Steam Dreams 2021

60103 after our return at Waverley yesterday afternoon.

 

Look at that! How could you not love the Gresley machines when they look this good!
Cracking shot!

 

Its June 1963 as A3 60052 Prince Palantine races towards Dalmeny on an Aberdeen - Edinburgh Waverley express ...

Well it could have been not a lot to give away this is June 2021, the A3 is 60103 Flying Scotsman


Scottish Summer steam 1963 ... by inspiring.images, on Flickr

 

60103 on the Carlisle - Hellifield leg, 27.06.21. Not good light, plus the diesel was definitely winning the exhaust stakes...

 

Clapped out?...

 

Flying Scotsman is seen at Birkett Common being given plenty of assistance on the climb to Aisgill Summit.

 

Oh dear, that did touch a nerve didn't it. How dare anybody say such a thing! lol
Nice to see all you real experts putting us right though....

 

Meanwhile, back in the real world, 60103 seems to have completed its Scottish tour without too much ado.

 

So as requested by then i wrote to steamdreams and requested a refund, plus pointing out I wasn't impressed that they had cancelled at such short notice when they presumably had booked the stock on its jolly to Scotland sometime ago. In their reply they ignored the second point entirely.

 

What is the thinking on whether the trip from Southend on the 10th is still going ahead, and, if so, what is the likely route from London southwards?

 

Yes, that does seem very poor planning and PR.

 

Timings are on RTT
Victoria Eastbourne (Steam): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52227/2021-07-10/detailed
Eastbourne -Hastings (Diesel): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52228/2021-07-10/detailed
Then the unexpected: Hastings back to Eastbourne (Steam): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52229/2021-07-10/detailed
And after two hours in the sidings at Eastbourne, back to Hastings (Diesel): - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52232/2021-07-10/detailed
Finally, back to London from Hastings via Tunbridge Wells (Steam as far as Acton):- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52233/2021-07-10/detailed

No word on the SD website as to motive power. 35018 will be at Southall nicely warmed up after the previous day's RTC trip to Weymouth. That would be a lovely sight and sound, but I'm not raising my hopes!

 

I can’t see that there is anywhere to take water in those timings so it suggests a big water capacity but, even with a MN it seems to be a bit optimistic to do that journey without topping up. A lot of pushing by the diesel on the back?

 

It waits for 11 minutes at p17 at CJ - could a fire hose be run down from the forecourt above? Never known it here before but...

 

I suppose it could be dropped down from Brighton Yard but it would be a bit awkward as the track is against the retaining wall on 17. As you say, if they do it will be a first.

 

That would be nice. Tornado is down south too, but are either cleared for the route? Can't recall the last time a MN did it.

 

The starting signal is on the platform so the tender would be under the platform canopy/bridge, but doable with a hose I would have thought. This shot shows the starter on the far right; drop the hose down and along the platform a few metres... It's also a slightly difficult re-start with the sharp reverse curves and the back half of the train also on a steep-ish climb (1 in 70?).

 

If Tornado was to do it, an overnight move to Taunton would be in order as she's due on the Duchy the next day!

 

Possible now I see that, I didn’t realise the platform extended that far