Cathedrals Express to Alton, 2/12/17

Apparently wires were down last night, so emergency possession delayed ECS.

 

That's going to give the railway contracts departments some complex compensation work to do!

 

So not a lot anyone could do.

 

works out well, only 20 minutes between this and tornado instead of 90minutes between feltham and woking

 

Indeed - but RTT shows nothing about the BBP being at Victoria yet, and all the ECS moves are unavailable on RTT too. I hope steam is not jinxed today!

 

RTT now come to life - 5L at Clapham Junc

 

I guess that the visits to Carol concerts at Alresford and Winchester are screwed for passengers on the Special. I also wonder if the return trip will be retimed. Can't see the turning move for the Black Five going ahead today due to the delayed Railtour.

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Just heard this rattling along the end of the road where we live in Aldershot. Didn't go out for this as I am feeling really rough today.

Looking at videos on YouTube it appears that the Class 47 has been tucked in behind the tender of the Black Five.

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Yes the 47 was tucked in behind the tender - Wasn't the original plan for the diesel to haul it down the MHR whilst the Black Five headed off to turn around ?

 

The turning move to Guildford today for the Black Five has now been cancelled on RTT due to the late arrival of the outward leg. I wonder when it will now take place.

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Return departed on time so no Carol Concert. A friend who is on the train said you couldn't hear the Black 5 for the Diesel so once again, although in this instance not directly of their making, another Steam Dreams trip that proves to be a waste of time and money for the passengers.

 

Yes, it did. Have been told that this was the highlight of the trip.

 

The black five and the 47 took the train in to the loop outside Alton where the black five was detached and a mid-hants steam loco (which I was told was Cheltenham,but could not see it) was attached and headed off to Alresford. 45212 was left while WCRC apparently were trying to renegotiate a new path for the Guildford/Woking turning move.

Train appeared to be well loaded. I wonder if anyone who didnt want to hang around for 2 hrs was offered a refund? I would imagine a day SD will want to forget.

 

SD not having much luck with trips down this way at the moment.
The trip on Tuesday has turned out as a bit of a bugger for anyone boarding it at Aldershot in the morning as the return journey goes straight through at 22.37. I wonder why they lost the set down on the return. I don't recall Aldershot being that busy at that time of day!
It is a long day on Tuesday as well. Gets back to Alton at 23.03. IIRC Daylight Railtours to the same destination departed and returned at civilised hours. The only really long day with a Daylight Railtours excursion was with 45407 to the SVR. It was a very, very long day but it was very enjoyable!

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Just seen a video shot from first bridge out of Alton, yes it was 925 on theMHR with the Diesel tucked inside still.

 

To be honest there is no way I would waste my money by booking a trip with Steam Dreams these days.

 

Not brilliant, but necessary track with steam on the front. 45212 vocal when allowed to accelerate, but evidence of Spoonage on many of the gradients. I found the tucked-in arrangement rather curious on this occasion, as the support coach was at the back during the ECS, where one would have thought 45212 should have been from the start. In fact, the support coach was the reason for defective train heating.

 

A very enjoyable Railtour...a long time ago, but still very memorable for all the right reasons..

 

It is another occasion where the Charter Market, being outside Delay Repay, lets customers down. The Charter TOCs really need to look into this and ensure delays beyond their control are compensated.