3rd May 2003

Green Express Rail Tours
The Settle - Carlisle Glasgow Scot

Route: (GER tour no. 193)
1Z60 : Hebden Bridge to Glasgow Central
1Z18 : Glasgow Central to Hebden Bridge

Notes :
(1) 31468 on rear.
(2) 47701 stopped at approx. MP263¼ on the S&C with smoke coming out of the leading bogie. 31468 was used to assist the train to Carlisle (propelling from the rear).
(3) Plus 47701 dead-in-tow & 31468 on the rear.
(4) 31468 ran round at Carlisle and was used as the main train engine, 47701 assisting once the speed was "sufficient".

Source : David Garnett (joined/left the train at Wakefield Kirkgate)

Tour Review
(from David Garnett)

Initial plan for today was a deltic to Worcester this was cancelled due to a lack of bookings, so a nifty change to the Green Express trip to Glasgow, for what I thought would be a pair of 31's. It soon transpired that it would be one engine to Glasgow with another on the rear for another for the ECS. A quick check of the situation showed that a pair of 31's and a 47 would be in the right place so the ECS engine could be the 47 (You can dream), however realism said that it would be a 47.

On the day the train engine was 47701 and 31468 on the rear for the ECS moves at Glasgow Central to Polmadie and return. That was the plan, not a bad one. However 47701 decided to have a bit of a paddy after its assault on the S&C, somewhere about milepost 263 smoke began to pour from the leading bogie. So we were sat in the middle of the nowhere, and at this point you begin to think why me. However been West Coast Railways and the guard been Jim, all was sorted in five minutes, then plan was for 31468 to push to Appleby, run round take us to Carlisle. This sounded quite a good idea until we sailed through at about 40 MPH with both locos powering. Upon arrival at Carlisle , as with most Railtours at an unscheduled stop we were told stay on the train, to which promptly about 50 people got off to look at 47701. After a few moments Jim was back to announce we were to have the engine of the postal train to Glasgow. after a further short brake while network rail set the points to get the 90 on the front of the train, we were on our way.  Only 24 down on booked time which must be some sort of record, for a failure, rescue, and a new engine, let alone this all taking place on the S&C. Needless to say the 90 dealt with Beattock in fine style, reducing the deficit to just one minute,  needless to say RST was not achieved and arrival at Glasgow was 11 early!

The return journey was headed by 90040 from Glasgow, rumours abounded about an engine change at Carlisle, a quick consultation with Jim produced a bit on enlightenment, 31468 would be removed from the rear and added to the front of 47701,  for the rest of the run. Needless to say the 90 flew back to Carlisle taking 67 minutes to cover the first 28 an a bit miles and 53 minutes for the next 73 and a bit miles. The usual delay by a few Virgin trains getting in the way of running the loco round meant that we left 17 late, the prospect of 468 hauling load 10 and a dead 47 could be best be described as interesting with Shap still to come.

However the driver on 701 was prepared to use the loco once he judged that the train speed  was sufficient as not to strain the 47 so, needless to say, the 31 passed the bottom of Shap rather fast and, as a result, we managed to keep time back to Wakefield.

David Garnett

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from David Garnett)

Mileages are taken from the Green Express Rail Tours Website.
No attempt has been made to verify them.

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