Has Duchess of Sutherland hauled the Royal Train yet????

MichaelGreenhill · Post by **MichaelGreenhill** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 10:48 pm

howdy all

i was reading my latest issue of Steam Railway today (it takes about 1 1/2 months to get here so its a bit out of date) and Duchess of Sutherland was going to haul the Royal Train along the WCML (methinks).
Has this happened yet? Was it called off?

Michael

markw · Post by **markw** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 10:53 pm

I'm fairly certain it happened as someone posted a message a couple of weeks ago that it had been on BBC News.

Perhaps someone on here will have a link to photos of the event as I didn't see it (BBC Look East led with someone's chip pan catching fire and the fatstock prices with their usual .-eyed Norfolk sense of priority)

isambardkingdombrunel · Sat Jun 22, 2002 10:59 pm

Only if she's been doing a spot of body building.

IKB.

trainmad · Post by **trainmad** » Sun Jun 23, 2002 8:22 pm

Oh my. Buckingham palace wouldn't even relese timings for it, for security reasons.

snowcrashandy · Post by **snowcrashandy** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 7:33 pm

Some pictures online on Charlie Hulme's excellent North Wales coast website..........

http://www.dweb.u-net.com/nwales/nw0206d.htm

Cheers,

Andy.

eddief · Post by **eddief** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 10:23 pm

trainmad wrote:Oh my. Buckingham palace wouldn't even relese timings for it, for security reasons.

Well if you think about it, its not really a suprise. Especially since there was reported sabotage at Potters Bar, and there is a dirty big steam engine on the front, makes any attempt to wipe out the Royal Family fairly easy as all you had to do was look for a steam train. If they released the timings it would have been a god-send to anyone wanting to kill the queen, so perhaps it was good they did not release the timings.

flyingscot · Post by **flyingscot** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 7:28 am

Might I suggest that this coming month's Steam Railway magazine is the one you go and buy as the first half dozen pages are devoted to nothing but the Royal Train.....and what a wonderful sight it was too...

Not that I'm biased being a Duchess man or anything!!!

From twhat I've read the Duchess was absolutely spot on and even had to show 75mph pace to make up a 6-minute deficit at one point.....but made up 8 just for good measure!!!

Just wish I'd got my Uncle down in Liverpool to tape the local news programmes during the day as I get absolutely . all of the event up here in North-East Scotland!!!

Although I believe they are planning to release a video of the event.....

One for the shopping list!!!

MichaelGreenhill · Post by **MichaelGreenhill** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 7:44 am

which number Steam Railway is this, because in Australia we're only up to 270 (comes by ship, so is about 2 months late)

eddief · Post by **eddief** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 9:12 am

we are up to number 272 in this country, so that would be right if yours take 2 months to get there.

MichaelGreenhill · Post by **MichaelGreenhill** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 9:38 am

BTW - Steam Railway is published every 4 weeks, isnt it?

jonhewes · Post by **jonhewes** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 10:43 pm

Just one question....

Thought duchesses were supposed to be quite powerful, so how come there was a diesel on the back... was this just backup or for assistance?

eddief · Post by **eddief** » Wed Jun 26, 2002 9:22 am

The 47 was there mainly as a back up and to provide ETH for the train. However I suspect they had it on incase the duchess failed as it would not look good if the royal train eas delayed.

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Wed Jun 26, 2002 11:25 am

isambardkingdombrunel wrote:Only if she's been doing a spot of body building.

IKB.

Another IKB classic slips quietly by unnoticed by all except the terminally barking.

flyingscot · Post by **flyingscot** » Wed Jun 26, 2002 12:12 pm

Yeah the 47 was just on the back for providing the electricity for the train...

As if the Duchess would actually need any help!?!?!?

Remember we are talking about the same engine that now holds the record for the fastest run up Shap!!!!

Just goes to show what a wonderful engine Bill Stanier created.....

And I'd put her up against an A4, King, MN or the 'Duke' anyday!!!!!

markw · Post by **markw** » Wed Jun 26, 2002 12:21 pm

Oh, it had been noticed, Martin. It's just that sometimes, the punchline is best left unanswered to give maximum effect...