Cathedrals Express - Slough - Chester 4/12/12 - 6201

This train will be hauled by 6201 outward, and Diesel on the return due to pathing.

 

Really? Lizzie? That's good news (though the DL on the return isn't so good from my PoV). UKsteam.info still says Britannia or Bittern.

 

Marcus advised over the PA system on Saturdays trip. Listed on the 6201 website 6201 Tours

 

Now mentioned on the Steam Dreams website. <BJ>

Steam Dreams - operators of The Cathedrals Express steam train trips

 

Anything wrong with 70000?

 

Nope its at Eastleigh working to Bristol the day after.

 

Cheers for the reply.

Yet more evidence of the shocking state of the railtour industry. What is the point in advertising a loco for it then to be used instead on a different tour by a different operator the following day? I'm glad I didn’t waste my money on what was supposed to be a decent high mileage run behind 70000.

 

Is it really a diesel loco on the return due to pathing? My cynical mind wonders if it is because 6201 can then return to base at Crewe, saving a long light engine move.

 

I believe Tyseley is base for 6201. In any case a Southall-Tyseley move would have been needed after the Worcester trip on the 1st. What is puzzling is that the timings shown on the SD website are the same outward as return - surely a diesel doesn't need the same length of time as 6201?

 

I suspect those were the provisional timings from when it was planned to be steam both ways.

 

Very true, had forgotten that. Take it all back...

 

Scarborough Flyer, CME & NWCE shared the same promoter and originating point tho...

 

Then Tornado's mad week in July with the Royal train, Tamar Devonian, Cathedrals Express and Elizabethan I suppose counts?

 

Railway Herald site reports diesel hauled return in order to get back through Reading before the evening blockade begins.

 

That's fine, but why do these issues so often emerge at the 11th hour when passengers have little choice but to accept less than that originally advertised ? Shouldn't such a blockade be on the calendar many weeks in advance ?

 

He may not have booked on it because of instances like this in the past, or may have booked in the future had this not been happening now. Either scenario makes his comment as relevant as someone who is booked on the tour IMO. A lot of tours run in a single year as we know. You don't have to book on all of them to have an opinion about the running, or outcome of one you didn't book on surely ?

 

Mainline services are in the system AND open for reservations 12 weeks in advance. Engineering blocks are in looooong before that.

 

Is the blockage for the whole station ? , then it depends when Network Rail advised them that there was no path for Steam.Stream Dreams have been advertising the tour since 11/6/12 ( based on email with link to a new brochure.).

 

Is there a error in the timings ?, Hinksey to Chester via Nuneaton seems a long way on one water tank.