The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

CCairns

With the Railway Touring Company switching TOC from West Coast Railway Co. to EWS, their planned use of The Great Marquess on the 'North Briton' tour whilst in Scotland has been cancelled as EWS no longer allows vacuum braked only locos on their trains.

So it is good to see that SRPS Railtours have just released details of 2 sets of railtours in Scotland with The Great Marquess.

1. Alloa & Stirling. Finally due to re-open on 15 May 2008, this line has not seen regular passenger trains for 40 years, so it will be a special event to travel by steam on the re-opened line prior to regular passenger trains from 19 May 2008 - http://www.srps.org.uk/railtours/rt-080515.htm

2. Forth Bridge. Travel on a steam train over the most famous railway bridge in the world - http://www.srps.org.uk/railtours/rt-080518.htm

See you there!
_________________
Chris Cairns.

http://www.freewebs.com/chriscairnssteam/
http://christophercairns.fotopic.net/

MTA · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

If only I lived that far up North

Oh well, if anyone is going to be in Edinburgh on the night of the 5th July and the morning of the 6th July see you there

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Si

"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still"

W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911

Lewis · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

Sounds good

always good to see mainline steam

last time i saw great marquess was at the NYMR and then at barrow hill last year and its a good looking loco

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The SP Range guy

http://www.lewismamods.piczo.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lewisop1991/

CCairns · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting the photo Lewis.

I agree it is a nice looking loco, but last year it was suffering from bad coal not maintaining pressure and clinkering up, and rather slippery wheels. Here are some appropriate photos from last year.

It piloted A4 60009 Union of South Africa from Perth to Inverness on the RTC 'The Great Britain'. Here she is at Perth with some appropriate Hospitality Hostesses! They were handing out Whisky minatures to all participants on the train.

SRPS ran a railtour from Polmont to Broomhill on the Strathspey Railway. Here she is turning on the turntable at Aviemore using the vacuum.

RTC ran 'The West Highlander' from Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig. Here she is at the end of that tour on the buffers at Platform 7 in Glasgow Queen Street.

Enjoy!
_________________
Chris Cairns.

http://www.freewebs.com/chriscairnssteam/
http://christophercairns.fotopic.net/

Lewis · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject:

Some good photos mate

she performed well at the NYMR last year i think

heres a few more

_________________
The SP Range guy

http://www.lewismamods.piczo.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lewisop1991/

MTA · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject:

I think she looked better in LNER Apple Green, although she has worn that livery for quite some time so BR Black makes a nice change

_________________
Si

"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still"

W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911

johnreid · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject:

There is a Locomotive in this picture?

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Nick · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject:

Any more pictures?

CCairns · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject:

Sandman · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject:

What a beauty.

The engine is nice too.

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Ouch! Where's the burn cream

Did someone mention Bowman?

Les · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

Lewis · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

CCairns · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

On 07 Oct 1968 passenger services were withdrawn, and on 04 Oct 1993 freight services were also withdrawn, from the Stirling to Alloa line. Although technically still available as a freight route, a full rebuild has just been completed, behind schedule & over budget as is the normal practise these days.

To celebrate the re-opening, the Scottish Railway Preservation Society arranged a total of 4 trains, top & tailed with K4 61994 'The Great Marquess' and Deltic 55 022 'Royal Scots Grey', to run today on the official re-opening.

First train was for Transport Scotland, Minister of Transport, Local Councillors, etc. with the next 3 trains being sold out excursions for the general public.

Here's the K4 waiting at Alloa for the 2nd train.

Here's the K4 at Stirling after arriving with the 2nd train. Note the abundance of semaphore signals - how long will they last?

This was my first train being pulled by a Deltic. I am aware of their reputation for being very smoky, and occasionally having exhaust fires. Our departure from Stirling back to Alloa was greeted with an amazing amount of clag, more so than our previous steam departure. Here's 55 022 waiting at Stirling to take the 2nd train back to Alloa.

And just look at all that oil that gets pushed out of these locos!

Sadly the sun was not out today.

Thanks for looking. Hoping to get one of the K4 leaving the Forth Bridge on Sunday with the 2nd Fife Circle excursion - I'm travelling on the 1st excursion.
_________________
Chris Cairns.

http://www.freewebs.com/chriscairnssteam/
http://christophercairns.fotopic.net/

MTA · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject:

Some nice pictures there Chris

Who says diesels are cleaner than steam engines?

_________________
Si

"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still"

W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911

CCairns · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

So seating in the last coach, all the windows open as the sun is shining, enjoying the gentle drift of aroma from steam, oil & coal, passing by. Brilliant.

K4 waiting to depart eastbound from Edinburgh Waverley, via the Edinburgh Suburban Circle to the Bridge.

Crossing the Bridge northbound, with the Forth Road Bridge far left.

Approaching Cowdenbeath from the east.

Approaching cutting just south of Jamestown, with towers of Forth Road Bridge ahead.

Crossing the Bridge southbound.

The magnificent Bridge, currently being repainted with North Sea Oil rig developed paint, which should last 20 years plus.

And the K4 on the 2nd tour northbound.

At least I can now start my new job with a big steam injection.

Thanks for looking.
_________________
Chris Cairns.

http://www.freewebs.com/chriscairnssteam/
http://christophercairns.fotopic.net/