Spitfire Railtours "The Scotsman", Nov 28th

[Drimnagh Road]

This caught my eye:

Please note that Network Rail have informed us that this mini-tour will now head for Perth instead of Dundee. This is due to having to double-head the main tour on the outward leg from Worcester Shrub Hill which will prevent the tour from using the Tay Bridge as planned. The mini tour will now head to Perth via Stirling on the outward leg and Ladybank on the return. Please accept our apologies for any disappointment that this change may cause.

Why has it to be double headed? Is the Deltic on one engine again?

 

[Harbon 1]

Why has it to be double headed? Is the Deltic on one engine again?

would that not mean top + tail?

 

[theblackwatch]

From a post by Martin Walker on the Deltic Yahoo Group:

For whatever reason, 22 now planned to go to Perth on 29th and not Dundee, also
47 inside 22 at least northbound, as apparently load 200 tons overweight what a
Class 55 can take up the Lickey!!!! Strange to me as we done just the same a few
times before...

 

[table38]

There's some more info and timings on the RSG site at http://royalscotsgrey.wordpress.com/tag/edintues11/

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Interesting.

Sure enough, typed "55022 Lickey Incline" into youtube, in one video from 2008 she takes load 12 up unassisted, but on Spitfire's Devonian tour from this year, it was load 13 and indeed 47804 was on the inside.

So the trade off must be wheter it's 12 / 13 carriages.

 

[Dreadnought]

Interesting.

Sure enough, typed "55022 Lickey Incline" into youtube, in one video from 2008 she takes load 12 up unassisted, but on Spitfire's Devonian tour from this year, it was load 13 and indeed 47804 was on the inside.

So the trade off must be wheter it's 12 / 13 carriages.

Wasn't The Devonian when RSG had an issue on the outward working so the 47 was inside for insurance reasons.

Also, don't believe a Mk1 coach + a 47 weighs 200 tonnes which is stated weight that the load is over for the deltic!

 

[Rich_D3167]

Wasn't The Devonian when RSG had an issue on the outward working so the 47 was inside for insurance reasons.

Also, don't believe a Mk1 coach + a 47 weighs 200 tonnes which is stated weight that the load is over for the deltic!

The 47 was always meant to assist on the return up the Lickey Incline on The Devonian. It certainly came into it's own at Tiverton though when 55022 had it's small exhaust fire, and so ran the 47 round from the back and into Paington about half an hour late. Does seem strange why the same Deltic has taken load 12 unassisted up the Lickey in the past with no hassle at all, but when you think about the time of year (leaf fall, slippery rails...), a loco with high gearing (i.e, a Deltic) could have difficulty if it ended up coming to a halt on the incline. This doesn't explain why a 47 was needed in the summer, though...

 

[4SRKT]

Would it not be a lot less disappointing to shove the duff on the back and try to get a path via Stourbridge? Or start the train somewhere other than Worcester?

 

[junglejames]

Would it not be a lot less disappointing to shove the duff on the back and try to get a path via Stourbridge? Or start the train somewhere other than Worcester?

The Duff? Is that the one thats so duff, its trusted to climb the lickey with a load 12 all on its own?!!

Of course, the easier option here, is to leave the even bigger duffer in its shed, and run the tour throughout with a 47 all on its own! You coiuld also argue that would be less disappointing, as the train could still go to Dundee!

I can just imagine all those deltic men in the front coach now. Half Listening intently for any sort of dulcit tones from the deltic over the sweet music of the 47! The other half sat huffing in their seat!

 

[4SRKT]

Is there no such thing as Lickey bankers any more?

 

[sprinterguy]

Is there no such thing as Lickey bankers any more?

Yep, there still is, with 66055-66059 being ostensibly allocated to Lickey banker duties. The banker is usually stabled at the remnants of Saltley depot.

 

[4SRKT]

Could the deltic not be banked up the incline then? Causing disappointment to diesel cranks seems to be the name of the [Spitfire] game at the moment.

Saltley seems a funny place to keep the banker tho.

 

[sprinterguy]

Saltley seems a funny place to keep the banker tho.

That's just what I always think. Presumably there's still a crew signing on point there or something, whereas I don't think there's anything for crews at Bromsgrove.

 

[Chester025]

Could the deltic not be banked up the incline then? Causing disappointment to diesel cranks seems to be the name of the [Spitfire] game at the moment.

DBS locos, WCRC operated train = £££££££££££££

 

[mumrar]

Could the deltic not be banked up the incline then? Causing disappointment to diesel cranks seems to be the name of the [Spitfire] game at the moment.

Saltley seems a funny place to keep the banker tho.

The locos have always been provided by Saltley or Bescot during diesel working, it's just they used to spend a lot longer banking when there were more freights and locos not as capable as 60s and 66s

 

[theblackwatch]

The Duff? Is that the one thats so duff, its trusted to climb the lickey with a load 12 all on its own?!!

Of course, the easier option here, is to leave the even bigger duffer in its shed, and run the tour throughout with a 47 all on its own! You coiuld also argue that would be less disappointing, as the train could still go to Dundee!

I can just imagine all those deltic men in the front coach now. Half Listening intently for any sort of dulcit tones from the deltic over the sweet music of the 47! The other half sat huffing in their seat!

What duff? The 'improved version' behind 55022 which has the 47 men gnashing at their teeth when it appears? I'm referring to the rebuilt 47825.

 

[junglejames]

What duff? The 'improved version' behind 55022 which has the 47 men gnashing at their teeth when it appears? I'm referring to the rebuilt 47825.

Never had me gnashing at my teeth. Its just a loco at the end of the day. Either way, it would have managed on its own today!!

We could always give 022 a sulzer engine and some Brush bogies, and hey presto, no need for assistance!