Steam Loco north Through MKC

[DarloRich]

just seen a steamer heading north hauled by a diesel through Milton Keynes Central Station - is it 71000 heading back to the ELR?


cheers

 

[mumrar]

just seen a steamer heading north hauled by a diesel through Milton Keynes Central Station - is it 71000 heading back to the ELR?


cheers

Yep, 71000 support coach and 67006 in charge.

 

[Daimler]

Is there any particular reason why both of 71000's positioning moves for 'The Salopian' have seen it piloted by a diesel locomotive? It's quite unusual for a steam ECS...

 

[IanPooleTrains]

It is, very strange indeed Daimler.

I can only assume there must have been non mechanical reason behind this because if it was mechanical, it wouldn't have been in steam on the way down

 

[DarloRich]

I could only assume the south bound one was in order to avoid any problems on the WCML during rush hour should the kettle boil over! Went through MKC at about 5 so will have got to the Willesden area about 1745.

Howver on both runs the engine was in steam ( have a look at my flickr)

 

[northernrail]

anyone know how long the 67 is at the ELR for, Or its next working from the ELR.
my local is next to the junction to the ELR

 

[33056]

Suspect the reason for the diesel pilot is lack of an FOC steam driver. I think that the loco would have to be in steam in order for the lubrication systems to work correctly.

There was definitely somebody on 71000 as I saw it leave Wembley, the 67 driver tooted the horn and waited for an acknowledgement from the steamer before moving off.

 

[Bomber]

The main reason for a diesel pilot on a steam le movement is to save time. As the steam loco is not doing any real work it means that it can travel a lot further without needing to stop for water, however in order for the cylinder lubrication to operate it has to be in steam, and on most locos the regulator needs to be open a bit as the steam carrys the lubricant to the valves and cylinders.

 

[mumrar]

I'd have thought distance would have been the biggest factor, they don't want to be stopping for water and coal if avoidable, especially as it was via WCML

 

[Bomber]

Sorry badly worded, when I said save time, I meant the time taken stopping for water. The speed would be much the same with or without pilot as in the case of 71000 it's 75mph. Coal would never be a problem as in the old days, the Flying Scotsman train, not the loco, used to do Kings Cross to Edinburgh non stop so on one tender of coal, and that with a 400/500 ton train.