Vintage Trains: Plans for 2018

Bahamas looks stunning and I look forward to seeing her running main-line charters.

I will be pleased to see VT back in operation too, a very impressive outfit. My trip behind the Earl on the Welsh Marches last year was one of my best ever outings. It will be interesting to see how the performance and reliability of Clun compares to the Earl.

What will the Tyseley workshops focus on now that Bahamas and Clun Castle are up and running? Will it be straight into the overhaul of 5043? I don't expect they will be ready to start on Defiant just yet. What about the Duke and Kolhapur?

 

7027? I understand it’s being restored there.

 

There were four Castles at Tyseley this weekend: Clun, the Earl (patched up so it could be steamed for the weekend), Defiant and one lacking a lot of bits including name and numberplates, which I presume must be Thornbury, though https://www.thornburycastle7027.co.uk/ still says it "is now in under-cover storage in Somerset".

 

When I was there yesterday, the fourth castle did have a 7027 smokebox number plate.

 

I followed the link but couldn't see any intermediate runs to/from Small Heath. Looked to me like one round trip.

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10929/2018/10/09/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10930/2018/10/09/advanced

 

Thank you. I'm not very good at searching on RTT.

 

Can't the diesel shadow the main train rather than be attached to the back? Punters would be happier paying a bit extra to ensure that the diesel, if one is needed as insurance, goes it alone!

 

According to UKSteam, that is 7029 Clun Castle's test run.

 

Correction: I am now advised that this is NOT 7029 but a diesel hauled training run !

David

 

Glad you told us that David. I had planned to drive up to the Midlands to film it!

 

4936 Kinlet Hall seems likely to be the next to be completed.

 

TOC is showing up as 'TY' on that RTT link, however 'TY' does not show up as an operator on the search page, so who knows, no doubt be updated and sorted in time. Be good to see them back out.

 

I think you might be in for a surprise re that!

 

What do you mean by 'surprise'?

 

Please spare us another "I know/think I know something but I am not going to say" post!

 

5z65 a clue?

 

AKA - Albert?

 

Be quite helpful for us "not in the know"
A non cryptic post would be appreciated.