Vintage Trains 2017

5043 departing Melton Mowbray, with a lucky burst of light coming through.

 

Well, that was different ! A great show from 9600 and the departure from Melton was non too shabby ! Enjoy =)

 

My video of the unusual pairing yesterday at six locations.

 

The outbound Melton Rambler at Water Orton and near Syston on 12th August 2017

 

The Harringworth Shuttle on the Welland/Harringworth Viaduct 12th August 2017

 

The returning Melton Rambler, running backwards at Ashfordby Crossing and forwards at Burbage Common on 12th August 2017

 

The Cotswold Express, which was previously scheduled for 16th September and clashed with the Tornado trip, has now been re-dated to 14th October and replaces the Welsh Marches which had been on that date. I found out about this when I received a booking confirmation email out of the blue, so it looks as if everyone who was booked onto the Welsh Marches trip has had their booking transferred to the Cotswold Express instead.

 

Just received the latest e-mail newsletter from VT. As well as details of the exchange of the Cotswold/Welsh Marches trips, mentioned above, Ben includes the following final paragraph:

"After an absence from the mainline of nearly 30 years, we are excited to announce the public recommissioning of Tyseley's flagship loco, 7029 'Clun Castle' on Sunday 29th October. Full details to follow soon."

Under the various tour details, we find this:

7029 'Clun Castle' Public Dedication
Sunday 29th October
It is fitting that in our 50th Anniversary year we will have the opportunity to re-introduce the steam locomotive that launched the preservation movement at Tyseley in 1967: 'Clun Castle'
The provisional program for the day will be:

• 09:00 - LMRCA Club Opens (Trade Stands, Ticket Sales & Refreshments)
• 10:00 - Tyseley Locomotive Works Opens
• 11:00 - No: 7029 'Clun Castle' Recommissioning Ceremony on the Turntable
• 16:00 - Event Closes

Throughout the day there will be steam passenger shuttle trains and turntable demonstrations. 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' will also be in steam; the first time a pair of double-chimney Castles will be in steam next to each other in over 50 years!
Tickets for the 7029 'Clun Castle' Public Dedication and Open Day will be available for purchase on the day at £20 for Adults; no charge for accompanied children 15 and under.

 

Times are now on RTT for 5043's trip to Chester on 30/09. Nice to see the times available so early for once!

The website says it picks up at BHM on the outward journey but RTT shows the outward path avoids BHM and goes via Walsall, so VT obviously couldn't get the path they wanted there.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...17/09/30/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

I’m toying with making a booking on the Shropshire Express and/or the Cotswold Express. Noting that in each case the stock is not usually reversed during the tour, I would be more inclined to book if I knew whether standard class will be at the front or rear of the train on each tour. If this information is known at this stage, perhaps Ben could kindly update us.

Nick M

 

Do they still have enthusiast class?

 

They do on a lot of the trips but not for these circular ones, because they can't be certain at this point exactly how the train is going to be formed. The buffet coach with the Enthusiast seats could be at the front, or it could also be at the back.

 

Might be quite a crowd upon arrival in Chester tomorrow as the Chester Chronicle have been publicising the trip on their website and social media pages.

 

That will make the lineside busier and the potential for lunatic asylum to set up in the cess !

 

In the rain at Bordesley

https://www.flickr.com/photos/31339850@N06/37406463691/in/dateposted-public/

graham

 

At Searchlight Lane Junction en route for Crewe and Chester...

 

Cotswold Explorer has disappeared from the website. Anyone know reasons why?

 

Don't know the answer for sure. Its only 48 hours since I received the most recent VT "Steaming into Autumn" email, which did include the Cotswold Explorer. But having just checked, I'm now getting a "Page not Found" message, so maybe its got something to do with the rejigging of the tour programme that took place in mid-August to shift bookings from the Welsh Marches outing and run the Explorer next week in its place - with a resultant surge of bookings for this tour? Hopefully this will be the simple and logical explanation for the removal of tour details.

 

Tour cancelled due to electrification work in Oxford area. Not possible to turn and service the loco as planned.