Why 'The Albatross'? Geoff Drury, who was not without a keen sense of humour, often referred to 60532 as the Albatross, as in many ways the responsibilities of owning 160 tons of locomotive and tender are never far away. As a fitting tribute to NELPG's most generous benefactor this trip was ran to remember and celebrate this fact and therefore the loco carried Albatross nameplates for the day.

Passing Thirsk - photo by Graham Denison

Stock was the West Coast Railway's MAROON set (10 coaches) with 47775 'Respite' attached at the rear and also the steam crew support coach.

Timings for the Steam hauled route.

Location	Booked	Actual
York	11.04d	11.04
Northallerton	11/38	11/38
Darlington	11/53	11/51
Durham	12/18	12/11
Low Fell RMT	12w36	12.34
"	13w06	13.35
Hexham	13/40	14/04
Carlisle	14.30a	15.04
"	16.34d	17.29
Tebay	17/22	18/12
Carnforth U&DGL	17w47	18.45
"	18w19	19.18
Preston	18.53a	19.52

Key: a - arrival time, d - departure time, / - passing time, w - water

Leaving York on time, Northallerton was passed at the exact booked time showing how the A2 could perform to scheduled running. If that was not enough, Darlington was passed 2 minutes up, while Durham passed by at 7 minutes early on the booked time! A slow arrival to the Royal Mail Depot at Low Fell added to further delays over the correct place for water filling and slow supply from the tanker left leaving there 29 minutes late. However, 5 minutes had been made up on reaching Hexham but slow access to Carlisle station brought us in at 34 minutes late. Further delays on the loco getting away for coal, water and turning resulted in missing of a West coast path and had to wait for the 1723 Virgin service to leave first.

Arrival at Carlisle - photo by Steve Bell

Now running approximately an hour late for the rest of the trip, Tebay was passed 5 minutes ahead of the time allowed but was then lost (7 mins) on gaining access to the Up & Down Goods loop at Carnforth. Though the signal was at green, no feather was showing giving confirmation for a divergence off the main line onto the goods loop. Having stopped at the (green) signal (a rare case indeed) the drive reported in on the signal telephone whereupon it went to red. Eventually having got the correct route by indication of a yellow and feather (as photo right), the A2 proceeded to another waiting tanker of water. This was to take just 1 more minute than the allotted time. The road was quickly gained this time when requested & the time allowed to reach Preston was the exact booked albeit 59 minutes late overhaul.

Though late running and not the best of weather, except for Low Fell, some very spirited running of this main line loco was enjoyed. One highlight was speeding through the whole of one of the WCML stations with the whistle blowing.

The engine crew waiting the arrival of the train at York on the morning of the tour