Tornado Christmas Express: 7/12/19

Is this the RTT for the outward journey?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10548/2019-12-07/detailed
and this the return
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10555/2019-12-07/detailed

 

Yes it is.

I see that the stock arrives from Eastleigh just 10 mins before Tornado is due to depart. What could possibly go wrong? <BJ>

 

Well there's the 17 minutes at Bescot to attach 60163 and POB to the rear of the train, plus another 14 minutes to reverse at Bushbury Junc, so plenty of time!

 

If the stock is coming from Eastleigh it will be the Torbay Express stock. Does that mean it is a DB operation not West Coast.

 

The timings on RTT (post 1) are 'FRGT' so I would presume that to be the case.


PS -- anyone heading for Wolverhampton note this is a West Midlands trains strike day !

 

Confirmed as DB Cargo by the Train Service Code of 72030204


Cheers, Neil

 

Oh, and there's a light engine move from Bushbury Junc DGL to Didcot as well, so diesel free tour.

 

Oh dear. Some very strange timings for the return. <BJ>

18:16 pass Swindon
18:43 pass Didcot Parkway
19:05 - 19:35 Reading. Service reverses here. Pathed as diesel locomotive, trailing load 455 tonnes at 100mph from here.
19:53 pass Didcot north
20:03 pass Oxford etc, etc.

 

60163 is off to Lincoln the following day.

https://www.a1steam.com/christmas/

Though I'm not sure a class 67 counts as modern when it's 8 years older than 60163!

 

My last tour of the year, so hopefully it will be a good one - it usually is with 60163. The West Midlands Railway strikes have scuppered my original plan of boarding at New Street, so I'll have to drive to Tame Bridge Parkway instead. Also, Royal Mail's incompetence means I still haven't received my ticket - not the original one that A1SLT sent out First Class on Friday, nor the second one that they re-sent to me First Class on Tuesday! I'll just have to take my booking confirmation instead, and find whichever steward it is who has my name written down on his seating plan!

 

WMR strikes reported as off.

 

"However, this agreement has come too late to withdraw Saturday’s amended timetable as the national deadline for short-notice changes has passed. Future schedules are of course being amended to ensure a full Saturday service is reinstated from 14th December, including Advance ticket quotas."
https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/industrialaction

 

If you email them they will tell you your coach and seat number. We did but tickets arrived this morning. Coach F is standard class so front or back. Steam comes off at Reading on the return. Wayne Thompson relieving at BTM lunchtime and taking the return leg

 

ECS 9 early Aston

 

Tornado away on time. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10548/2019-12-07/detailed

Diesel en route to Didcot. <BJ>
https://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U10549/2019-12-07

 

Didn't make its booked stop at Banbury as the XC due to overtake it was cancelled, so running slightly early.

 

No great effort needed to keep time. 60 at Harbury tunnel from Leamington start 72.4 max

 

Drifting into Banbury.
Despite no longer needing to stop, she was put through the speed-restricted P4 rather than being allowed through P3 at speed.

 

Approaching Acock's Green