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Cromwell Bows Out Of 2011 Main Line Season
Last Saturday, 17th December, saw the final main line charter involving 70013 Oliver Cromwell, in 2011. The loco successfully completed a run down the East Coast Main Line from Kings Cross to York hauling an eleven coach train for the Railway Touring Company. An early departure for "The Cross" at 07.15 with pick ups at Potters Bar, Stevenage and Peterborough didn't deter people from booking on the train, which was full.
On arrival at York 70013 pulled into platform 9, alongside 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe which had brought a charter in from Tyseley a little earlier. Naturally hoards of steam enthusiasts had turned out to witness the spectacle and they were treated to further delights involving locos moving throught the station to turn on the triangle and the later departures of both charters. The London train had 60019 Bittern masquerading as 4492 Dominion of New Zealand at its head and replacing 70013.
Cromwell had to return to the Great Central Railway for booked work over the Christmas period and, as it was not possible for operational reasons to send the loco back to the GCR by road from York immediately, 70013 plus its support coach made the journey to Carnforth on Saturday evening. Road haulage back to Quorn was booked for Monday 19th December.
So ends a successful 2011 for Oliver Cromwell. It has been a very busy year. 2012 looks as though it will be at least as busy, with many bookings already having been received. 5305LA is pleased to have been able to make the loco available on so many occasions over the past twelve months and looks forward to repeating the exercise in the coming year.
By Info | Monday, December 19, 2011 | Tags : 70013