WCRC Private charter 9/05/25

45699 leads 47245 3Z61 ex Carnforth approaching Carlisle 1535. AN

 

45699 coming of the Long Drag at Settle Junction and leaving Hellifield towards Blackburn.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54508572070/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54508485408/in/photostream/

 

Jubilee class No. 45627 'Sierra Leone' (aka Galatea) works 3Z61 through Beckfoot and onwards to Carlisle



Heading a private charter 1Z62 through Garsdale Jubilee class No. 45627 'Sierra Leone' puts on a fine sight as it heads for Blackburn and onwards to Brighouse

 

45699 Galatea running as 45627 seen heading to Carlisle with 47245 from Docker Viaduct then on the Charter with 47245 tnt 47832 from Stockber.

 

LMS 45699 'Galatea' seen hauling today's private charter at Greengates, getting the expected push from the Class 47's.

Video Available Here

 

45627 Greengates by Harry Bradley, on Flickr



45627 Hellifield Green by Harry Bradley, on Flickr



45627 Whalley by Harry Bradley, on Flickr

 

This presented an unexpected opportunity to see a steam locomotive here in the NW; Saturday's CME had changed into a postponed Blackpool train only for that to be cancelled. With the next steam scheduled to be a NBelle in a couple of weeks it was to be "slim pickings" - wasn't he a US country and western performer? The rumour mill had it down for a 45699 operation, being a "vacuum brake" only loco what would the train be, some CDL fitted Mk1s or was it to be another loco, now with air brake equipment, and the usual Mk2s?

Well, all was revealed, it was indeed 45699 and non-CDL fitted mk1s. This inevitably sparked some discussion about if this was permitted. (Having re-read the ORR's document it appears that if the persons onboard were not "fare paying passengers" then the requirement for CDL does not apply.) Perhaps the word "charter" implies that someone has hired the train from WCRC but, for all I know, it could have been a rich man's gift to a friend.

Being "in charge?" of Maisie during the afternoon I was limited to the evening shift. It had been another sunny and dry day, the last time we had any reasonable rainfall was overnight on 23/24 April. NR fire risk measures were in place but what effect would that have on the operation?

The train was due up Wilpshire Bank quite late in evening; it was due to pass thro' R&W at sunset (20.55) though in reality with the local topography the sun would have long vanished from station. The available locations, for video, to take advantage of the low evening sun are limited; crossing Whalley Arches and Langho station. Whalley, great for still photography, is far from ideal with the traffic noise from the adjacent A59. Langho looked the better bet until I spotted that 45699 was booked to pass thro' the station within a minute of the Clitheroe train which was scheduled to stop - a risk too far for Oswald. So it was the old favourite of R&W and the safety of the over bridge.

I left home in plenty of time as I needed some fuel. (The fuel at our local filling station is 3p/litre more expensive than that available at Wilpshire, despite both sites being owned and operated by the same independent company.) There was a space on the station car park, there are only 3 spaces in total but today was my lucky day. I was soon bored of listening to the radio and gathered up my bits and walked the 10 yards to the bridge. Service trains in each direction came and went, both arrived early and had to wait 2 or 3 minutes before RT departures - this showed just what might happen at Langho (and looks like it did).

45699 had passed thro' Clitheroe (10E) and presumably would be waiting at Whalley for the service train to leave the section at Daisyfield Jn. I had a camera on my heavy tripod and an iphone clamped to the top of one of the legs and both were doing a good job of providing a bright image in what was now fading light. After several more minutes the roar of a distant diesel loco could be heard. 45699 appeared and headed towards the station, some visible exhaust, but not much became none at all as the train approached the platforms. As the train passed beneath the bridge the leading diesel was "roaring like a good 'un" - no fire risk here and all very sensible. A very pleasant 16C, 2E & 41mph and well worth the journey.

I returned home to find Mrs W was having a glass of pinot grigio - it must be warm. Maisie had been playing out late and was sleeping in her bed. All was well with the world, well apart from . . . (Slim Pickens was a country singer, just in case you doubted old Oswald, not that I'm a fan of that genre.)

But what about the iphone footage, I hear you ask. It was unusuable, despite being securely clamped to the tripod and about a foot back from the cast iron balustrade of the bridge, the turbulent air as the train passed underneath shook the iphone and resulted in "wobble vision".

 

You can't beat a good wobble Young Whistle!!

 

So I’m led to believe

 

Is a staff train any different to allowing airline staff on test flights or a CAA certification flight on a Concorde that had been parked up and used as a Christmas Tree for many years? Something you would never put fare paying passengers on. Lots wanted to get on it, not sure how many appreciated the stall as part of the trip, I know one of my staff did not.

 

The equivalent of a test flight on the railway, e.g testing or rolling stock certification on the mainline, would be a Class 3 or Class 5 on the railway. Essentially required staff only, and all on duty.

If a 'Staff Do' however, e.g train chartered for a celebration or such, would run under a Class 1, 2 or 9 headcode. These are all listed as 'Passenger' services, for the reason that the staff on board are not intended to be on active duty (apart from those rostered for Guard, Steward etc...). It would most likely be made clear to those on board, if any alcohol is consumed, that they are prohibited from taking part in any operational procedures regardless of their familiarity of the stock and route. For that reason, they would be considered passengers on the train. 'Fare Paying' and 'Not Fare Paying' is probably where the interpretation is being made, and will be interesting to see the ORR's stance on this.

 

"Wobble Vision"... I'd register that as a trade mark...owner .. Maisie..."back end movement before pouncing". ..

 

Interstingly I’ve dug this up on the ORR guidance for MK1s

If I was a betting man I’d say the “other purposes” part could be interpreted widely. If nobody on the train paid a fare yesterday, and the train was being run for other purposes well……

• Exemption for non-passenger use:
  When rolling stock is not carrying fare-paying passengers, such as when it is being used for train support crew or other purposes, it may be excluded from the prohibition on hinged doors.