The Mayflower 11 September

Just booked my ticket for Bittern,s battle with the Devon Banks ! Previously I have only had steam as far as Kingswear so looking forward to going further west . Two tenders , no water stops and some 446 miles of A4 haulage
Any others tempted ?

 

See this tour is fully booked . UKsteam now showing Nunney Castle assiting Bittern from Taunton to Plymouth and return .

 

During layover at Plymouth .

 

Booked on this as well. Looking forward to a Castle,A4 combo over the Banks. Should be starting at Paddington so I get steam all the way.

 

I am booked and I have to say I am NOT looking forward to a Castle / A4 combo. I booked for an A4 over the banks; to turn this into a double-headed tour at this stage is very disappointing. Furthermore if what I hear is correct, there will be further disappointment for those hoping for a single engine doing battle with the Devon banks.

 

Or when 5029 is added at Taunton?

 

Care to share your info on nunneys run the week after?

 

Am I the only one who finds statements like that annoying? All it tells me is that you've heard something. So what. If it's not worth sharing then in my view it's not worth mentioning it. :rant:

It's not the first thread this has happened on either and I don't suppose it will be the last.

:focus: As for the trip itself, I find the pairing of the Castle with an A4 an interesting combo, 2 locos for the price of one. Anyone know if it's ever happened before? If you're really not happy about the loco changes then perhaps if you contact the tour operator they may refund you your money, if they're kind enough to, and someone else could go instead. If it was me I'd sit back and enjoy the day anyway, who knows you might like it. :smile:

Dave B

 

Well I'm booked on it and cant wait for the new combination up front. It's something very interesting for standard money, can't be bad.

 

for an old man i'm going to be juvenile now! 5029/60019 UGGGGHHHH A NICE TOUR WITH THE A4 RUINED.WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO AN A4 OVER THE DEVON BANKS.likewise,if its still happening the combination of 6024/60163 over the same route uuughhhhh!

 

I think loco combinations like 60019+5029 or 6024+60163 are in the spirit of specials and excursions in the "real" steam era. Unusual combinations, espcially with a "foreign" loco, were a great attraction to enthusiasts back then. The Mayflower is a particularly appropriate working - the train comes in from "abroad" with a "foreign" loco, and a "local" pilot is added to assist over the banks. I don't have time to go searching "Six Bells" or similar sites for prototype examples, but I'm sure there are some.

Just so long as it doesn't run with a garish "local evening news excursion" headboard!! ;-)

 

That may be very true but this is a public forum where members have a right to an opinion whether any one else agrees with it or not.

 

Far better to have a steam engine attached to the front to assist rather than a box pushing at the back if the train is considered too heavy for one loco. I wish this option would be chosen more often. At least this still provides a "classic" steam run.

 

No longer shown as full booked, so they must have added some coaches.

 

In Steam Railway Magazine it says that 5029 is joining at Exeter. Anyone know if it has indeed changed to Exeter or if it is still joining at Taunton.

 

5029 confirmed as joining at Exeter and rumors of a 6.45 start from EUSTON due to pathing difficulties, to be confirmed later today.