5944

SRPS are fitting their dual-braked Mk1s with electrical CDL that doesn't need an air supply, and I assume Vintage will do the same to their stock as well. So the solution is out there, but the Yorkshire farmer isn't willing to stump up the cash to fit it to his stock. Instead he's happy to lose the income from about 50 railtours in the summer - he's said the air con isn't effective in Mk2s in the summer so the stock won't be used. RTC have about 35 trips booked from mid-May to mid-Sept, WCRC have about 15. Yet WCRC are still happy to send the Northern Belle out every few days in the summer!

There's also 73082 and 80151 as well, so 5 big locos with 30541 expected back at some point. Does seem a bit of overkill but if the owners and the railway are happy, then it's all good.

160 passengers on the Monday, 40 on the Tuesday I believe. It's not possible to get it to it by train without staying overnight the previous day, which really doesn't help. Then 4 hours back in Fort William before the next train south. At least today's passengers didn't have to worry about the weather in Mallaig - the train stalled leaving Glenfinnan and couldn't get going again, even with hand sanding. Driver had to go back to Fort William to fetch a diesel.

The coach batteries. It only needs power to unlock it, air pressure keeps the locks engaged in service.

Because in their wisdom, rather than sending one of their dozen or so ETS fitted 47s/57s up the Fort William, the ranch dispatched 47245. The other two WCRC locos up there are a pair of non-ETS fitted 37s. I really feel for the passengers today. You have two hours in cold, very wet and very windy Mallaig, and your train back is a set of cold, dark Mk2s that have been parked up for years until this week. WCRC are massively shooting themselves in the foot with this farce of an operation.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/ViYzQA2jJ15C4WvJ/ 45212 tender first. Looks very dark in the coaches! Edit - load 7. Four CDL Mk2s and three Mk1s with the doors locked out of use. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/UH7aiw9TJNM2qiCW/

6989 is staying for the 2025 season as well.

They haven't had time to find out if it's got teething troubles! It was meant to be ready in January (or 2018 if you read their website) but has only just been completed. It's already missed two galas, won't be at SVR in time, and its booking for WSR in May has been cancelled as well. The Bluebell Atlantic group have got it right - it'll be ready when it's ready. I know they've got a date in mind, but won't announce it publicly until it's completed and fully tested.

The RUs and RBRs have emergency doors that can only be opened from the inside, as well as the doors in and around the kitchen area. I'd be very surprised if ORR allowed WCRC to run with a passenger-carrying RMB in the middle of the set with all the doors locked shut. But I'm sure all will become clear soon as the empty stock arrived at Fort William on time this morning. 6 degrees and windy up there at the moment. It's going to be bloody cold on the train as WCRC contrived to send their only non-ETS fitted 47 up with the stock. How long will the batteries last for the lights and CDL? I can only hope they've found some way of charging them up, otherwise it's going to be a disaster.

45212 is moving from Keighley to Carnforth this evening. I assume it's then heading north over the weekend ready for Monday morning. What the stock will be, who knows?

The windows look quite recessed, plus both ends are blocked with the fire escape and chimneys, so just adding the horizontal rows of panelling with painted windows in between should be enough. If it's not easily visible I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I should've put "where only half the houses have driveways, yet now most households have two cars". When I say half the houses have driveways, I mean one side of some of the streets have drives while the other side doesn't! Our road only has houses on one side, there's a school field on the opposite side, and the way the houses zigzag backwards and forwards means not all have drives, or even space for driveways.

There was a good couple of feet between the hedge and the side of the bus, the shadows and the angle hide it quite well. To be honest, it was one of the better bits of pavement parking round here! The joys of a 1950s council estate where only half the houses have driveways, yet most households have two cars. Lots of green spaces and grass verges but nowhere to park vehicles easily.

Not what you expect to find on a council estate in Hertfordshire! I was popping to the shops this afternoon and this was parked up round the corner from the house. I've no idea why it was there, as it appears to be owned by The London Bus Company based in Northfleet, Kent

Horizontally or vertically?

Very jealous! I saw that advertised the other day. Pretty cheap for what's included, and return flights are less than £100 at present. I don't think the wife would be happy if I disappeared to her favourite country for the weekend without her though!

Yet not screwed enough to try and buy a set of grotty Mk2 air cons though.

Rumours that the railway are getting a set of Mk2 air cons. Partly for the gala for air braked locos, and partly to cover the shortfall in stock with the withdrawal of the teaks. Though surely buying a few sets of tyres for the teaks will cost less than buying a set of grotty Mk2s that haven't turned a wheel for 5 years?

There are some fantastic albums on there for various things, a wonderful resource. Sadly Alessandro Albe passed away about 4 years ago, so his Flickr site is no longer updated. It also means there's a chance it could disappear at any time, so if you see anything that may be of use, download/screenshot whatever is required.

The tower was the water tower for the wash plant. I believe it came down in about 2007. It was certainly there when I started my apprenticeship there in 2005, but is missing from photos taken in 2008.

If anybody wants their own 141R, the partly overhauled remains of 1207 and 1332 are for sale in Switzerland. https://www.railpassion.fr/materiel-actualites-rp/des-mikado-francaises-en-suisse/ I believe there's enough for one complete loco there, plus a spare set of frames, driving wheels and other parts, the rest were sold for scrap when the previous owner went bankrupt. I don't believe they're cheap though!

Peter's final journey, King's Cross to Belle Isle before his ashes were put into the firebox of 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley on Saturday morning.

The 31 (and the 40) were moved from York to Shildon today - could it have been related to getting the loco prepped for that? It's been a long time since the 31 moved any distance, especially on the mainline.

The two vehicles that are going to be scrapped are at Cockshute.