Saphos Trains 'Golden Arrow' - 26/10/19

A bit early for a thread but Saphos have released some information about the Golden Arrow tour, and 70014 is to return from the dead!

"We are pleased to announce that our Golden Arrow Tour on Saturday 26th October will be hauled by 70000 Britannia (subject to availability) and she will be running as long lost classmate 70014 'IRON DUKE'.

70014 was one of the locomotives that traditionally operated this service and this will be a rare chance to see 70000 running on the mainline as a long lost classmate in full Golden Arrow regalia.

Tickets are already very limited so book yours today!"

www.saphostrains.com

 

Well, I've filmed her as 70004 so 'twill be nice to see 70014 this time!

 

Standard class full so I have booked first class at the discounted rate of £99. Really could not miss this one

 

Times are up and, to my uneducated eye, it looks to be diesel free.

ECS: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54716/2019-10-26/detailed
OUT: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54718/2019-10-26/detailed
PILOT???: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54717/2019-10-26/detailed
RETURN: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54721/2019-10-26/detailed
PILOT???: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54723/2019-10-26/detailed
ECS: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54724/2019-10-26/detailed

Rare steam over Martin Mill Bank near me nowadays, even rarer if it's diesel free. Not allowed to drive after hip replacement so will have to cadge a lift off the management!

 

We are on it. Hoping it will run DL free. Could be last minute decision to keep the DL on if the weather turns nasty again. Walmer bank can be a pain but I have had some very good runs up there in the past with 34067 even in poor conditions. Overall a good return path so hoping for a good flight across the Weald of Kent, my old stamping ground where I photographed 70000 running as 70014 in 1994. See next but one Heritage Railway.

 

Folkestone Harbour Branch Junction, 07.05.94 whilst we were working shuttles from the harbour with 80079/80.

 

Have I got this right? Looks like the stock isn't coming down from Crewe until tomorrow morning.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54719/2019-10-26/detailed

 

Does anyone have timings for the Golden Arrow tomorrow, please? They are not on the UK Steam website.

In particular, I am looking for the time outwards at Sevenoaks and return through Staplehurst. Any help would be gratefully received!

 

A tad risky - let's hope the stock move runs well.

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=LS

 

Out
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54718/2019-10-26/detailed

Return
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54721/2019-10-26/detailed

 

Brilliant! Thanks, Anthony. I may have to miss the outward run but should see it on the way back.

 

No worries, Saphos timings are under LS (Locomotive services) on Realtime trains not FRGT.

 

Wow, coming through Stafford at 0400. Don't think I'll be up in time to film it...

But a hell of a long day for the support crew responsible for 70000/14!

Edit: I see the ecs is timed for 95mph so possibly not steam?

Is the Brit already at Southall?

 

The loco is at Southall though I believe.

 

Thanks. Definitely won't be getting up early then

 

Its a preserved steam loco, on a British railway, in autumn with no diesel, the weather does not look good and the loco and consist start out 200 miles apart. What could possibly go wrong?

Anyway, have they done anything special to it, other than change the number & name plate?

 

Well, the preserved loco bit probably ensures the best possible condition for the motive power, but the rest is, shall we say, 'variable'! Now the lines from Euston are closed after an incident. Probably OK for the ECS movement by the small hours, but who knows?
I don't think there's much that could reasonably be changed apart from name and number.

 

Out of interest, what is the engine booked on this?