Berk and Hants Aqua Sulis: Solihull to Bristol

On 15th October with 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. Out via Berk and Hants and returning via Swindon.
Outline times apparently

Solihull 07.05 22.59
Dorridge 07.16 22.54
Warwick Parkway 07.27 22.34

Sorry thats all I have. Also those north of Reading don't forget 70000 is running Ashford to Stratford upon Avon on the same day. You wait for ages for a steam charter then two come along at once. Typical! :laugh:

 

Returning via Bath or Bristol Parkway. BPW I suspect. <BJ>

 

VT website advertises Box Tunnel on the return.

 

It was the same on the 17th of September, we had 5043 & DoNZ in the Reading area. Nothing since apart from a 70000 LE move.

 

Good to see the GUV is due to be involved. After all this is basically the same itinerary as the tour on 16th June that was booked over 5 1/2 hours for 133 miles on the return. Indeed, Challow to Oxford, pass to arrive, was 2 1/2 hours for 20 miles!

 

Thanks for that. The name of the train is a bit of a give away. 'Aquae Sulis' is the old Roman name for the City of Bath. <BJ>

 

Times on UKsteam.info now

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t1015e.htm

 

It is, although when setting up this thread my Latin was a bit ropey - aqua should be in the genitive form aquae!

Good news to read about the GUV, about time it was used again. Still doesn't prevent early pick ups and late set downs though.

EDIT: From the timings on uksteam it looks as though the water carrier isn't going to be on this train after all. http://uksteam.info/tours/t11/t1015e.htm

 

Those times are all over the place. 30 mins Bath to Swindon, start to stop on the return, 28.6 miles. Yet Challow to Didcot North Junc is booked 36 mins for 10.5 miles! Should mean some good running at times though. Plus an hour longer in Bristol for the passengers.

 

Swindon arrival is 1906 not 1900 (my mistake) making Bath to Swindon 36 mins.

David

 

With sunrise in Birmingham at 0732 and sunset at 1814 those of us at the top end of the run aren't going to see anything in the light or will have to travel quite a way to get a view. However the Cathedrals Express to Stratford should be in daylight at the Stratford end!!

 

Yes better give some time for the restart but if the fields are damp it doesn't take as long as you might expect! I shall be on the three arch bridge waiting for the fireworks! :cool1:

 

An Incredibly slack schedule on the outbound run - 4 hours from Banbury to Bedwyn !!

Nearly 15 mins at Oxford North Junction
50 mins at Hinksey for water
13 mins at Didcot
45 mins at Newbury Racecourse for water

Take these out and its still over 2 hours running time - not exactly going to tax 5043 is it ?


STEVE

 

Update: We are unable to stop at Banbury to pick up passengers on the outbound, bu we will be able to drop off on the return.

We suggest any Banbury passengers catch the 7:55 Cross Country service to Oxford. There is a later Cross Country service that leaves Banbury at 8:19 and passes us at Oxford N Jctn, BUT is the XC service is late, we will leave Oxford before it.

Sorry for that, but the alternative was to leave even earlier!

 

Nothing like our 0400 start to drive from Locks Heath nr Soton though. If the outward run had picked up at Leamington Spa we could have made it by train: 0516 Soton Airport Parkway. I hope the run makes this marathon day worthwhile. Sort of thing I used to do 50 years ago and lucky to still be fit enough to do it now.

Don

 

1h15m for Oxford North Jn to Hinksey is the reason for the GUV water carrier! It should see some use in the coming weeks on the 6201 trip to Glasgow.

 

Is there likely to be a diesel at the rear of the train? <BJ>

 

Unlikely i'd of thought, no obvious reversals required on the route as far as i can tell and the stock can be steam heated.

 

On this route they do tend to run out of coal though!