylstone branch had probably delayed things.

At 10.59½ (15½L) we were away. I was in coach A (not as I had hoped at “Tornado’s end” but right at the back and only one table away from “Royal Diamond” – hey ho! Still the stock was warm, smooth riding and quiet – too quiet! I could hardly hear the diesel (supposedly in “hotel mode” – a fast tick over for electrical services only?) so there was no chance at all of hearing Tornado at the front.

Gargrave (3.72miles) was passed in 6½ mins at 50.3 mph. Hellifield, so often the (cold) start for S&C steam, was passed in 13½ mins (55 mph), we reached a max of 59 beyond Long Preston and passed Settle Jn (13.26 miles) in 17¼ mins (54). We then made steady progress to our first stop at Settle arriving after 21 min (4 under schedule but 11½L), we departed with the same deficit. Speed was worked up to 35 just beyond Stainforth but then it started to rain. By Helwith Bridge we were up to 38 and 43 on the level beyond, where a stone train was waiting on the new curve to Arcow Quarry. Just before Horton in R speed fell quickly from 41 to 32.5 (I don’t know if this was the result of a slip or a deliberate easing). Beyond Horton in R speed climbed again to 38/39 around Selside but was eased to 27 through Ribblehead (passed 44 mins from start; 5 inside schedule but still 10½L).

There was the usual speed restriction thro’ Dent, back up to 50 thro’ Garsdale and 51 at Ais Gill. One of the stewards said that the train had been given dispensation to run up to 70 (to make up lost time), so I was hopeful of something special – not to be, max of 60 near Mallerstang and 60.4 before Ormside. We rolled into Appleby to stop in 90 mins (2 inside schedule but 13½L at 12.29½). Coach A was short of the platform and I had to walk through 2 coaches of people finding their coats and bags etc., squeeze over the footbridge thronged with watchers and photters and step onto the southbound service train which was due out at 12.36. It departed bang on time, just as my bum touched the seat. As there were other passengers still waiting to get off the northbound service; I wondered if any had intended to catch the 12.36 – Northern could have held it for another couple of minutes - my only complaint of the day.

I had hoped to travel at least once and see it once, but the dates coincided with a busy week so this was it (I travelled alone, Mrs W was too busy to hang around Appleby for 3 hours in February! And so was I.). Two passengers seated at the same table as me said that yesterdays performance had been much superior (subjective, no data) and that today there was a different driver. Rail conditions may not have been ideal as the southbound unit had problems keeping its feet at both the Kirkby S and Horton in R departures. Today was never going to be about loco performance. For me it was my first ride behind Tornado, a welcome return to the (albeit truncated) S&C and to be able to say, “I was there.” I’ll remember the crowds all along the route but especially at Ribblehead – the busiest that I’ve seen it, the school children waving from their school playground at Settle and the “little-uns” waiting eagerly on Skipton station – I’ll bet their minders will sleep soundly. Many groups and individuals made this happen, much was done for free or for “mates rates”. It was nice to have some good news and positive publicity for the railways – Thank you to everyone.

I arrived home in good time to collect Mrs W and take her to Wetherspoons . “Curry Night” – she’s never too busy for a lamb rogan josh!

 

What he said!

 

In fairness it was a quick edit to show 60017 a comparison with his submission as he felt it was too dark and I thought to show what a little editing could achieve; I agree that it could be darkened a little but that might have compromised detail of the under frame.

 

I don't think it matters, the folk who were suggesting/predicting/hoping??? for the job to go tits up WERE wrong (remember one comment ? "take your enthusiast blinkers off, think of the well being of the locals, etc etc etc") Ball cocks, the local regular travellers were not inconvenienced, it was a great success, it was well planned, and ALL involved in making it happen should stand up and take a bow. Well done and thank you, let's have more, maybe other routes, maybe different parts of the country so more folk can enjoy.

 

With respect, I think that's rubbish. No, I don't THINK, I know it's rubbish.

P.S. I've been hooked haven't I, on second reading that's got to be a wind up post.

 

That's soooo tongue in cheek. Gave me a giggle so thanks for that.

 

Wasn't criticising Fred. In rubbish light it's very difficult to get something decent and all our efforts to improve things are at the mercy of individual monitors and personal perception.

 

And of course in your little cocoon, you were oblivious to the concerns being raised by locals on social media.

If the original plan was so perfect as you would make believe, WHY did they add an extra coach and schedule back up 158s?

The concerns raised here probably had little impact when set against the wider media concerns. But at least change was made and the potential for things to go awry was averted. You will find that many on here made positive noises about the changes made and they contributed to the success of the last three days. That is a success that everyone should applaud.

But feel free to bicker away....

 

for your interest at a very windy Ribblehead Viaduct yesterday, I was the chap with the yellow labrador!

 

So mean spirited as opposed to the wry tone of the Laird of Nevermore (is that a Led Zeppelin reference?). How do you know what the original plan was? And why do you think it was fixed rather than flexible?

As soon as the 0947 from Leeds was scheduled into Skipton Broughton Road it was obvious they had a standby plan, which they worked flexibly on the three days.

Of course up there in the back of beyond the one thing which you can't do anything about is the signalling. So a departure from Skipton yesterday at 1100 followed by the Morecambe train followed by the 1110 extra followed by the 1126 from Skipton didn't really fit on the infrastructure, the last of these being on time Skipton and half an hour late at Appleby. With 15-20 min block sections and I'm guessing from Oswald's message about 15 mins to clear the train to the siding at Appleby, that's what happens. No doubt about it though, Northern and NR came up with the best practicable solution so good for them and even better for us.