2x 37s for The Highlander

[Drimnagh Road]

Well this is one I've been bowled out on, wasn't in the slightest bit interested in this due to the 20 featuring, now that its 2x 37s must say I'd love to do it but unfortunately not possible this short notice...

10/06/10 - The Highlander - 18th-21st June 2010

With reference to "The Highlander" our 4 day Rail Cruise to Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh, Wick and Thurso, We have been notified by Direct Rail Services they are unable to supply a class 20 to run with the class 37 for our trip next weekend. We have spoken to the owners and operators of mainline certified class 20 locomotives (CTLS, RT Rail and HNRC) and all options have been explored, however due to impending contracts affecting this type of locomotive, we have been unable to secure a replacement class 20 for this charter.

Our thanks must go to Direct Rail Services for their assistance in proactively trying to arrange an alternative class 20. Direct Rail Services have kindly agreed to supply an additional class 37 for this train as a replacement, this train will now run throughout with class 37 haulage.

 

[37401]

Yeah same, might do the lotto tomorrow If I win ill let you know

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

Yeah same, might do the lotto tomorrow If I win ill let you know

Thanks. I'll tell you my dietry requirements for Premier Dining tomorrow then.

 

[Chester025]

Yeah same, might do the lotto tomorrow If I win ill let you know

I thought you liked 20s? You let everyone over on WNXX know what 20s you've had...

 

[Drimnagh Road]

OK well just to stop myself going insane, even though I wouldn't be able to get off work anyway, I done some research on prices just so I can put a close to me thinking about doing it once and for all.

08:45 Dublin-Glasgow on Fri morning, €25.99
Tour - £229.00
Hotel - Minimum £280.00
21:45 Liverpool-Dublin Mon evening £26.99.

TOTAL £561.00, plus assosiated transfers, card fees etc, oh and drink money. Did I ever tell you there was a recession on over in Ireland? All jokes aside, it is a great value tour compared to a comparable Chingfinder / UK Railtours etc, and if I had booked originally, I could have got €10 flights, half price accomodation by rooming with somebody and £30 discount on the tour. Despite often doing silly moves, I have to draw the line with my hobby at some point.

I'll stick to plan A, Gloucester-Penzance the following week. As long as 409 doesn't appear on the Highlander I'll be happy.

 

[4SRKT]

This tour's simply too dear. Would like to do it, but no way can I justify either three days away from the family or expenditure of several hundred pounds. I sincerely hope those who either haven't got families or who are millionaires will enjoy it though!

 

[37401]

I thought you liked 20s? You let everyone over on WNXX know what 20s you've had...

I do, ive wanted to do this since it was announced, just money and all that jazz
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks. I'll tell you my dietry requirements for Premier Dining tomorrow then.

ok then

 

[SemiNormal]

There are quite a few 20 bashers booked on this train who are now trying to offload their tickets

We have a block booking and most of us have also booked hotel accomodation

If anyone is interested in doing the tour now get back to me and I'll put you in touch with the guy in charge of our block booking

 

[37401]

If it was free, Id bite yor hand off, but seing as its not I hope you get those tickets you dont want sold

 

[4SRKT]

Is stupid pairings of locomotives on tours and galas actually popular with anyone? I don't know anyone who wouldn't rather have either single headers, or double headers of the same class only. At the diesel gala at Keighley on Friday, we had a round trip behind a 37 + 50, which was OK, but definitely less than the sum of its parts. Once the tractor came off, the fun started when the 50 was solo. I've never, ever thought before "get that 37 off my train"!

For a short stretch we even had a triple header of the 50 as train engine, plus tractor and slug on the front. At least the KWVR don't do the really annoying ELR thing of top and tailing at galas, or subject people to the totally ludicrous spectacle of five locos on one train as per the Spitfire tour to Carlisle and Newcastle the other month at one stage.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Not a big fan of pairings myself, unless its authentic like 2x 37s, or 2x 141s etc, or indeed any loco that usually works in pairs.

That is the problem that I have at galas, you have a lot unauthenic pairings, such as the 50 & 37 combo you have mentioned above, when did 37s ever double haul with 50s back in the day?

I could just about stomach pairings on a preserved line, but definitly not on a railtour. I can't stand 20s which is why I wasn't interested in this tour, despite been paired with a 37 to some very red pen routes.

Same goes for other recent tours, D1015 / 40145, totally different types of engines from different parts of the country. Would have done that trip were it D1015 solo, boycotting the 40 while it is in that disgraceful unauthentic livery.

 

[theblackwatch]

To be fair a 20+37 pairing is pretty authentic, particularly in Scotland. However I do agree about the point of 'silly pairings', I've known some pretty silly ones, such as 47+20 - I'm sure neither the 47 or 20 fans were happy with this! I've no problem with 'top and tail' either as long as the loco which is going to work it back is the right type, for example a 37 out for a 45 in the other direction isn't going to keep fans of either class happy.

 

[4SRKT]

Last year's pairing all day of a 57 and a 20 at the KWVR diesel gala has to win some sort of prize for most ridiculous ever!

A lot of what visiting galas or going on tours is about is the thrash. If your class 20 thrash is being drowned out by a 'snatcher or vice-versa, then nobody's happy IMHO.

I spent my first three workings on Friday at Keighley sticking with 33109. basically because it was working solo. I am also 33 veg, so it wasn't exactly a chore!

 

[Dreadnought]

Last year's pairing all day of a 57 and a 20 at the KWVR diesel gala has to win some sort of prize for most ridiculous ever!

Churnet Valley in 2008 ran a triple header of D9016, 37075 & 33102 now that was pretty weird!

 

[33056]

Not a fan of "odd" pairings here either. I don't go to that many diesel galas but, when I do, will always try and stick to a single loco or pair of the same type if possible.

 

[37431]

Last year's pairing all day of a 57 and a 20 at the KWVR diesel gala has to win some sort of prize for most ridiculous ever!

Air only locos, such as that 57, need a vac braked loco as translator when the coaches are vacuum braked.
HTH

 

[4SRKT]

Air only locos, such as that 57, need a vac braked loco as translator when the coaches are vacuum braked.
HTH

Maybe, but it's still a ridiculous pairing, which could be neatly avoided by not having the 'snatcher there in the first place.

 

[theblackwatch]

Maybe, but it's still a ridiculous pairing, which could be neatly avoided by not having the 'snatcher there in the first place.

That loco got a lot of people in to the event though, being a big 'red pen' for many - and at the end of the day, till receipts are what matters. The 20 was probably the best loco to put it with, as if you want it on its own at the KWVR it is regularly out on weekends and Bank Holidays.

 

[4SRKT]

That loco got a lot of people in to the event though, being a big 'red pen' for many - and at the end of the day, till receipts are what matters. The 20 was probably the best loco to put it with, as if you want it on its own at the KWVR it is regularly out on weekends and Bank Holidays.

But did the 'snatcher fans really want the 20 drowning it out? Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of that type of GM engine, although more in its Irish context than in a duff, so I'm not on some sort of anti-57 rant here?

 

[theblackwatch]

But did the 'snatcher fans really want the 20 drowning it out? Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of that type of GM engine, although more in its Irish context than in a duff, so I'm not on some sort of anti-57 rant here?

I don't know of anyone who is actually a 57 fan as such (speak up anyone who is!), most people only wanted it for the line in the book - although there will, I expect, be those like me who prefer them to a 47. Being 'air only', it had to be paired with something that was dual braked rather than being able to operate on its own, as the KWVR doesn't have any air braked stock

 

[Chester025]

To be fair the plan was originally to have a DRS 20 (& 37) going last year, but due to a farce of some sort 57007 went vice 20.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Yep self confessed 57 crank, in fact I've done a fair few trips over for them. The main reason I like them is due to them having a GM645 engine, albeit silenced. I was never a fan of our 201s (1994), because they had the newer GM710 engine, (similar to 66s and 67s), which is why I found it interesting that they installed the older GM645 into the 57s, despite been an essentially new locomotive.

Hardline enthusiasts in the UK quite rightly wouldn't be a major fan of GMs, because it is the likes of the 57s and particularly 66s / 67s etc which replaced their beloved 37s / 47s / 56s / 58s / 59s etc.

But Ireland's locos have been powered by GM engines since the 60s, therefore as its my "local" prime mover, I will always be a fan.

The Irish Rail 071 class (1975), my favourite loco of all time, have unsilenced GM645s and I always wanted to try a 57 just for the novelty. For me, I never liked 47s, been more of an English Electric fan myself, but I always thought that the body of a 47 was probably the best around, so for me, the combination of a GM645 & a 47 body is a match made in heaven.

Also, I found it pretty hellfire that a GM645 loco was pulling a state of the art Pendolino down the semaphored North Wales Coast. I picked up quite a few en-route to railtours etc, conveniently they would work the afternoon Holyhead-Crewe off the Ferry, so never really specifically bashed them then, until they started on the Holyhead-Cardiff and Taunton-Bristol diagram with decent stock.

I'm really only interested in red pen, I've had 14 of the 57/3s, and when I get my last two I'll probably stop doing them, hopefully I'll get 301 & 311 before the Tauntons cease later in the year as much more enjoyable doing them on mk2s than a 390.

So that is my 57 story.

P.S. for those who have never heard of an unsilenced GM645, watch this!...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGjq2uJMCJ8&feature=related

 

[Sun Chariot]

I agree with The Black Watch's sentiments. Fond memories of a 20+37 Inverness-Aberdeen and a 20+26 to Kyle, back in '88. And, going back to '84, a 25+31 from Carlisle to Leeds (cracking sound through Blea Moor Tunnel!).

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Anybody know if this tour all passed off well? Surprising at how little coverage it got on the web with regards phots etc.

 

[37113]

Anybody know if this tour all passed off well? Surprising at how little coverage it got on the web with regards phots etc.

From the promoters point of view the tour was fantastic!
All lines covered as planned as well as the Rose Street curve, twice.
Apart from an RETB issue at Kyle on saturday and a delay that ate our planned break at Aberdeen on the friday it all ran very well.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the planning and running of this tour!
Plenty of pictures on fotopic, etc.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Great to hear! Well done!

 

[87031]

From the promoters point of view the tour was fantastic!
All lines covered as planned as well as the Rose Street curve, twice.
Apart from an RETB issue at Kyle on saturday and a delay that ate our planned break at Aberdeen on the friday it all ran very well.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the planning and running of this tour!
Plenty of pictures on fotopic, etc.

Any electric traction tours planned for spitfire?