2010 Steam Tours

From this recent alteration, it makes you wonder what will be doing the london - york sections.

As there is now no other available eastern themed motive power available due to engines being used on other charters or currently out of action, it will be an interesting topic on what we end up with.

Only a suggestion but if the chaps in Crewe could get it finished in time, it would be an interesting first trip for Britannia. Any other thoughts /suggestions?

Cheers

 

6233, 6201 or 6204.

6233 with Bill Andrew driving, would be my preference.

 

Letter from Steam Dream received today the Coronation is now to be hauled by 60019 (both tenders) throughout on the Saturday and then 60019 (I assume with both tenders again) will return as far as York on the Monday. 6233 will now haul the train from York to KX

 

I bet that is going to upset a few, I wonder if the support crew will put a Royal Scot Headboard on

 

From an email from Steam Dreams : -

"Our May trip from London Euston to Chester has proved very popular, and so to ensure we meet demand we will be repeating this trip on the 9th October, this time hauled most appropriately by 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. The Duchess was a regular on this route for nearly thirty years and will be making a last appearance before retiring for overhaul. It will also be the first time that any LMS pacific locomotive has arrived at Euston since the 1960s".

 

Brilliant!! I knew Steam Dreams wouldn't let us down. My mouth is literally watering with being able to see 6233 depart out of Euston, made even better by being in LMS Black!!

 

Just been shown by a friend the christmas schedules for steam tours, huge amount of tours.

34046 Braunton isnt actually down for any tours this year, tender is taking longer than expected.

(As an aside, is there anyone out there who wonders whether 34067 will be ready in time for may/june tours??? It has its boiler out, and if the repairs arent complete by end of this month, it probs takes about 2 months to put it back together. And with cracks and other damage to the boiler, i dont think it will be quick to fix)

 

Further details on Steam Dreams Christmas trip's ( from new Brochure): -

13/12 Romney Marsh Luncheon ( Starts in Hedge End, Portsmouth Direct line, Staines, London (Clapham ?)Romney Marsh, Hastings, Tundbridge Wells and back via outward route) 60163

22/12 Steam Dreams Christams Party 70000 + 70013 Surrey Hills. note out and back via Twickenham, Staines & Chertsey - does not state how this will be achieved
( Same day as White Cliffs Luncheon which is anti Clockise this year, The Climb out of Dover will be the highlight).

And some details of trips in 2011

14/2 Luncheon - 70000
14/2 A Brief Encounter in Brighton( Includes seeing the film) - 70000

1/3 Cardiff and Carmarthen 60163

 

quote LN850

(As an aside, is there anyone out there who wonders whether 34067 will be ready in time for may/june tours??? It has its boiler out, and if the repairs arent complete by end of this month, it probs takes about 2 months to put it back together. And with cracks and other damage to the boiler, i dont think it will be quick to fix)

looking at steam dreams and railway touring company itineraries for december, they seem to think it'll be ready by then.

 

Paul,

Regarding the 22nd December evening trip, the itinerary I've seen is a reverse of the Surrey Hills with an extra loop round via Willesden to get a bit of extra mileage in.
i.e. Victoria - East Croydon (not confirmed whether via Brixton or Clapham) - Redhill - Shalford - Guildford - Woking - Virginia Water - Staines - Hounslow - Barnes - Clapham Junction - Kensington Olympia - Willesden SW Sidings - South Acton - New Kew Jcn - Chiswick - Barnes - Clapham Junction - Stewarts Lane - Victoria.

It won't be double Brit's though, despite what anyone may suggest. One possibility was that 70013 would work the daytime trip and 70000 the evening.

Michael

 

Ralph - the quote was "it won't be double headed Brits"

He's probably right on that one, unless there is a superhuman effort on those firebox cracks on Cromwell - Britannia herself may make it - so - 71000???? and 70000

 

The advertised route is:
Waterloo - Clapham Junc - Twickenham - Staines - Chertsey - Woking - Guildford - Redhill - East Croydon - Herne Hill - Factory Junc - Longhedge Junc - Clapham Junc - Twickenham - Staines - Chertsey - Weybridge - Wimbledon - Clapham Junc - Waterloo.

 

The latest report on 5305la's website says 70013 is hoped to be back by the end of October with a view to taking up some of her booked work before the end of the year.
http://www.5305la.org.uk/news.aspx?ID=279

 

It definitely won't be 71000 + 70000 as 71000 is not currently operated by WCRC and the 22nd December trains are a West Coast operation. I spoke to Marcus on the Silver Jubilee a few weeks back and he said if "Ollie" is not ready it is likely to be 44932 + 70000. As Ralph says the lunchtime operation, given it is taking the "anti-clockwise" direction around Kent, is not possible without two engines.

 

Thanks DUKE71000, I've since looked and found that to be correct. The information I had has obviously been changed since.

Regarding my earlier post - I do indeed mean No Double Britannia's as opposed to No Double Heading. With any luck both 70000 and 70013 will be in action by this time but only special circumstances will see both at the head of the train. I guess I can't go ruling it out completely, but I would suggest that potential passengers don't go getting to excited at the prospect of the two 7MTs just yet a while.

 

Fantastic...

looks like I'll be getting my wallet out. This one I have confidence in.

 

Ralph, thanks, sorry to appear a bit dense (confused!) is that Britannia and Ollie together? If so, I will be booking up!