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Apologies for the lack of update's to the news column but this is due to the constant film work I have going on at the moment and also my college work is another problem.
In August I went on 2 railtours "The Fifteen Guinea Special" and "The Welsh Mountaineer"
For 1T57 we had 45305 taking the train out of Liverpool to Longsight which is just outside of Manchester. (45305 was allocated to the original train back in 1968 but failed the night before) We had quite an exciting start as 45305 suffered from an awful lot of wheelspin as she was unable to get the train moving, but after a quick shove from the rear by the class 37 which had brought the stock in from Crewe we set off for Manchester. The original route via the Liverpool & Manchester Railway was sadly closed due to an engineering blockade as the route was being electrified (So happily iv managed to ride over the route before the OLE takes over and destroys the view forever). So we instead ran via Liverpool South Parkway, Hunts Cross and Warrington Central along the CLC route, which last saw steam locos back in the 1960s. After a good run behind 45305 from Liverpool, 70013 took over for the run to Carlisle along the S&C line. For the return run we had David Smith's black 5 number 44932 & Bert Hitchen's black 5 number 45231 (45231 was covering for 44871 which was unavailable due to Jacobite duties & 44932 was covering for 44781 which sadly didnt survive into Preservation) It had been planned to disguise 44932 as 44781 but sadly that didnt happen.
This was where the real fun began as we now had 2 of Carnforth's finest locos working 1T57 south along the S&C. At Appleby we were held up for a waterstop to allow the 2 engine's to be watered using the water column. They filled up 45231 first as she was piloting the train and then after moving a few feet forward they set to work filling up 44932 (Which ended up overflowing the tender) This was also where I got chatting with Bert Hitchen (45231s owner) and besides asking why he had bought 45231 & got rid of 34027 Taw Valley he also explained to me that he's looking for young people to help out on 45231 on future runs and when the loco is undergoing work.
After a further stop at Hellifield and a massive wheelspin during departure (Which is shown in the video just below) we made good time heading back to Manchester and after a delay leaving Longsight with 45305 we arrived back a full 6 minutes early. (Now that's what I call giving 1T57 a run for it's money)
In August I went on 2 railtours "The Fifteen Guinea Special" and "The Welsh Mountaineer"
For 1T57 we had 45305 taking the train out of Liverpool to Longsight which is just outside of Manchester. (45305 was allocated to the original train back in 1968 but failed the night before) We had quite an exciting start as 45305 suffered from an awful lot of wheelspin as she was unable to get the train moving, but after a quick shove from the rear by the class 37 which had brought the stock in from Crewe we set off for Manchester. The original route via the Liverpool & Manchester Railway was sadly closed due to an engineering blockade as the route was being electrified (So happily iv managed to ride over the route before the OLE takes over and destroys the view forever). So we instead ran via Liverpool South Parkway, Hunts Cross and Warrington Central along the CLC route, which last saw steam locos back in the 1960s. After a good run behind 45305 from Liverpool, 70013 took over for the run to Carlisle along the S&C line. For the return run we had David Smith's black 5 number 44932 & Bert Hitchen's black 5 number 45231 (45231 was covering for 44871 which was unavailable due to Jacobite duties & 44932 was covering for 44781 which sadly didnt survive into Preservation) It had been planned to disguise 44932 as 44781 but sadly that didnt happen.
This was where the real fun began as we now had 2 of Carnforth's finest locos working 1T57 south along the S&C. At Appleby we were held up for a waterstop to allow the 2 engine's to be watered using the water column. They filled up 45231 first as she was piloting the train and then after moving a few feet forward they set to work filling up 44932 (Which ended up overflowing the tender) This was also where I got chatting with Bert Hitchen (45231s owner) and besides asking why he had bought 45231 & got rid of 34027 Taw Valley he also explained to me that he's looking for young people to help out on 45231 on future runs and when the loco is undergoing work.
After a further stop at Hellifield and a massive wheelspin during departure (Which is shown in the video just below) we made good time heading back to Manchester and after a delay leaving Longsight with 45305 we arrived back a full 6 minutes early. (Now that's what I call giving 1T57 a run for it's money)
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With the Welsh Mountaineer on Tue 20th Aug (9 days after 1T57) we had the LNER K4 locomotive number 61994 The Great Marquess. We left Preston bang on time and after passenger pickups at Warrington BQ, Frodsham (where there was a waterstop aswell) & Chester we made great time on the journey to Llandudno jcn where 61994 would run around the train.
We left bang on time from Llandudno jcn but were delayed at North Llanrwst due to a late running commuter train from Blaenau Ffestiniog. We left 8 minutes down and despite a speed restriction on route and having to shut off for the 2 mile long Blaenau Ffestiniog tunnel we arrived at Blaenau Ffestiniog bang on time. For my afternoon I visited the Llechwedd Slate Cavern's and managed to get on both tours within the 2 and a half hrs we had in Blaenau. For the return journey 61994 ran tender first back to Llandudno jcn and then after running around the train once again we set off back to Preston.
In the end we arrived back a full 20 minutes early.
We left bang on time from Llandudno jcn but were delayed at North Llanrwst due to a late running commuter train from Blaenau Ffestiniog. We left 8 minutes down and despite a speed restriction on route and having to shut off for the 2 mile long Blaenau Ffestiniog tunnel we arrived at Blaenau Ffestiniog bang on time. For my afternoon I visited the Llechwedd Slate Cavern's and managed to get on both tours within the 2 and a half hrs we had in Blaenau. For the return journey 61994 ran tender first back to Llandudno jcn and then after running around the train once again we set off back to Preston.
In the end we arrived back a full 20 minutes early.