Steam traction signalling priority

[strange6]

At the weekends, I nearly always see some kind of steam train going up and down the the WCML between Wigan and Preston. I have seen yet another Steam train at Euxton junction approx 19:45 tonight heading southbound and it got me wondering about how they are given the road by the signaller. Due to their very cumbersome operating nature, would the signaller give priority in terms of giving the longest possible road (i.e maximising the greens) to the steam train driver because they are a not known for their braking and accceleration abilities are they? lol

 

[driver9000]

They are allocated a path in the timetable which will give them the chance to run as any other train. A traffic notice details their booked timings, if they run late and lose their path they will be slotted in between booked traffic as best the signal(wo)men can.

 

[strange6]

They are allocated a path in the timetable which will give them the chance to run as any other train. A traffic notice details their booked timings, if they run late and lose their path they will be slotted in between booked traffic as best the signal(wo)men can.

Pity really. They are a bitch to run but having said that, their passengers are not exactly in a rush so I guess they wouldn't be given priority, late or not.

 

[driver9000]

If it runs as per its booked times then it will be allowed to go at the speed it is booked to, if not booked traffic tends to take priority in my experience (along with anecdotal evidence of charters being poorly treated when it comes to missed paths).

 

[strange6]

If it runs as per its booked times then it will be allowed to go at the speed it is booked to, if not booked traffic tends to take priority in my experience (along with anecdotal evidence of charters being poorly treated when it comes to missed paths).

And quite rightly so. Pity your manchester Piccadilly signaller didn't take that point of view a couple of weeks ago