34028 and going Main Line

Indeed, now shown as 2 x Cromptons on R Herald Railtours

 

RTC have confirmed that 34028 will haul both The Varsity Explorer, Slough - Chester, on 25th October, and The Chiltern Explorer, Manchester - Reading, on 1st November.

Presumably 34028 will spend the week at Carnforth in between the two trips.

 

Before the trip to Chester on the 25th, I wonder if WCRC will want to undertake a running-in turn (once the middle connecting rod is in place) for 34028 as well as, perhaps, another loaded test train?
Can't see anything on RTT yet - but perhaps repairs at Herston Works (?) are not yet complete or the rod not yet re-fitted at Southall.

 

Did it come back to Herston Peter? I thought there was no access for a low loader at Southall with Three Bridges being weight and width restricted and a very difficult turn (too long for a loco) on to the Uxbridge Road at Iron Bridge. I have seen no mention of a rail movement anywhere. I know the latest Steam Railway says it was, but these days if they told me the time I think I want to see a clock first to see if they were correct.

 

There is access for a low loader but the only loading point I know about is on the LSL side. I don’t know if they would allow anything associated with WC to use it though

 

I thought the component(s) went back to Herston but the loco remained at Southall?

 

So did I.
It seems my ".. but perhaps repairs at Herston Works (?) are not yet complete or the rod not yet re-fitted at Southall." could have been phrased better.

 

Still not heard any more about 34028's situation but RTT has the following:
WCRC Southall to Slough - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U67948/2025-10-25/detailed
Slough to Chester - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U67949/2025-10-25/detailed
Probably turning on the triangle of lines at Chester (with water and coaling?): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U67950/2025-10-25/detailed
Probably this is the ECS to get 34028 to Carnforth: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U67951/2025-10-25/detailed
Diesel return of excursion to Slough: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U67952/2025-10-25/detailed

 

Loco plus support coach would be shown as ECS, but "Pathed as Diesel locomotive, trailing load 715 tonnes" is odd as that would normally apply for a steam loco with a full length train.

 

Trackside magazine said the loco was reassembled by 25th September.

There is a turning move from Southall on Friday 24 so could double as a run in turn but is cutting it a little fine!

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U67995/2025-10-24/detailed

Also the turning move at Chester is before the train arrives in a platform on arrival from Slough.

Andrew

 

SLL now has a webpage detailing 34028’s upcoming main line duties

https://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/Main_Line/SLL_Main_Line.html

 

Apparent return to Southall: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U67996/2025-10-24/detailed

 

Didn't there use to be a turntable at Southall, ? OK, i'm going back to the days when Flying Scotsman was based there, But i seem to remember there being a turntable, Of course, my memory could be wrong, it is a long time ago,

 

Can't see one on Google maps satellite view.

 

In my youth, the turntable was at the east end of the site, towards Collett Way.

 

I believe it was cut in the early 80's

 

My recollections would support the removal of any turntable (well ?) before FS became based at Southall.
When helping the support team I never even noticed evidence of a filled-in pit. Possibly this might have been due to extensive and, in places, rampant weed growth obscuring large parts of the overall site.

 

There was a turntable in BR days - see attached 1974 OS Map.
View map: Ordnance Survey, TQ1379NW - B - Ordnance Survey 1:1,250 scale map - Ordnance Survey National Grid Maps, 1940s-1970s

 

Seemingly, the Friday turning/running-in move with 33025 and support coach went OK according to RTT:


Saturday's The Varsity Explorer, from Slough to Chester, seems to have arrived in Chester with reasonable time-keeping throughout according to RTT. [34028 + support coach + 10 coaches + 47812 providing ETS 'therms' plus shovage when requested I suppose as one or two of the following videos seem to confirm]. Copyright of the videographers as always:





Great to remind oneself how good Bulleid pacifics look at speed - hopefully '28 managed it's maximum of 75 mph at least once during the trip.
It seems this was the first steam-hauled excursion over the rebuilt East-West line but might it also have been the first time 34028 has ventured onto the WCML as well as this far North ?

34028 and support coach move to WCRC Carnforth was completed - albeit a little bit late:


Trust everything goes to plan for next Saturday (1st) - The Chiltern Explorer.

 

The Chiltern Explorer 1st November 2025 https://www.railwaytouring.net/ce-01-11-25
Times courtesy of RealTime Trains:
34028 ECS: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68393/2025-11-01/detailed
34028 Manchester to Reading: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68394/2025-11-01/detailed
34028 ECS to WCRC Southall: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68395/2025-11-01/detailed
All return movements are diesel hauled.