50s on Rail-Blue Charters excursion to Minehead

[JonG]

Photo of D444 'Exeter' & 50049 'Defiance' on a Manchester Piccadilly to Minehead 'Rail-Blue Charters' excursion seen at Norton Fitzwarren:

This, and other photos of this working can also be found at: http://www.jonathangill.fpic.co.uk/c1588485_3.html.

Comments welcomed/appreciated.

 

[matt]

Nice phots of the Hoovers. Looks like you had decent weather for it.

 

[37412]

Was 44 powering there, on a video on youtube (think its at Parson St but ain't too sure) it sounds mighty quiet compared to 49 and on that shot you can see a slight haze above 49 but not 44, just wondering?!

 

[mumrar]

I like the shot very much, jury in my head still out on the livery of 44 expecially when 49 matches the stock so well.

My eagle eyes ask the question, have you photoshopped out the sealed beam headlight on 44? If not how did it run as it looks??

 

[CraigS]

Nice shots Jon, my favourite is the one pictured above

 

[devon_metro]

Lovely shot!

 

[Crompton Karl]

Indeed lovely shots, its a shame the tour organisers feel it justified to hump that class 57 round at the back, surely a double headed tour is insurance enough against a loco Failure?

Karl

 

[37412]

Indeed lovely shots, its a shame the tour organisers feel it justified to hump that class 57 round at the back, surely a double headed tour is insurance enough against a loco Failure?

Karl

Went on the blocks at Piccadilly hence the need for a realease engine, probably did the heat as well?!

 

[1D53]

Went on the blocks at Piccadilly hence the need for a realease engine, probably did the heat as well?!

Spot on. Needed for ETH!

 

[EE Type 3]

I like the shot very much, jury in my head still out on the livery of 44 expecially when 49 matches the stock so well.

My eagle eyes ask the question, have you photoshopped out the sealed beam headlight on 44? If not how did it run as it looks??

It ran like that as a sealed beam headlight isn't needed in 44s case.

Bloody cracking shot Jon, you had better light than I did

 

[Craig]

Great shot

 

[JonG]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

 

[Crompton Karl]

Spot on. Needed for ETH!

But the Class 50's have ETH - well at least they did when in regular service.

Karl

 

[Techniquest]

Not a high enough rating IIRC was the reason.

Seems weird how they left the 57 in Minehead though.

Nice shot of it at Norton Fitzwarren!

 

[Crompton Karl]

Well if they left the 57 in Minehead then it definately wasn't needed for the ETH, where would the 57 have been needed for shunt release? Surely the WSR would use one of its locos to perform shunt release?

Karl

 

[37412]

where would the 57 have been needed for shunt release?

As I said further up the set had to be shunt released from Manchester and something take the stock in there on the morning. The 25 was used at Minehead for the shunt release!

 

[Crompton Karl]

Oops sorry i did not see that, apologies. So not why leave the 57 in Manchester - or was the idea to position the 57 in the South West? I am also now amused that having a 57 on the back to Minehead but they then use the Rat to release the stock.

Karl

 

[37412]

Oops sorry i did not see that, apologies. So not why leave the 57 in Manchester - or was the idea to position the 57 in the South West? I am also now amused that having a 57 on the back to Minehead but they then use the Rat to release the stock.

Karl

Insurance on the mainline maybe? Afterall it was 44's first run on the mainline for nearly 10 years now and this was it's first outing apart from the LE run from Kiddy to Crewe so maybe the train operators (WCRC) decided to take precautions in case there was a problem, on the day it went well but better be safe than sorry?!

 

[JonG]

As far as I am aware, the 57 was detached from the rear of the train at Bishops Lydeard and was re-attached there on the return from Minehead. Presumably to make shunting arrangements at Minehead less complicated.