8th May 2010

N.E.L.P.G.
The Blyth Spirit

Route :
1Z41 : Carnforth to Morpeth
1Z44 : Morpeth to Skipton

Notes :
(1) Was booked for haulage by steam: 62005 but this was failed the night before the tour with a cracked cylinder. This from the NELPG Chairman: "The K1 passed its main line fitness to run exam at Shildon on the evening of Fri May 7th with no problems. Upon moving the locomotive around the yard in readiness for its Saturday morning departure, a steam leak was noticed from the right hand cylinder. This was thought to be from the cylinder drain cocks but further investigation revealed it came from the cylinder itself. Further removal of cladding revealed a longitudinal fracture to the cylinder wall. The locomotive was declared a failure. The decision was made at 21:30 to allow the railtour to run. Efforts were made to secure other locomotives, including Ian Riley’s Black Fives (located on the NYMR), but it was not possible to get the paperwork and approvals in place. The decision was taken to run the tour with the diesel loco throughout. However, this brought further complications because some coaches were vacuum braked only and to provide 2 diesels to top and tail meant they both had to be dual braked.  No other vacuum braked diesel was available so the train had to be worked by 37516 on its own. This meant at reversals the locomotive had to run around its train, hence the need to go to Grangetown for this purpose. More significantly, the need to run around the train meant it was not possible to go to North Blyth".
(2) From Middlesbrough train was booked; Thornaby – Bowesfield Jn – Hartburn Jn – Norton South Jn – Norton West Jn – Ferryhill – Tyne Yard – Newcastle, but as the K1 wasn’t on the train and the water stop at Tyne Yard wasn’t needed, the decision was taken to run via the Durham Coast to Newcastle.
(3) From Bedlington Jn the train was booked; West Sleekburn Jn – Winning Crossing Jn – Freemans LC – North Blyth Alcan then back to Newsham LC before heading to Morpeth, but the train could not be fitted in the loop at North Blyth Alcan and thus went directly from Bedlington Jn to Morpeth.
(4) Returned from Skipton to Carnforth by road coach due to booked engineering works.
(5) Route confirmation is required for the last two legs detailed above Middlesborough (booked route shown). In particular, did the train travel via the Goods 2 line at Thornaby?

Source : Adam Daniels

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Adam Daniels)

Timings continue in first table.

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