Winter CME's, February 2012.

Must have been next to you Johnathan - got a similar picture
john

 

Thanks John and Ralph, the S&C is a beautiful line, it's such ashame this is the first time I've been over it since crewing 1T57 back in 2008! Little did I realise all the truly brilliant photospots require a car, definately a reason for me to get moving on actually acquiring a license! Can't live off my rail pass forever if I'm wanting better photos! Especially when it comes to Ais Gill and Shap!
Suspect I'll have to start wearing a NatPres badge, I'm sure I see many members off the forum but we have no clue who each other are! Hopefully I'll end up seeing a lot more of you this coming year.

 

That's a lovely shot Johnathon. :thumb:

You'll not miss me, I'm the one in the silver mohair suit with the big quiff!

I would have been there yesterday but for the fact my pacemaker plays up in sub zero temps.

 

Bit late but have uploaded a set of photographs from Saturdays trip. My first with steam over the S&C and what a good one to start with! Agree with Jane, the noise Ollie made accelerating up to Ais Gill was worth the fare alone. I'm certainly in favour of these becoming a regular thing! Smart work as well by 86259. Many thanks to RTC, WCRC, Les Ross and 5305 LA for a great trip.

Some photos can be found here: Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express - 11/2/12 - a set on Flickr

 

My attempt from Far Moor, between Horton and Selside. White exhaust, white sky, and lots of snow. Challenging conditions! Others did far better than me.

 

Just to say that this one (12/02) seems also to have been unassisted and that the stock did not get turned at Carlisle as originally booked.

 

That should have been 11/02 of course.

 

Following a shot of 86259 at Leyland I headed to Hoghton Summit for Cromwell. Looked and sounded superb.

Clive Hanley Photography | 11th/12th February 2012. 3 on the Mainline | Class 86 no E3137 (as 86259) Les Ross powers through Leyland Station at 100mph.

 

Just passed southall, king outside facing London.Stock stabled with 47's attached.Growing collection of stock around there, looks like a brighton belle car, virgin mark3 sleepers showed up a few months back, virgin mark 2d set, other misc and demic stock.Workshop was open but empty.

 

Perhaps SD are really going "upmarket" & the Virgin MK2D set is their new dedicated tour stock. Should be cool in summer & warm in winter.

 

presumably only if there's a box on the back to power it? :behindsofa:

 

Or genny car. Seems to be an update on their new stock in the SD tours 2012 thread, coming from Scotland?

 

That's got to be better than relying on knackered old steam heat systems then, because currently it seems difficult to believe that people ever travelled by rail in the winter in years gone by!

 

Yes - but the steam heat was properly maintained and worked then, and was superb - especially in compartment stock where you could even set it to your personal tastes - not what it was set at for you when it left the depot - if it was ever set at all.

Look at Vintage Trains' set - hardly a leak anywhere

 

True, but the key as you say was proper maintenance, and that seems to be beyond many of today's stock operators.

Have you got a photo? If there were no 'leaks' then it wasn't working - as I'm sure you know, you've got to drain the condensate to keep them working, and some of that flashes to steam when vented to the atmosphere, particularly visible in cold damp conditions. Mind you, I have great respect for both the VT's engineering and their general customer care.

 

If you look at the various pictures/videos of 4965 on last Sunday's Valentine's Express, there seems to be no steam issuing at all from the stock. And it was a cold day.

 

God help anyone who think "Coffins" continually on Steam Tours is a winner, It's bad enough not being able to see the loco, but having no sound due to being locked away in an air conditioned sealed window train ?, i woulden't be booking with anyone who used such a rake.

 

A different take on 45305 flying through Oxenholme on the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express on Saturday the 4th of Feb . 45305 hammers through Oxenholme on the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 4-2-12 - YouTube