Belmond British Pullman 2018

Was no one out for today's run? Seen here charging up to Merstham tunnel in the pouring rain, good show and (from what I could see) well turned out as usual!

 

Here's my video of Saturday's train going through Whitton station in the pouring rain.

 

Belmond British Pullman British Rail Class 67 No.67021 & No.67024 London Victoria to Bath Spa 161P Keynsham Station - Nice Sunny Day for it.

 

Clan Line climbing past Albury Heath yesterday afternoon, sounding superb as ever.



James

 

Hand held video at Richmond 20 October 2018.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lesbailey/43674128540/

 

Belmond British Pullman British Rail Class 67 No.67021 & No.67024 London Victoria to Bath Spa 156T Keynsham Station - Another Nice Sunny Day for it.

Belmond British Pullman British Rail Class 67 No67021 by Talking to Bears 00 posted Oct 24, 2018 at 6:31 PM

 

"British Rail" ceased to exist 1997 when the last franchise was let I think. The 67's were built in 1999/2000 for EWS. Just saying...

 

Belmond British Pullman British Rail Class 67 Bo-Bo No.67024 London Victoria to Bath Spa 156T 24/10/18 Keynsham Station

British Rail Class 67 - 67024 - 24.10.18 by Talking to Bears 00 posted Oct 26, 2018 at 6:27 PM

 

My video and some photos from Friday's Surrey Hills run, thanks to all involved. The wreath and poppies on the headcode discs were a nice gesture. My first photo shows why the ECS was a bit late into Victoria - a fight between 67021 and 66149 as the latter blocked the points into Battersea Loop. In the end, the big red 66 got scared and backed away!

 

There was a bit of a worry about securing the poppy wreath but it appears to be OK, hopefully it got back to Stewarts Lane safely

 

I heard at the line side yesterday that the December 8 Belmond trip will be completely re-routed due to an engineering blockade near Redhill. Now planned to run Victoria-High Wycombe-Oxford-GWML-Victoria. Passed on in good faith, so don't shoot the messenger, but the gentleman concerned was from the MNLPS and seemed extremely well informed.

 

From National Rail Enquires : -

Start date
08/12/2018
End date
09/12/2018
Route affected
Download map of route affected -Map
Great Western Railway between Reading and Gatwick Airport

Southern between Reigate and London Victoria

Thameslink between Bedford and Brighton / Gatwick Airport / Three Bridges and also between Peterborough and Horsham

Gatwick Express between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport / Brighton

Train operators affected
Great Western Railway , Southern , Thameslink
Description
Engineering work is taking place between Purley and Redhill / Gatwick Airport / Reigate, closing lines at various locations and at various times over the weekend.

Gatwick Express:

Saturday & Sunday:

A reduced half-hourly train service will run between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.



Southern:

Saturday & Sunday:

Southern services will be diverted and will be unable to call at all intermediate stations between Purley and Horley. Replacement buses will be in operation calling at these stations.

Thameslink:

Saturday & Sunday:

Thameslink services will be diverted and will be unable to call at all intermediate stations between Purley and Earlswood. Replacement buses will be in operation calling at these stations.

 

This is correct, subject to a couple of gauge clearance checks needing to be carried out.

 

So whats going to happen with this in view of the Engineering works that day. I see it did at one point have a potential route of Victoria/Streatham/Wimbledon/SW main line to Guildford. Which would have provided some different filming opportunities. Now it seems the route is up in the air again (gauging failed I guess).

So we have three potential outcomes.

Different route - Steam
Different route - Diesel
Postponement.

Only one of which carries any real interest here I guess.

 

Already posted on Belmond 2018 thread - likely to run Victoria - High Wycombe - Oxford - GWML - Victoria circuit, Clan Line throughout.

 

My bad, thanks.

 

Is it naive to suppose that the BBP will follow the same path around the HiWy - Oxford - Reading section as the UKRT tour on 24th Nov? How might it get from Victoria to the GC/GW Joint line?

 

West London line to Willesden, through the sidings to Acton Wells Junction, on to the GW mainline at Acton, and turn off at West Ealing through Drayton to Greenford.

 

Yup, you have the unusual sight of Clan Line going through Drayton Green

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55204/2018/12/08/advanced