BLS The Wirral Squirrel- TNT Class 40's 3/10/21

[Ash Bridge]

Some lovely shots there chaps, thanks for putting them up

 

[LA50041]

Well that was an enjoyable day out despite the problems that arose in the last few days 2 winning locos and a few micro bits of awkward track covered. Lovely to to meet Iskra of this parish.
Couple of photos from Lime street hopefully attached

 

[desiro350]

Footage from today of another classic BLS tour at Ince & Elton, Capenhurst, Gayton, Shotton & Halton.

 

[Iskra]

Nice shots and footage all!

A good tour in the end and I got lucky by being at the 40 end. It must be said that the LSL coaches were immaculate and by far the cleanest, best kept railtour stock I've ever been on. Two winning locomotives and some new track made it a good day, plus I had a stunning drive through the peak district over to Crewe, driving through Winnats pass in both directions.

It was nice to meet @LA50041 and I must thank him for his assistance with a lot of Wirral railway geography!

 

[JonathanH]

47853 is a bit of a quandary isn't it? Still on the railway systems as 47853 but visibly numbered 47614.

If it was carrying D1733 then no doubt that it should be considered as 47853 for consistent record keeping just as I might record D213 as 40013.

Putting 47614 on the side is a bit different but it is only painted digits, no change in its classification as a 47/4 with long range fuel tanks.

On balance, I think I'll conclude that it is 47853 and therefore dud for haulage.

I better try not to ride 47593 which has officially been renumbered from 47790. That would create a different issue.

 

[Iskra]

47853 is a bit of a quandary isn't it? Still on the railway systems as 47853 but visibly numbered 47614.

If it was carrying D1733 then no doubt that it should be considered as 47853 for consistent record keeping just as I might record D213 as 40013.

Putting 47614 on the side is a bit different but it is only painted digits, no change in its classification as a 47/4 with long range fuel tanks.

On balance, I think I'll conclude that it is 47853 and therefore dud for haulage.

I better try not to ride 47593 which has officially been renumbered from 47790. That would create a different issue.

Thanks for solving that mystery for me, I was questioning why I couldn't find anything about 47614! I'm not a fan of locomotives masquerading as others.

 

[JonathanH]

Thanks for solving that mystery for me, I was questioning why I couldn't find anything about 47614! I'm not a fan of locomotives masquerading as others.

It is just masquerading as its previous 'self'!
http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_numbers.php?index=2&jndex=2&kndex=13&s_loco=47614

NUMBERS
D1733 ~ June 12th 1964
47 141 ~ January 1974
47 614 ~ July 1984
47 853 ~ February 1990

 

[43 302]

On balance, I think I'll conclude that it is 47853 and therefore dud for haulage.

Even if it was renumbered officially, it's still the same locomotive and therefore dud for haulage, no? When 43302 was renumbered to 43102 I didn't suddenly require it - it's the same power car. Same with 37271 becoming 37418 etc. Only time that doesn't apply would be 43007 becoming 43207. The engine has changed and it is arguably a different machine altogether. This is all personal of course but that's how I see it!

 

[Dai Corner]

Even if it was renumbered officially, it's still the same locomotive and therefore dud for haulage, no? When 43302 was renumbered to 43102 I didn't suddenly require it - it's the same power car. Same with 37271 becoming 37418 etc. Only time that doesn't apply would be 43007 becoming 43207. The engine has changed and it is arguably a different machine altogether. This is all personal of course but that's how I see it!

On the other hand, some might see value in having the loco for sight/haulage in all its different guises.

Everyone to their own!

 

[John Luxton]

Yes it was a good trip and the mask stasi didn't appear which was a concern commented on earlier in this thread.

Please BLS don't go posting a load of Covid Rules some do find it very off putting, in particular post July 19th. Some of us just want to get back to normal and perpetuating mask requests far from making some of us feel safe actually make us feel threatened.

Anyway I joined at Lime Street and ended at Crewe.

Given the loss of the Bootle Branch section - it was a shame that the trip could not have been padded out with a couple of photo stops as photographic opportunities were a bit limited for participants - though I have seen quite a lot of excellent lineside shots on Flickr and Facebook

Here is a small gallery of my images: Branch Line Society - Wirral Squirrel - October 3, 2021 - JHLPHOTOGRAPHY (jhluxton.com)

 

[kenromford]

It was a 'nice' day out but I am into track (Baker level) not haulage so although it was good to hear the 40 whistling away that is not why I spent my £159 plus Liverpool hotel (on a weekend when Liverpool were playing Man City, so not cheap)! I wanted Chester curve, the Bootle branch and triangle and the Ince Moss curve, and as discussed, none of these were done on the day. All I got was the Wrexham connection which is shown in Baker. I thought I'd still go on the tour just for the day out (plus travelling to and from) so I didn't ask for a refund.

I seem to get the impression that the BLS are becoming more of a haulage society than a track one, which rather goes against the purpose of the Society. ("Never mind the track, there's a 40 on (one) end! What more do you want?" was the impression I got) As said above, there seem to be a lot of railtours recently that aren't doing all they should. Tytherington for one.