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Cathedrals Express to Norwich - 11 Nov - 6201

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by LittleRedTrain, Nov 8, 2016.

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  1. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    Anybody else doing this one? Haven't seen a thread for it yet.

    I got a significant discount offer by e-mail from Steam Dreams (as I hadn't booked with them for a while), which was specific to this train, so I'm wondering if it isn't loading particular well.

    At the price, the Mrs and I decided we'd treat ourselves with an early Christmas present and upgrade to Premier Dining. (Also gives us something to do when it's dark on the way back).

    If what is delivered is as advertised, with steam for the whole route, both ways, it should be a good run, though given it's winding its way around London for the first bit, I appreciate there's a strong risk of a diesel on the back.

    EDIT: Outbound timings are now on the SD website, but states that return timings have not been provided by NR yet, which is rather ominous.
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2016
    LittleRedTrain, Nov 8, 2016
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  2. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    alastair, Nov 9, 2016
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  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Well, provided you can get to West Hampstead to board the train then a day from 0920 to 2307 is just about bearable, I guess. Leaving for home at 7 pm long after the shops have shut will make for a interesting time after everyone has run out of things to do in Norwich. I hope it stays dry for those who decide to go.
     
    Big Al, Nov 9, 2016
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  4. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

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    Don't people have jobs to do the next day. Arriving back in Victoria so late necessarily means a very late arrival home. Thumbs up to them for stamina but it ain't for!
     
    hatherton hall, Nov 9, 2016
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  5. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    Indeed it's going to be a long day, I'm glad it's on a Friday!

    Fortunately, living in South London with access to the Victoria Line, the finish time isn't the end of the world for us, but it does seem a bit late for anyone who has to travel a long distance!

    Might have to find a decent pub near Norwich station to await the departure time.
     
    LittleRedTrain, Nov 9, 2016
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  6. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    This one is a bit frustrating as it is now returning into London via the ECML, so those of us who boarded at Broxbourne or Harlow town now return to Hertford north and get coached back to our departure station. The folks whom I really feel sorry for are those going to Duxford. They are going to have a long wait after the museum closes so are being bused to Cambridge whrre they wait until 9pm. I suppose there are worse cities to wait around in the dark and cold on a Friday evening but the station isn't the most convenient in terms of city centre locations and it nightlife.
     
    Pesmo, Nov 9, 2016
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  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I seem to remember that we have been here before with an issue over where you now cannot take water if you try and return from Ely via Broxbourne and Stratford - something that I am sure WCRC were already aware of but perhaps not SD? Aside from the fact that the trip takes a diesel, the more you look at the trip the more of a dog's dinner it seems. There is a certain irony that the steam enthusiast would probably tolerate the timings but if you are Mr&Mrs looking for a nice day in Norwich then the dining option will at least take your mind of the tedium and the inconvenience of it all and that's without factoring in the extra bus trips.

    It might have seemed like a good idea at the time but this doesn't look to me like one of SD's better trips.
     
    Big Al, Nov 9, 2016
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  8. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Indeed. No pubs immediately to hand, no eateries either other than those on the station.
     
    Spamcan81, Nov 9, 2016
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  9. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    Depends what you call 'immediately' I guess - 5 min walk to nearest pub (in most directions), 10-15 mins to the leisure park on the other side of the railway (convenient steps down from the Hills Road railway bridge mean you don't have to walk all the way round) which has quite a variety of eateries...
     
    big.stu, Nov 9, 2016
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  10. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Paul42, Nov 9, 2016
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  11. camraman

    camraman Member

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    camraman, Nov 9, 2016
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  12. camraman

    camraman Member

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    A fast train to London looks very tempting!
     
    camraman, Nov 9, 2016
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  13. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    UK Steam now confirming it will have a box on the back (no surprise), and it looks like the whole train will be reversed at Norwich, so fingers crossed I don't get stuck at the back all day!
     
    LittleRedTrain, Nov 10, 2016
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  14. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    SD used to do a grand job with the 11th November trips. I remember a couple of good excursions some years ago, one with 34067 and the other with 60163. On both trips the two minutes silence was incorporated into the schedule. We also had more reasonable start and finish times. The trip with Tornado started at Waterloo and went to Norwich.
    I also received the discount email for tomorrow's excursion and my Dad and I were a little curious about going on it to visit Duxford. However, when I looked on the SD website a couple of weeks ago the outline times were very similar to the final times issued the other day. Arriving back at Victoria near midnight is no good for us. The timings for most of the SD trips these days are a joke to be honest. They don't seem to have anyone in the company anymore who challenges the poor timings they are issued. I can't see many passengers having a fun time these days with such a long day of travelling or waiting around involved.

    Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
     
    green five, Nov 10, 2016
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  15. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    Left Vic on time . Lizzie looking good at the front , but I'm sadly two coaches from the diesel .
     
    LittleRedTrain, Nov 11, 2016
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  16. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    Still on time around London and it looks like we have a loverly day. I have packed my sunglasses
     
    Pesmo, Nov 11, 2016
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  17. OldGit

    OldGit New Member

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    From where I was standing at Imperial Wharf, it looked like an ECS movement - hardly a soul visible on board (unless they were all in the bar having an early one !).

    Doubt if this tour will wash its face.

    To those on board, have a good day!
     

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    OldGit, Nov 11, 2016
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  18. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    The answer to the light loading is on the back I guess. Had their new brochure grandly titled 'Magical Journeys by Steam' its called.....should have the rider - for them book with someone else!!
     
    1020 Shireman, Nov 11, 2016
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  19. RogerP

    RogerP New Member

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    Yes - she looked very lightly loaded at Stratford
     
    RogerP, Nov 11, 2016
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  20. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    Problem with the loco. Broken drivers window due to hitting debris that fell from bridge.Diesel being moved to front for pilot duty at Cambridge.
     
    Pesmo, Nov 11, 2016
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