'Flying Scotsman'. Shrewsbury - Cardiff - Bristol. 19/05/17

LNER A3 60103 'Flying Scotsman'. Steam Dreams. Cathedrals Express.

1Z60 Shrewsbury - Cardiff. Friday, 19th May, 2017.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55206/2017/05/19/advanced

1Z70 Newport - Gloucester - Bristol Parkway. Friday, 19th May, 2017.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U ... 9/advanced

 

Note that Scotsman comes off the train at Bristol Parkway on the second trip of the day on the 'return'. It goes to St Philips Marsh.

James

 

Can't find WCR LE paths down the Marches after 1Z60 or from NPT to BPW following 1Z70. Hope for the passengers that both trains don't have a a diesel on the rear.

 

Your concern for the passengers is touching but probably largely misplaced. If they are anything like the passengers on yesterdays train back from Edinburgh I doubt that there was more than a handful who even knew that there was a diesel on the back and even fewer who could have cared. And that was on a full train of some 390 passengers. 60103 still sounded superb on the hills and cantering along the WCML. My impression is that there is still a healthy market for steam powered rail trips regardless of the possibility of diesels being at the back, which has to be good news for everybody - including loco owners, tour operators and those who love to bore the rest of Nat Press s--tless about this subject. No doubt they will be able to continue to bore us for a long time to come because it is not a problem for the vast majority of punters.

Peter James

 

Well said Peter,customers are the most important.All this crap about oil burners etc on the back is childish and comes from certain people on here who just want to take pictures.

 

This is a debate that I am not going to get immersed in, except to make the observation that I think you will find that it is predominantly the train-timing fraternity, and not "those who just want to take pictures" who are most likely to express their dislike of / disappointment or frustration with hybrid power.... and for reasons that should be blindingly obvious given the necessary precision that needs to be employed in fulfilling their preferred pursuit.

I agree 110% your assertion that customers are the most important, and I think everyone would recognise that die-hard train timers probably represent only a very small proportion of that customer base for the typical UK day trip. So I am certainly not going to waste anyone's time - mine most of all - whinging on this forum about this topic. That doesn't mean that this issue is unimportant to me - far from it - but as a general rule, I know that if I stick to Tornado outings, most VT excursions, and in the future other occasional UKRT/ MNLPS outings, in making my rail-tour purchasing decisions, as I invariably do at the moment, then I'm never going to be disappointed. "Nobody's business but mine", as the lyric goes.

'Nuff said ??

 

Perhaps I meet a different breed of customer then as I casually dropped it into a conversation in Newport recently not knowing that the people I was talking to had booked on the trains. They weren't happy in the slightest as they immediately associated a diesel on the back as implying something must be wrong with Flying Scotsman, which we all know patently isn't the case.

 

47.746 5Z56 + coaches 5200, 5216, 5171, 9104, 13440, 99352, 99347, 13320, 1666, 5236 and 5249
en route from Southall to Pengam for the tour tomorrow. <BJ>
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55207/2017/05/18/advanced

 

I'm looking at seeing the Scotsman on the Welsh marches today. I am thinking of going to Llanvinhangal.

Anyone know of good video locations along the route, any good southbound inclines??

 

I think you're wrong Henry. As a photographer a "box on the back" is of little concern but it bothers me greatly to have one shoving away when I'm on a nominally steam hauled train. That's why I've booked 60163 to Penzance as unless something goes badly wrong, it will be pure steam all the way to Cornwall.

 

Thank you free2grice for the links.

I am also hoping to see FS this afternoon. Not sure where yet. Pontypool is closest, and Little Mills just a little bit further.

Lovely and sunny here at the moment.

Any updates on timing and whether FS leaves Abergavenny on time would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Julian

 

You can get a view across the Bank just above/South of Pandy from a footpath that crosses the line and then runs alongside a farmers field

 

Where is the best place to park at this location??

 

Slightly tricky - I was on a motorcycle the only time so have way more choice. I know some cars were parked on the verge of the lane that is in the West side of the line (which is also where my bike was) and entered the footpath from there, but it might be popular (although luckily today is a work day) , other than that you would have to maybe look at somewhere just off the A-road at Pandy

 

Oh and I think there are some places you can see the railway bank/climb form the side of the A road to the North of Pandy - although again finding a safe place to stop may be more of an issue than the view of the line.

 

The tour has departed from Shrewsbury right time. Good luck. <BJ>

 

Try this. Park by the church, take the footpath into the field behind but instead of heading down the hill, walk along the hedge-line at the top of hill. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?X=332500&Y=220500&A=Y&Z=115&lm=1 Sun (if it's out) should still be your side of the line (just) at 2pm.

Otherwise, try the footpath up the hill to "Great Llwygy". IIRC, there's a new track along the north side of the line from the bridge over "Beacons Way" to some kind of cyclist's cafe. That's a sunny evening shot.

 

In and out of Hereford pretty much to schedule, with no dramas, including uncoupling to get Scotsman over to the water bowser.

Many, many members of the public there, but no issues, and tolerant station staff and police.

WC class 47 on the rear didn't appear to be doing anything, at least on departure from Hereford.

Train looked well filled with passengers.

46118

 

Arrived Cardiff right-time, now in Canton sidings awaiting the call to Newport later. Here's the RTT page for the ECS trip - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55209/2017/05/19/advanced - and this evening's trip to Gloucester and Bristol: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55210/2017/05/19/advanced
Looks like the DL will lead the ECS and the whole train will turn on Maindee triangle, which I think means FS will be leading from East Usk Jn to Maindee North.

 

Yes Ian,I was referring mainly to some photographers who whinge on here about oil burners(lol) etc, not the bums on seat brigade.