Class15
Established Member
Not impressed, that looks like they are desperate to get people to volunteer and “volunteers” should not be being told that volunteering is “doing the decent thing”.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Polar Express to operate from Euston, Christmas 2024
- Thread starter autotank
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
A great pity, though fully understandable, that they couldn't have managed North Pole - so near but....
james_the_xv
Member
It's common across many volunteer driven organisations that they believe they should be free from criticism because they are volunteers.
Every year, without fail, we get an enquiry about whether someone needs a passport to ride.A great pity, though fully understandable, that they couldn't have managed North Pole - so near but....
I'm sure one of the previous Polar Expresses had a couple of the traction lot turn up merely to travel behind a particular Class 31, and upset some of the other passengers.
12LDA28C
Established Member
On a preserved railway quite possibly, not on the main line.
Fincra5
Established Member
- Joined
- 6 Jun 2009
- Messages
- 2,586
I'm being dragged to one with the missus and baby, and friends, our of Euston....
I'm only there for the Traction
TheLancsNinja
Member
So I saw the loco at Euston on Thursday; does anyone know which engine it actually is?
renegademaster
Established Member
O
One of the Black 5s, 47746 on the other end
sprinterguy
Veteran Member
It's 44871 working the Euston trips.
TheLancsNinja
Member
Gleaming, thank you!
Deepgreen
Established Member
Apologies if it has been mentioned, but from the videos I have seen, the 'Five' carries a large, US-style headlight at smokebox level. I am curious as to whether this is 'legal' according to today's regulations? Don't get me wrong, it perfectly well gives approach warning, but I wondered about its official status. BTW, I also think I saw one side of the tender has a different legend/logo?
12LDA28C
Established Member
Any steam loco operating on the national network will need to display a headlight so presumably this addition is to comply with this requirement.
Deepgreen
Established Member
Yes, I know steam has to display a headlight(s), but my point was that this one looks so different from the usual buffer beam-mounted high-intensity lights that I was curious about it.
It seems to be a common feature with all the polar express services on heritage railways etc to make it look more American, but I'm not sure on the rules on the national network. Its main purpose is for the "experience"
Deepgreen
Established Member
It's a fun thing for kids, so the decoration is understandable, but there are strict rules for train headlights on the network and I was curious how this fits in. Interesting too, by the way, to see two Mk2 air-cons in use in the rake with their new window toplights fitted.
SuspectUsual
Established Member
- Joined
- 11 Jul 2018
- Messages
- 5,030
I assumed it was trying to make it look more like the train in the film, but googling the film shows the engine with a bell mounted on top of the smoke box and a light in the middle of it
357
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Nov 2018
- Messages
- 1,835
Thanks for letting the RFIB (Rail Forums Investigation Branch) know
Still reeling from lampgate on Beechingposting on Facebook.
Sometimes I never know if people would rather discuss these things backwards and forwards for a few weeks, or actually know the answer. I just tell people if I know the answer to something though, so sorry if anyone was hoping for a long drawn out discussion.
Sometimes I never know if people would rather discuss these things backwards and forwards for a few weeks, or actually know the answer. I just tell people if I know the answer to something though, so sorry if anyone was hoping for a long drawn out discussion.
357
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Nov 2018
- Messages
- 1,835
Something I've learnt over the years is that the people who've never run a train or business will always know better than you, but never do anything themselves.
I really wouldn't be worried what some armchair experts on the internet think about your headlamp. The only locomotive headlamps they have any involvement with are switched on and off with a Hornby controller.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
I have heard some good feedback from a couple of non railway people who took thier kids on this train - well done - seems all had a nice day out and they "would recommend"!
Many "enthusiasts" like to complain or to take part in one upmanship. It is dull and tiresome.
exactly! Mind, I know better than everyone
and you think a train, carrying young kids and families, is allowed to run on the national network, out of a very busy London terminal if it doesn't meet those rules?
Last edited:
sprinterguy
Veteran Member
Yes, the loco has had 'POLAR EXPRESS' branded vinyl applied to the lower two thirds of the tender.
The intended effect will be to approximate the look of the train in the film, but as the lamp is suspended under the smokebox handrail, but presumably has to remain above the smokebox dart, there's a limit as to its positioning. A black steam loco with a big headlamp will be more than enough to convey the appearance of the original to the intended clientele. I'm impressed with how highly polished they've got the boiler cladding and motion for the role, even though my personal preference (as I am not the intended audience for this sort of a trip!) is for a patina of workaday grease and grime.
We are finding lampgate hilarious!
We are in that weird world where we are involved with Heritage, TOCs, Network Rail, and we own coaches and a loco that’s due to have work started soon (hopefully!)
We have lots of what we call “if I ran the zoo” moments.
We are in that weird world where we are involved with Heritage, TOCs, Network Rail, and we own coaches and a loco that’s due to have work started soon (hopefully!)
We have lots of what we call “if I ran the zoo” moments.
renegademaster
Established Member
And the number from the locomotive from the film stuck over it's actual number
12LDA28C
Established Member
If they want to accurately recreate the train from the film, surely the length of the stock needs to vary inexplicably from four coaches to eight coaches then five coaches at any given time?
Working on it
Deepgreen
Established Member
If all these snipes are aimed at me, my original question was just a trivia question out of curiosity (not a complaint or criticism, but some seem to have taken it as such), as I had not seen that lamp style in use in previous years' main line runs - that was all. Thanks for the various information.