6024 - THE St DAVIDS DAY CATHEDRALS EXPRESS & HELP FOR HEROES SPECIAL 01/03/11

Other than the GWR Paddington - Plymouth runs in the 1948 exchanges, the only route on which the King was trialled was the GN Kings Cross - Leeds route IIRC. Slightly more generous loading gauge than the LSWR and LNWR main lines also used in the trials.

 

Only platforms long enough at Paddington for 2 loco's + 13 are 1, 10 and 11. 10 is tight, and loco will be off the platform, and more than 7 cars on 11 blocks use of plat 12. Plats 1, 6&7 (HEX), 8&9 and currently 12 (gateline being re-built) are not gated. Then the problem with 1 is that to get to and from the relief lines it needs to cross the whole throat of the station, so that could well be the pathing issues.

 

Thanks for clarifying the gauging and pathing issues.

 

Hi colin, Ron said yes he sure it is the 1st time a king been in and out of euston; are you still doing the run ?on the 1st march;??
all the best
jane x

 

Got a bit worried when I just checked my e-mails and found that Steam Dreams had sent out "amended" tickets to me today. I thought "What have they changed now?" but when I opened them they were exactly the same as the ones I had yesterday. Did anyone else on here get their tickets sent to them again?

 

Yes. The only change being is the change from Paddington to Euston on the return.They have obviously had a number of people query why for the return the letter stated Euston and the tickets stated Paddington.

 

Glad to here it's more a pathing issue than outright gauging at Paddington, was beginning to think by the time 6023 is ready there wont be anywhere left that it fits.

 

But look at the benefits.....through Reading NON_STOP !!! And Twyfords a great little station, very modern good for the kids to see THE KING

 

Good answer but very odd though. Assuming she will be on the main line, traffic is very light at the time of arrival, so a cross to No 1 platform shouldn't cause a problem. HSTs are doing it throughout the day. Its a shame that the organisers can't expand a bit on 'pathing issues' as I'm sure the dedicated would like to know. I know Euston is only down the road (walked it many times as a lad) so I suppose passengers not put at hardship. Probably work well for some anyway. Roll on the 1st; Twyford here I come !

 

Got to admit I panicked earlier checking my emails on the tickets.... Had to have a double check.

I'm not too sure on the gauging thing.... I reckon one of the platforms must have the same problem as Victoria at the blocks to be honest.

I haven't got a clue on how planning works, but do you have to have a back up plan with pathing on a secondary platform?

 

Why not buy a platform ticket ?looking forward to this run one of my last run's with the king before i hang up my cooking gloves for the society;hope everyone enjoy the run;
all the best
jane;

 

the official reply from Steam Dreams:

It will be possible to view the loco at Paddington but this depends on whether Network Rail staff allow non passengers onto the platform or not.

 

Do platform tickets still exist?!

 

Yep. 10p at Leamington Spa, though no machine to dispense it!

 

Well I'm quite surprised about that! Didn't think the privatised railway would be bothered with things like platform tickets.

 

A King at Euston, wow thats got to be worth seeing! As for a standing start of Horfield bank well it will nearly be a standing start after running around the Rhubarb and the crossovers at Lawrence Hill the King will be into the climb as soon as the train clears thestation and doing what a GWR 4-6-0 does best, flattening the banks!!!

 

Didn't when I was on it, left it all to 7325, I should think most of |Bristol heard the mogul that night.

Cheers Dave

 

I tried to buy a platform ticket at Sailsbury last year and was told they didn't exist any more, so might depend on who operates the station. London stations are typically much more prolematic than 'country' locations.

 

IIRC the crew on 6024 were not impressed with the coal they had as 6024 just wouldn't steam. I seem to remember this is commented on in one of the PSOV ML titles. Lets hope they have some good coal for Thursday.

 

Hoping to get to Frampton Mansell with my audio gear, I've never tried recording after dark should be a totally different ambience.

Cheers Dave