The LNER Encyclopedia

TORNADO is working a steam special today from KINGS X - YORK

KINGS X dep 08:18 (via WELWYN GARDEN CITY) YORK arr 13:10

Stopping at POTTERS BAR - STEVENAGE - *HOLME level crossing? - PETERBOROUGH & RETFORD.

NOT stopping at GRANTHAM & DONCASTER for some reason?

For some reason this train is making a STOP at HOLME level crossing between 09:57 & 10:17 but isn't stopping at Grantham & Doncaster?.

Micky wrote:TORNADO is working a steam special today from KINGS X - YORK

KINGS X dep 08:18 (via WELWYN GARDEN CITY) YORK arr 13:10

Stopping at POTTERS BAR - STEVENAGE - *HOLME level crossing? - PETERBOROUGH & RETFORD.

NOT stopping at GRANTHAM & DONCASTER for some reason?

For some reason this train is making a STOP at HOLME level crossing between 09:57 & 10:17 but isn't stopping at Grantham & Doncaster?.

Water at Holme, Michael?

TORNADO and it's train arrived 5 mins early at YORK.

G'Day Gents

I take it that the Down Slow is still there ?????

manna

A short video clip from this afternoon of 60163 heading to York.

Video Available Here

I counted fourteen coaches in the video. This is a heavy load, even for a Class 8 locomotive. This train would weigh about 550 tons, real British tons, none of this European nonsense. The exact figure for the train weight would depend on the weights of the individual coaches and the passenger loading. The locomotive safety valves were blowing off slightly as the train passed, so obviously the boiler was steaming well.

We tend to forget that the finest days of British steam motive power were in the 1950's and 1960's, as represented by the top-of-the-line locomotives of the time, such as the BR Standard 8, the LNER A 1's, A 2's and A 4's, the SR Merchant Navies, the LMS Duchesses and the GWR Kings, all of which incorporated the best of steam technology, such as double chimneys, or otherwise improved draughting, and high superheat. The second tier locomotives, such as the BR Standard 7's, the LNER A 3's and V 2's, the SR West Countries, the LMS Scots and GWR Castles, etc., all performed well when I rode on them. With the new A 1, we are fortunate that we can see examples of all these locomotives at 12" to the foot scale today.

Thanks to modern electronics technology, I can view the wonderful video that was taken today on my computer in the Pittsburgh area of the USA. In their day, the technology of the locomotives described above was the 'high tech' of the period. This must not be forgotten. I am happy that I lived through those times.

Sir Brian

manna wrote:G'Day Gents

I take it that the Down Slow is still there ?????

manna

North of HUNTINGDON the former DOWN GOODS is still there by the looks of a picture i saw last Saturday of a 'express' passing ABOTTS RIPTON but the former UP GOODS from CONNINGTON SOUTH to HUNTINGDON looks like it has been lifted.

G'Day Gents

I'M surprised that the up goods has been taken out, heck of a long section from Yaxley to Huntingdon, Hmmmm!!

manna

manna wrote:G'Day Gents

I'M surprised that the up goods has been taken out, heck of a long section from Yaxley to Huntingdon, Hmmmm!!

manna

If you recall manna the UP GOODS line started at CONNINGTON SOUTH s/box it was just the up main line south of Yaxley s/box/Stilton Fen/Holme s/box/Connington north & south s/boxes

G'Day Gents

Yep, understand that Micky, but now there is only Up Main from Yaxley to Huntingdon, seems a long way, with nowhere to pass a slow train.

Should have explained that better in the first place

manna

manna wrote:G'Day Gents

Yep, understand that Micky, but now there is only Up Main from Yaxley to Huntingdon, seems a long way, with nowhere to pass a slow train.

manna

I don't know why they take out something like the up goods line from Connington to Huntingdon for other then to save money i presume they would say?.

It don't make much sense and it was a useful extra road to play with if there was a heavy run of traffic heading south?.

But there you go 'track rastionalization' as usual

I remember when this sort of behaviour was known simply as "Asset Stripping."

Cynical? Moi?