European Railroad Discussion > B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower - again

Here she is today passing Alexandra Palace on the East Coast Mainline on the Railway Touring Company's Easterling from London King's Cross to Lowestoft and back. No diesel today, Mayflower is due to run tender first from Norwich to Lowestoft and then runs smokebox first all the way from Lowestoft to King's Cross via Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge. Some 250+ miles of steam haulage. She is out again on Thursday on a Cathedrals Express to York

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Excellent photos of a beautiful train! Thanks for posting. I always enjoy your UK updates.

B&OBill
Cockeysville, MD USA

Here's a little video of the same train this morning at Welwyn Garden City. Apologies for quality, and it's a shame that it was running on the slow line. At least the speed is adequate, and, as Nick has already pointed out. no diesel at the rear!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/08/15 11:58 by spflow.

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Very nice, she was in fine fettle.

How many coaches was the loco pulling?

Posted from iPhone

Outstanding.Love British steam.
Regards,dK

Alexmarissa Wrote:
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> How many coaches was the loco pulling?
>
> Posted from iPhone


Ten - I reckon a moderate but not untypical load for a mixed traffic locomotive.

That's a pretty long train for a 4-6-0 engine!

Posted from iPhone

Alexmarissa Wrote:
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> That's a pretty long train for a 4-6-0 engine!
>
> Posted from iPhone


Not really. The biggest express passenger locos in the UK were Pacifics, while the majority were 4-6-0s. Most mainline passenger work on all routes was thus handled by 4-6-0s, the most powerful of which (eg GWR King class, LMS Royal Scot class) would routinely pull 12-14 cars. Ten cars would be a short to average class 1 train running at scheduled average speeds of 45 - 60 mph overall. It was only well into the 1960s that shorter faster trains became more common in the UK, usually with diesel or electric traction. Passenger coaches in the UK were of course shorter and lighter than in many other countries, so total tarin loads might be in the range 375 - 450 tons ( = 420 - 500 "short" US tons).

I'll be darn. Even though I still like American steam locos the best, British locos like this one are a refreshing change. I like the paint scheme, and the clean, uncluttered design.