Locomotive Services LTD Domination

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Coming up in this content we review the operations of Locomotive Services LTD's steam operations from Monday the 24th of May 2021 to Monday the 31st of May (Bank Holiday Monday) 2021.

Only 2 locomotives were featured in this one Jeremy Hosking's duo in LMS Black 5 45231 The Sherwood Forester & West Country rebuild 34046 Braunton both fully recovered after their failures back in April 2021.

We start with the 2 double heading between Crewe & Chester with 1 support coach on a light test run arriving at Crewe after completing the morning run to Chester.

Here we see the duo pulling into platform 12 before stopping for a signal check before heading off to be turned & eventually arriving back into the station for 45231 to take on water before the afternoon run to Chester.

While 45231 was taking on water it gave me the chance to view both the locos at close quarters.

We end the 1st part of the filming at Chester as we see the duo arriving from Crewe heading straight to the triangle to turn & eventually heading back to Crewe 5A for the night.

We move onto the next day at Chester racecourse to see 34046 Braunton on a loaded test run on the Crewe-Chester-Shrewsbury-Telford-Stafford-Crewe circuit with 8 coaches in tow including 7 of the Inter-City MK3 coaches & 47593 Galloway Princess for company.

The loaded test was a success & the following day 34046 Braunton was ready to work Saphos Trains's 1st charter trip of the year The Fellsman from Crewe to Carlisle & return via the WCML & The Settle & Carlisle.

34046 Braunton made history as he became the 1st rebuilt West Country pacific to venture onto The Settle & Carlisle since The Severn Valley Railway based 34027 Taw Valley when he ventured on the S&C back in the early 1990's.

We start The Fellsman filming on the WCML 1st at Warrington Bank Quay during the 1st passenger pick up as 34046 Braunton arrives & depart from the station.

We overtake The Fellsman trip just outside Spring Branch Junction just outside Wigan North Western which is were we next see 34046 arriving into platform 6 to pick up passengers.

After seeing the departure we head straight to The Settle & Carlisle as we see 34046 running a minute early past Lazonby & Kirkoswald there would have been a going away shot but the microphone was not fitted probably but that was scrapped.

We finish the shots of 34046 Braunton's history in the making day on The Settle & Carlisle at Kirkby Stephen on the return run back to Crewe at Kirkby Stephen as he climbs to the summit at Ais Gill with a wheel slip right next to the signal box as 34046 approaches.

We end with 45231 The Sherwood Forester on a sunny bank holiday Monday on The North Wales Coast as she hauls Saphos Trains's 2nd trip of 2021 The North Wales Coast Express to Holyhead.

The outward run didn't go to plan due to signalling problems, a fault on a level crossing & trespassers on the line.

We 1st get 45231 at Rhyl station going through the platform slowing down for a signal check before setting off again.

We head straight to Holyhead ready for the return run. I did get 45231 going to & from the triangle to get turned & serviced.

Unlike last year were the points to get onto the triangle failed it worked for real this time & I was rewarded with a spectacular departure of 45231 going up the bank on the return working with hardly any assistance from 47805 Roger Hosking at the rear which assisted with the shunting at Holyhead & to operate the central locking on the coaches.

With the train running an hour late an added bonus footage was added as we end this content of Locomotive Services Ltd operations at Chester as we see the train arrive & depart from platform.

Thanks for reading enjoy the content.

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