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A day enjoying twin Napier Deltic haulage on the East Coast Main Line

Jon020

Entry posted by Jon020

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I thought that I’d just write a short report of the splendid run up and down the East Coast Main Line that about 600 of us experienced on Saturday 5th March whilst enjoying twin-Napier power it all its glory.

 

An early start was called for in order to get to Kings Cross for a due departure slot of 8.18... (ugh 6am at Haywards Heath - far too early for a Saturday) and after grabbing a few shots of the magnificent machine, Royal Scots Grey, left Kings Cross roughly on time before accelerating up through the suburbs and into Hertfordshire with Hitchen being passed at a very respectable 97.

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With some good company on the train, the northbound journey passed quite quickly... with opportunities to watch the landscape rush by whilst the drone of the Twin Napiers pervaded the atmosphere... the magical sound droning through the partially open windows.

 

The driver of a Scarborough service seemed intent on racing us into York... but we had the path :D

 

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A few views here of departing York, headed over the Tyne and crossing the Royal Border Bridge.

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The run North through Northumberland was particularly noteworthy... I just wish I’d thought to take a photo of my GPS at the time ;) . Upon arrival on time at Waverley, due to my leg giving me a little grief, after grabbing a couple more photos, a brief tour of Princes street was cancelled, and a beer in the convenient station bar was called for...

 

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The run home was splendid, but not specifically noteworthy, with speeds well into the 90s and whilst a little late into York, a splendid final run saw us about 15 minutes early into Kings Cross. After grabbing a few more photos I was able to make a hasty dash back to Victoria for my train home.

 

With memories of a great day out... and one or two photos to aid this... along with some splendid videos appearing on Youtube, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r7AL5Prg2g, there’s plenty to look back on what was a cracking day out.

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So, well done to Martin Walker and his team for bringing Royal Scots Grey back to the ECML doing exactly what she was designed to on the week of her 50th birthday... a fantastic achievement.

 

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Tay Bridge
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Hi Jon

 

I was quite disappointed not to make it through to Waverley to meet you and 22.

:(

However, I hope to take in another tour later in year with my Dad who is now on the mend.

B)

22 does look splendid indeed. Like a new loco not 50 years young!

 

Great photos. Are you going to produce one of your detailed Deltics in pristine ex works condition?? Good challenge to get it new but not OTT. Different questions like how much of a gloss? Would be interesting contrast with your weathered ones??

 

Chris

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bcnPete
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Very nice Jon,

 

Thanks to put a smile on my face at this late hour...its been a tough day.

 

Great photos too and am glad you had fun.

 

The question is....when you are sitting at your modelling bench working on your deltics, I guess your mind drifts to being hauled by one....so when you were being hauled by one, did your mind drift back to wanting to work on your models?

 

After all, it is an iterative process...

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Ark Royal

Hi Jon,

 

Great pictures

 

We had a similar race on the way up to York behind 23 on the "Norsman"

 

Certainly been tarted up since then, sporting her birthday suit of red buffer beams and silver tanks,

 

Was going along on Sunday to catch her out of Paddington until it was re-routed.

 

Mark

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JaymzHatstand

The shot of you racing a Scarborough service was just a little North of where I went photting, sadly the coal train that went South blocked my shots!

 

Nice report on a day I wish I couldn've gone out on!

 

J

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James Hilton

Jon what a wonderful day out!

 

Pete's point is a good one - I find travelling on trains always takes my mind to modelling projects... especially when riding preserved railways with their relaxed speeds and clickety clack non-welded rail.

 

 

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Jon020

Chris, Thanks... yes sorry that we didn't meet, but glad that your Dad's feeling better. My leg impeded covering much ground... but the beer was nice in the bar (thanks Rob!). As for a clean Deltic... I think that a nice clean bodyshell would look good, but I'd probably keep the bogies and tanks weathered... or at least run-in with a little brake dust and general muck that it'd pick up... whilst the body would be cleaned.This is along the lines of my plan for my current Nimbus.

Pete, hmmm.... I'm not sure the two are directly linked, it's more like they are both part of the nostalgia associated with the type, but in deifferent ways; in one, there is an attempt to capture in miniature those visual (and maybe audio) memories of childhood... whilst the other brings those memories back into focus. They both do their bit, but I don't find myself drooling over the real thing whilst modelling (it'll ruin the paint finish ;) )

Mark, sorry that you missed 22 on the sunday... despite some imitial misgivings I had over her new (1981 retro) scheme she did look absolutely splendid in the flesh... and certainly brightened a dull Saturday - but, just look at the photos on-line of her on Friday and Sunday in the sunshine (froth). I wonder if the increased upload took fotopic out :huh: ... let's hope that's resolved soon.

Jamyz.... I don't think you were the only one fouled by other traffic that day... we felt quite sorry for the photters on Doncaster platform as we rocketted through at 96mph... with the 66 and container train just sat there.

Not quiet sure what the First TransPenine passengers thought... but the shot shows how dull it was approaching York... some photoshopping had to be done here!

James, thanks... it was a good day out and I know what you mean by the relaxation provided by gentile 25mph running over preserved lines - but this was anything but.... a great day listening to the howl of two Napier Deltics hauling 12 coaches plus a trailing 57 more than once at 100mph+ ..... :biggrin_mini2: Magic!

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deltic21

Nice pics Jon :D

 

I was good to catch up and have a natter, hope to see you in October!

 

I have my pics ready but the disappearance of Fotopic has stalled them :(

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bcnPete
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the howl of two Napier Deltics hauling 12 coaches plus a trailing 57

 

I was going to say that 57 pushing and doing all the hard work...but I already did that gag in the PM I sent...oops...there it is again...couldn't resist :P

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Jon020

the howl of two Napier Deltics hauling 12 coaches plus a trailing 57

 

I was going to say that 57 pushing and doing all the hard work...but I already did that gag in the PM I sent...oops...there it is again...couldn't resist :P

 

 

Pete, oh red rag to a bull ;) . I suspect that at the speeds we were doing the 57 wouldn't have been able to contibute much... the vids on youtube do show that it's engine was running, or ticking over: it was providing the heat for the carriages (and lovely and warm this kept our legs too)... I think the ETH rating with the load was a bit too much for RSG. Hmmm, I wonder how old the 57 was, considered that this started out as a 47... :mellow:

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bcnPete
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Of course I spend my time defending good old BR Blue on this forum so you know its all harmless banter really - it does look rather fine all spruced up and would make a nice addition to your fleet.

 

Really looking forward to see them in a couple of months.

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