The York Yuletide Express/Farce-Ex (12th December 2010)

Another year, and another annual Liverpool to York pre-christmas steam hauled excursion, run by Railway Touring Company and entitled the York Yuletide Express. What could possibly go wrong...

Unfortunately, some bad mishaps did occur this time round. At 10:18 (the time when the charter was supposed to have departed for the 100 mile trip), LMS Black Five 44871 and the West Coast Railways Mk1/Mk2 stock was still waiting at Crewe, owing to brake problems with West Coast Railway's 47500. As a consequence, West Coast had to call on the services of Virgin Trains to provide any 57/3 available at such short notice. As luck had it, Virgin/Arriva Trains Wales blue liveried, non-branded 57313 was stabled at Edge Hill (presumably resting there after the weekend Holyhead Pendolino drag), and was summoned to rescue the ECS.

Sadly, by the time the excursion left Liverpool Lime Street at around 13:00 in the afternoon, the whole day had pretty much gone out of the window and a lengthy wait outside Dewsbury, due to a trespass incident, didn't help matters either. The train eventually arrived in York at around 17:30, and left again at 19:30 with 57313 in charge; for operational reasons, LMS Black Five 44871 ended up staying behind.

Despite the day being a complete farce, it was worth it for the ride (taking in Edge Hill, Ordsall Lane, Manchester Victoria, Miles Platting bank and Newton Heath TMD along the way), and also some surprises at York, including:

1) A DRS four loco convoy, with 37409 Lord Hinton, 37229 Jonty Jarvis, 57004 and 57003

2) An East Midlands Trains HST on hire to East Coast (powercars 43066 and 43058).

3) An Arriva XC HST powercar with a barrier vehicle!


Thanks to Woolybak8 (Aaron Roberts), FlyingEnglishman (Mike Atkinson), Mr David Loughhead and Mr Richard Harnetty for the company and laughs.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and happy new year. Thanks for your viewings, ratings, comments and support throughout 2010.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Railway
• Touring
• Company
• York
• Yuletide
• Express
• 2010
• LMS
• Black
• Five
• 44871
• Liverpool
• Lime
• Street
• Edge
• Hill
• Manchester
• Victoria
• Miles
• Platting
• Newton
• Heath
• Class
• 37
• 43
• 57
• diesel
• locomotive
• DRS
• West
• Coast
• Railways
• Arriva
• Trains
• Wales
• Cross
• Country
• East
• Midlands
• HST
• powercar
• 37409
• Lord
• Hinton
• 37229
• Jonty
• Jarvis
• 57004
• 57003
• Woolybak8
• FlyingEnglishman
• yt:crop=16:9
• yt:quality=high

[KWVRMAD]

Brilliant Video! Strange But Brilliant!!! I love the 57 Thunderdirds and thats probably why i stayed till all hours at sowerby bridge to see the return! Merry Christmas!!

[theamateurbasher]

@KWVRMAD Thanks very much KWVRMAD. 57313 was an unlikely hero that day, but that doesn't mean 44871 didn't put on a good show either... And Merry Christmas to you too!

[robmasterman]

Superb video David, with some first class on board footage.....Bob

[theamateurbasher]

@robmasterman Thanks very much Bob. Well worth the wait for that!

[37057viking]

Brilliant video!

I like the slog up Miles Platting, anything up that bank is a good show!

Nice bit of 'tractor' thrash from the DRS convoy too!

Pity you didn't get any footage of 57313! lol

Anyway, have a nice Christmas and New Year David - all the best, fella :) Probably bump into you at some point next year. Get yourself over to the Class 40 do at the ELR in April, I should be there for that! :)

[theamateurbasher]

@37057viking Cheers Rob. Fair point about 57313; besides it's movement at York, I would've got more footage of it at work but I decided against it, given the unfortunate circumstances that had occured.

And merry Christmas and happy new year to you too - peace and goodwill to you and your family!

[theamateurbasher]

@EmperorMarcusNovius And an unlikely hero last Sunday too! Thanks very much.

[howarth004]

@theamateurbasher And the same to you..

[theamateurbasher]

@hstscotsman Saturday 12th June? I remember that day, cause I was on the Mersey Fellsman tour, and probably passed you between Lancaster and Preston on the return run! LOL

[theamateurbasher]

@hstscotsman With Railway Touring Company? Lucky you! Erm, not sure how the compo thing works, or even if I will be receiving any. As I said in the description, it was still worth it for the ride.