Deltic on the ECML 1Z55

[malc-c]

Is this likey to be mobbed by spotters, or is it worth seeking a nearby bridge/platform (near Stevenage) ?

I popped down to Six hills bridge this lunchtime. I was the only one there...

Apart from the mass of fizzy knitting and the brambles that could do with pruning getting in the way it's not a bad vantage point

 

[55002]

Wonder how many paying customers on board..

 

[Iskra]

Wonder how many paying customers on board..

Doesn’t really matter considering it was running with or without them, rather than being run on a commercial basis

 

[DarloRich]

Did the deltic make it to edinburgh in charge of the train or was help required?

Looked good leaving Kings Cross

 

[Harvester]

Did the deltic make it to edinburgh in charge of the train or was help required?

Looked good leaving Kings Cross

Or was the High Level Bridge used going into Newcastle, to get the 90 at the head of the train?

 

[55002]

Did the deltic make it to edinburgh in charge of the train or was help required?

Looked good leaving Kings Cross

I think the 90 assisted from Newark.. I assume the Deltic was ok back on the ECS via Hexham though

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Apr 2023 ==

Or was the High Level Bridge used going into Newcastle, to get the 90 at the head of the train?

No Deltic on front all way, some videos of it on YouTube at Newcastle and the 90 on front of ecs leaving Edinburgh

 

[jfollows]

Or was the High Level Bridge used going into Newcastle, to get the 90 at the head of the train?

No - see the final timings from RTT attached.
(Per an earlier post I believe it called at Doncaster and Newcastle but clearly these weren't in the timings because it was a late change.)

 

[timmydunn]

So I found myself aboard this train yesterday - a rash decision made approx three minutes before scheduled departure time but I thought sod it, I’ve never seen a Deltic do more than 20mph IRL and I’ve never been on a mainline diesel charter. Having got on, I re-thought this and oh… Edinburgh’s rather a long way and oh… I’ve got work to do.

What made it rather more exciting and indeed enticing is that (i couldn’t see ref to this in previous comments so forgive me if this is old news) due to all the earlier cancellations, according to those close to the matter, the charter was now accepting tickets for some LNER customers… and there were to be several extra setdowns enroute. And there were.

I think there were a good few dozen service customers aboard who were slightly surprised about the interiors, and I overheard one family behind me talking about “it’s an American engine or something”. DELTIC liveth on, maybe…

I hopped off at Grantham because I’d had my fun and there was concern about reliability and also pathing issues from earlier. There I observed the loco and ops team, plus LNER station staff and Network Rail - all working together to find resolutions to issues. It was also enjoyable to see station staff who were clearly bona fide traction cranks. Actually that goes for *all* the railway staff spotted at every yard, platform or depot filming it on mobiles and beaming ear to chuffing ear.

“We’ve come on holiday by mistake” was ringing in my mind for most of the journey. It was fascinating as a newbie to observe the roles, processes and indeed politics of charters. It drew away from Grantham ever so ever so gently - godknows how stressful and manual those things must be to drive especially under duress, so top marks for that driver and the fitters aboard.

Had a good chat with some of the LSL folk in the train: true professionals who had genuine care for the self-loading cargo and the vehicles too. So if anyone from LSL / Intercity charters is reading this -cheers for answering all of my stupid questions aboard and on the platform.

So what was an ECS but (rather good-spiritedly) seems to have been opened up and staffed as a charter - ended up by tragic circumstance this morning actually being the national rail ticket-purchase service - hauled by a Deltic up the ECML. When did a class 55 last formally provide a service to non-charter passengers from KGX - has there been anything since 1999?

Some video of it here:

 

[The Middle]

What made it rather more exciting and indeed enticing is that (i couldn’t see ref to this in previous comments so forgive me if this is old news) due to all the earlier cancellations, according to those close to the matter, the charter was now accepting tickets for some LNER customers…

This was indeed the case, due to all of the disruption on the ECML the charter operators had let Network Rail know that there were 90 seats available that they could offer up to elderly/vulnerable TOC ticket holders.

 

[greyman42]

I think there were a good few dozen service customers aboard who were slightly surprised about the interiors,

As in a positive way?

 

[55002]

On a Euston to Carlisle run this morning

 

[12LDA28C]

On a Euston to Carlisle run this morning

Indeed, on two engines this time I believe

 

[55002]

Indeed, on two engines this time I believe

There’s a video on YouTube of it through Rugeley looking mighty fine

 

[Spartacus]

I bet that was flying with a lack of anything to get out of the way for.

 

[3RDGEN]

I bet that was flying with a lack of anything to get out of the way for.

Realtime Trains | 1Z70 0730 London Euston to Carlisle | 12/05/2023

Real-time train running information for 1Z70 0730 departure from London Euston to Carlisle on 12/05/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If those times are correct then just under a 90mph average Euston to passing Crewe which isn't bad. I assume it's driven sympathetically and it does have an OTMR fitted.