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No, this isn’t a posting about paint, this is about Cromwell’s recent forays to Cleethorpes and Newport on the Main Line.After spending the winter on the GCR, Cromwell seems to have been feeling her oats and raring to go on her first main line trips of the year.
The run on Saturday (The Great Northern) from Cleethorpes to London arrived four minutes early to packed platforms and large amounts of interest from enthusiasts and members of the public. Tom Tighe is very pleased with the adjustment of the valves which was carried out over the winter. Although we ran the engine several times on the GCR since the valves were adjusted, there is a world of difference between a preserved line at 25mph and ‘The Big Railway’ at speeds in the mid seventies for mile after mile.
The St David’s Day run to Newport on Sunday was also spirited, again with speeds in the mid seventies for sustained periods, with a load of 13 coaches (420 tonnes) including the support coach. She arrived 7 minutes early into Newport, having made up time from Bristol Parkway, and was eleven minutes early into Paddington on the return, again to packed platforms and an enthusiastic welcome.
After those two runs, Cromwell worked engine & van to the Severn Valley Railway, where she is due to star in their “Festival of Steam” next weekend www.svr.co.uk for details. After the Severn Valley Railway’s Gala, Cromwell is due to work the "Golden Arrow" Victoria to Folkestone Harbour trip on the 14th of March for the Railway Touring Club. (www.railwaytouring.co.uk for details).
I have just spotted this message on a forum - hope the poster doesn't mind us repeating it here: "Very Big Thanks to the support crew. Must have gone something like: Thursday light up, Friday prepare + LE, Sat London, Sunday Cardiff and back, Monday LE to Kiddy. That's dedication!!!!!!!!!!!"
The poster on the forum is spot on! - One of the support crew has just sent me the following: Over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Support Crew Catering Department (a sub division of Blue Haze Catering) produced :- 23 cooked breakfasts (4 Friday, 9 Saturday, 10 Sunday) 19 evening meals (9 Saturday, 10 Sunday) and Numerous packets of Hobknobs were also consumed.
By Info | Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | Tags : 70013