VT - Double Headed Hallage - TLW to Newport (via Gloucester)

As it is going up old hill the direct route to Tysley is via New Street ?

 

You mean Moor Street? It is possible but the direct route is Old Hill - Smethwick Galton Bridge HL - The Hawthorns - Snow Hill - Tyseley.

 

Can go either way as Campainr says, but via Snow Hill is by far the simpler route, you'd prob have pathing issues over the junctions either side of New St, not impossible but not straightforward either.

 

Trouble is there's no real obvious place nearby to get out the way to run round DBS have sabotaged the mothballed yard at Washwood Heath so no one else can use it, unless anyone knows better, I think the next nearest place to do it would be the up/down goods at Bescot.

It is effectively 4 track around Saltley/Washwood Heath with most if not all passengers on the fast, but there's plenty of freights awaiting a path or going in and out of Lawley St, I suspect it's prob these that are causing the issue.

 

Timings for this now on UK Steam. Wasn't expecting it to go back via Yate, so a bit of a bonus from my perspective.

 

Ouch. that's gonna be an early start from down this way! Should be good - my first VT trip was double headed halls.

 

Same for me, 4 minute connection at snow hill from the first train out of leamington at 6:29! Sadly I'm not trusting a 2 minute dash from tyseley to Warwick Road. I assume its ok to board at snow hill dispite my tickets saying Warwick Road?

 

Is an unusual routing, suppose the climb out the Severn Tunnel partly makes up for the loss of the Lickey and Westerleigh Jcn - Standish Jcn hasn't seen much steam action the last few years due to a gauging restriction heading south (though now lifted at last).

 

Can't wait to hear them in full cry climbing all the way up to parkway. I was surprised as I thought it'll be out and back along the same route.

Well done for securing this route

 

Is 4936 ready for next weekend? Not heard much about her in 2013 so far.

 

Is Snow Hill still on the agenda? I see the stops listed on UK Steam.info but not on the VT site or ticket letter? Not an issue in teh morning, but will make getting a train back to London a LOT easier!

 

Alas VT called back and said Snow Hill is not a drop off.

 

Tight timings for those arriving at Tyseley from Birmingham City Centre by train; only 11 minutes to get on the train. Will consider taking National Express Service 37 just to be sure, if it is running as per schedule. Plan C is to jump ahead of the special and catch it at Shrub Hill.

 

I may well see you at Shrub Hill then Bullied Pacific as I'll be on my way to work at Foregate Street. Plan to see the train somewhere between Kidderminster and Worcester on my way to work.

 

A stop on UKSteam timings doesn't necessarily mean pick up/set down, can be for pathing/operational purposes, I'd be surprised if it went through Snow Hill non stop on the day at 7PM with train frequency around there and Moor ST.

 

James,

100 lines of:

"I before E except in BullEId"...

Anyway, as I said, its plan C if the bus plan A doesn't happen (I've relegated the train option to plan B as its too close to the knuckle), so I may not see you. In any event, its going to be an interesting early morning in central Birmingham on Saturday!

 

Yup, which is why I thought I'd ask on here after we couldn't get through to VT at first. Bens opening post on this thread does mention the Snow Hill pick up though, but it's not mentioned on the site or with the letter hence the confusion. BUt the call back from VT last night answered it and it's a no.