A grand day out (by steam train)

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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:18 am

Got back late last night after travelling from Crewe to Carlisle and back again on a charter steam train, pulled by sprightly 70 year old 'Duchess of Sutherland' (yes, Nanny Ogg, the same one responsible for the Highland clearances when she decided that the tenant crofters did not fit in with her business plan for huge sheep farms) Sad

While capable of over 100mph, these days the old girl is speed limited, but did hit 80mph a couple of times. the guys sat opposite had satnavs reading the speed as we went along. Going I was in the first coach, and the sound effects were amazing. I put my head out of the window, wearing borrowed goggles, and got a face full of cinders.

When we got back to Crewe and the engine pulled away from the train, the crew were given a warm round of applause. I had to laugh at Preston, where there were announcements telling passengers that it was illegal to smoke at the station.

Youtube vids:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cemw37l-Uiw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wlROWZK3so

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MKxG8lVb1-s&feature=related

I'm in the second coach somehwere.

The sprightly crew:

The loco, at Carlisle. Built at Crewe in 1938, she was once streamlined, and a sister engine briefly held the World speed record.

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:33 am

The driver on the right in the first picture looks a bit... er... light on the footplate. Perhaps he knows your avatar and was saying "Hello ducky".

Great pics. I've not been on a steam train since my teens down in Devon... they ran a service from Paignton to Kings Wear near Dartmouth.

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:41 am

The neckerchiefs dont look very manly. I wear one on the motorbike to stop my neck getting sunburned sometimes, but it's not a good look.

I forgot to say, this engine was one of several, due for the scrapyard, bought up by Billy Butlin for his holiday camps and kids to climb all over.

Eventually rescued and restored, without him they would have gone to make razor blades and washing machines. If anyone went to the Point of Ayr camp in the late 60's or 1970's they will have seen it.

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:46 am

Great pics.
Beautiful "girl" Smile

Roycropper wrote:

While capable of over 100mph, these days the old girl is speed limited, but did hit 80mph a couple of times.

The real question is, can it go at 88mph?

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Aw nice, can almost smell it

Steam trains always remind me of my grandfather, he'd walk me up to the footbrige to watch the trains. He'd lift me up on the parapet to see them.
I'm sure my Nan would be less than impressed by having to clean the sooty kids up ( grandad included ), smuts on our faces but smiling Very Happy

Sat nav, hows that for mingling technologies?

Butlins at Ayr now Haven holiday park, Sadly no steam trains there now.

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:25 am

This is what they looked like when they were streamlined, in the 1930's and 40's:

Sister engine Duchess of Hamilton, which was recued by the Butlin's camp at Minehead, is being re-streamlined by the National Railway Museum, and should be on display next year at York in its art deco maroon livery with gold stripes. Be warned, there will be photos.

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