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Steam Dreams 2019 - New Summer and other tours

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by jackshepherd, Mar 29, 2019.

  1. jackshepherd

    jackshepherd Member

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    Announced on RailAdvent, Steam Dreams are running a new series of tours from London Waterloo under the title of 'The Royal Windsor Steam Express'. The tours will run every Tuesday from 4th June to the 3rd September departing at 8am, 11.10am and 14.10. Tickets cost £35 for standard and £85 for Pullman style dining.

    On the same day there will be an evening tour departing Waterloo at 18.00 under the title of 'The Sunset Steam Express' running around the Surrey Hills. Tickets starting at £99 for premier dining upto £129 for Pullman dining.

    Website links
    http://www.royalwindsorsteamexpress.co.uk/
    http://www.sunsetsteamexpress.co.uk/

    Nice to see some extra regular steam trips in the Summer months, hope its works well for Steam Dreams
     
  2. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Pretty reasonable value, though wondering whether there will be tender first running back to Waterloo, or a diesel drag to Staines then steam round to Weybridge before a run back to Waterloo. The trial run on 9 April will probably give some indication of the format.
     
  3. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Judging by the times, I'm guessing it's just steam out, diesel back, the steam round the Surrey Hills in the evening with a diesel on the back.
     
  4. UP13

    UP13 New Member

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    I think Steam Dreams have done well to come up with a cheap steam option that doesn't last the whole day.

    Since being married with three children, I don't get to do that many (if any) steam tours anymore as the are just too expensive, but at these prices I can afford to take the missus and myself to Windsor for a romantic lunch and not require babysitting all day.

    Also according to IanVisits the day time trip is only one way and you need to get a conventional service back to Waterloo.
     
  5. Panniertank

    Panniertank New Member

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    Also according to IanVisits the day time trip is only one way and you need to get a conventional service back to Waterloo.

    That is also what the website says, 'one way only'. I assume the train will need to be serviced, whilst returning to Waterloo, for the next journey
     
  6. UP13

    UP13 New Member

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    Would the price of the ticket include the return journey on South Western Railway?
     
  7. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

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    Reading to the website, I don't think so.
     
  8. BR 73082

    BR 73082 Member

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    Quick phone shot of Mayflower sat in Waterloo for the press launch of these Summer trips. Departs back to Southall at 15:09 if anyone is about.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. Adam-Box

    Adam-Box Member

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    I didn't think there was capacity for steam out of Waterloo, glad that there are.
     
  10. BR 73082

    BR 73082 Member

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    It required us (SWR Train Planning) to make quite a few platform alterations to allow it to sit there that long. Believe everything booked in 19 during that time shifted to 18. So not quite as simple as there being spare capacity!
     
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  11. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    I thought 61306 was inoperable for boiler repairs, hence the cancelled tours? In steam on ITV News at Waterloo. Light steam OK, load not?
     
  12. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    I think the point being made was about the regular series of trips.
     
  13. BR 73082

    BR 73082 Member

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    Yes, some of us were just as surprised there was the capacity for that too!
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2019
  14. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Firstly the news was released on the steam dreams page . Rail advent recycle news . Secondly why would you book for a one way tour like that when it must have to return to waterloo
     
  15. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    Comment from SD on Facebook:

    The Steam Dreams Rail Co Thats correct Sean, she was assisted heavily by the diesel today but will not be able to haul any passenger trains until the boiler issue is fixed, which will take some time.

    "some time" sounds a bit worrying for SD!
     
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  16. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Yes very strange
     
  17. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    The poorly 61306 is going to feature on the ITV London news very shortly. Not sure if it will be on the BBC London news at 6.30pm.

    Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
     
  18. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    It was on BBC News at 18:45. No mention of it being only a show pony of course.
     
  19. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    Saw a clip on BBC London news of 61306 approaching Waterloo and there was a burst of what sounded like real effort. I'm surprised the risk was taken (admittedly not knowing the nature of the boiler issue) with the loco, which has only a little over a month and a half to be repaired, tested and passed for main line use again by 4 June. What a shame that a Southern loco was not available for the summer's runs, but the general public probably won't care.
     
  20. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    I suspect that, had the extra ex-Eurostar platforms not been put into domestic use, the capacity would not be there. What a fine by-product of that project!
     

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