THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS 11/6 Paddington-Shrewsbury

Yes and UKSteam are still showing Bittern, lets just wait and see

 

So why are SD still showing 6024 here? Top tour.

http://www.steamdreams.co.uk/Execut...press&DB=SteamDreams&Division=A&ActionCode=TC

 

In this case I don't think it is the which loco confusion, but the fact of the loss of 200 miles of steam traction compared to the original itinerary. I might be wrong, but a lot of this stems from the West Coast/Tornado Group debacle as 60163 was originally restered for this. This is what happens when people don't agree on something. It is becoming more & more common in "our industry".

 

Looking at the timings for Tangmere's tour to Cardiff http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0611b.htm and the run for 'Bittern' http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0611a.htm to Abergavenny and Shrewsbury, there is 7 mins difference in arrival at Severn Tunnel Junction. How likely is it that the timings for one of the tours will change?

 

I've never been on a Steam Engine Day Trip before..... this *was* going to be my first..... I was really looking forward to visiting Hereford, including the Cathedral and the Mappa Mundi.... and not just *seeing* and *hearing* the impressive steam loco in Brunel's Paddington Station, but getting to ride behind it as well

When Steams Dreams / Cathedral Express sent me the 'finalised' itinerary I was very concerned about the significant time change/s that had been made at such short notice -- I had been ready to except minor changes, but NOT significant changes. The lack of steam for *over* half the journey didn't help either -- It was then that, thanks to Google, I discovered this amazingly informative forum - and have therefore been following this thread with great interest since the weekend.

Can someone please briefly explain/summarise what's happening to this trip as the information coming out from Steam Dreams/Cathedrals Express seems limited at best.

Why was/is the original steam train unable to make the original full trip from Paddington to Shrewsbury as advertised by Steam Dreams?

Why have the timings been so significantly changed?

TIA

Paul

 

Engineering works between Paddington & Reading = reduced line capacity = pathing problems = need for a box!

And i only wanted to see her flying through Iver, Oh well I'll just have to wait for July.

 

Thanks - yes Steam Dreams said in their itinerary that there are only two lines open between Paddington and Reading -- but that now begs the question, why no steam from at least *Reading* instead?

Can someone point me to the website that lists the engineering works details please -- the only engineering works I can find online appear to be taking place overnight or during Sunday.

OK, sorry, what's a 'box'? (I've tried googling, but only seem to find 'Boxcab' which I don't think this is) - I'm a confused member of the *paying* public.

TIA

Paul

 

Engineering work probably won't be published anywhere, only on internal Network Rail documents. Box = diesel.

 

Thanks Neil - beat me to it

Its not the first time SD have fallen foul of engineering works, St Georges day trips to Stratford this year & last year, both re routed from the Chiltern lines to go via Oxford, pain in the backside for those getting 'on' at Beconsfield, being bused to Slough, I was miffed because it meant no steam through Ruislip, and we dont get much!

 

Adding/removing steam at Reading would cause no end of problems, with platform space and pathing of the diesel and steam on and off the stock being an issue. Didcot is the nearest location to London where steam could be added. This could be done in the goods loop just west of the station or further along towards Swindon at Milton.

 

Steam has come off at Reading. 6024 was swapped for a diesel on the return of the Royal Oak last July in the goods sidings/loop on the West side of Reading Station . The were still some of the goods sidings/loop when I passed on the Stratford trip in April ( Some had been removed ) , but I do not know if they are still in use, and I do not know if they are accessable on the way out.

 

So what is on the cards at the moment? I have tickets telling me to expect a King to back down onto the train in Bristol yet the support crew of said loco have not been asked to crew the trip. Steam Dreams booking office haven't a clue what is happening and are telling customers different things. Personally I'm not even sure if there will be a tour on Saturday and wont be surprised to find a postponement email in my inbox. As a side note it is interesting to see that uksteam have never listed the King for this trip, was it ever booked by SD?

 

The up & down goods lines have now gone. I think Up & down goods reception lines are still in to Reading West Jn but I doubt whether they are suitable to add/remove locos, especially with Freightliner traffic sometimes using them to wait for paths across to Reading West.

 

Agreed, don't expect engine changes at Reading, they don't happen anymore, especially since Virgin Cross Country trains went 'units'. Like Ralph, I should hope organisers are onto this in a big way, seems organization of steam trips especially in South is tough (when bearing in mind so many late engine changes aswel) . Good luck to those waiting for info...

 

I'm not dragging anything up, as I said the tour was originally booked for 60163 & the itinerary based on this. 60163 is now not being used for the reasons I stated, no argument there that is a fact. I'm not taking sides with either WCRC or the 60163 group. It has possibly been decided that any alternative loco could not fulfil the whole run for whatever reasons. Regarding the engineering works between London & Reading, surely these must of been planned when the tour was being organised. I don't think they are emergency works. I don't think it is a case of "sod it", seems all the homework wasn't done when the tour was arranged. If the tour was announced with diesel haulage from London to Bristol & back from the outset, there would of been none of this, people could of made their minds up before booking.

 

Don't forget the through line between platforms 8 & 9 was also removed a few years ago when the "toy trains", sorry voyagers, took over the X country routes.

 

Out of interest, can somebody confirm that?

Paul

 

The trip was announced last November.How long in advance do Network rail have to annouce planned engineering works ?