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The Cheltenham Flyer

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Ben Vintage-Trains, Mar 25, 2013.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    There are earlier gaps on the Kemble section - for example after the 1500 from Cheltenham clears Swindon around 4 pm. OK that means 90 min to Swindon from Paddington but anything would be better than the two hours currently envisaged!
     
  2. Ben Vintage-Trains

    Ben Vintage-Trains Member

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    One day I will publish my diaries about all that it takes to run these charters and just how difficult it is getting for NetRail to fit on the rails at all!

    Tickets and times are in the 1st Class post tonight.

    We are moving the connecting passengers reservations from the 17:15 to the 19:15 FGW departure, but the tickets are valid on the stopper with the Swindon change also.
     
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  3. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for posting that.
     
  4. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thanks for that Ben, hopefully the signaller on the day spots a suitable gap on the fast that's not in the timings, as suggested earlier, the Bristolian was scheduled to be something less than quick in places on the timings.

    Seems very few places on the ex GWR where you can hit 75 for a period now with pathing, Berk & Hants and descending Whiteball is all that comes to mind, they seem to enjoy turning a stopper out of Weston infront of you on Bristol - Taunton of late.
     
  5. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thanks for posting that Ben. My friend and my Dad were both getting a bit worried about when the tickets would be sent out.
     
  6. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    Though it may be a slow run at the eastern end, it seems pretty brisk at the western end. 29 mins from Gloucester to St Mary's Crossing and 15 mins Swindon - Challow will need some positive driving. It appears that it will not be looped between Challow and Wantage Rd, either, which is quite unusual for steam. The return is not so exciting, though 18 mins from leaving the loop-line at Challow to passing Swindon should produce some good accelleration past Uffington, with a bit of luck.
     
  7. BrillTramway

    BrillTramway New Member

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    Very pleased to hear the tickets are in the post, lets hope they arrive before Saturday. Looking forward to this very much.
     
  8. stevepurves

    stevepurves New Member

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    First D1015 not ready, then the timings... 1 hour 20 for a loco change, Start to stop average of 35mph out and 25mph return (including diesel leg), 2 hours later return than expected... I moved heaven and earth not to have to cancel, I hope something is pulled out of the bag on the day otherwise this looks like being quite an anticlimax....
    Regards
    Steve (More than happy to eat my words!)
     
  9. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Just been on a day trip from london to gloucester... can confirm no where on route should the weather be an issue.. it's rained everywhere enroute today !
     
  10. saltydog

    saltydog Part of the furniture

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    Sorry for harking back to the Bristolian, but on that trip it was run in conjunction with FGW and with NR and both companies had people with their laptops on the train in both directions who were able to take advantage of unforeseen circumstances and managed to slot the train into paths that didn't really exist during the planning stages. Most people seem to have forgotten that the Bristolian arrived at Temple Meads 11 minutes early thanks to the FGW and NR planners on board noticing that a FGW service was running late and that our train could 'leapfrog' it.
    So looking at the VT website where the Flyer is advertised as in conjunction with WCR, FGW and NR, I hope that that the same team of planners decide to have "a day out" on The Flyer.;)
     
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  11. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

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    With an average start to stop speed of below 35mph, it won't matter if it is tinder dry and temperatures in the 80's as there will be no sparks out the chimney. I still struggle with the up train particularly between Reading and Paddington. This is supposed to be a non-stop trip but you try spinning out 63 minutes for 36 miles. An Olympic cyclist could do it quicker!!
     
  12. donbenn2000

    donbenn2000 New Member

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  13. stevepurves

    stevepurves New Member

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    Just done my sheet from the timings on RTT if anybody else is interested in a copy.
    Milages and section timings etc. (updated with averages)
    Regards
    Steve
     

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  14. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    One thing I haven't seen anywhere is light engine timings to Gloucester, would this suggest 5043 could be hanging off the back from Tyseley and therefore facing the right way when reversed at Gloucester ?.
     
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Tickets arrived today confirming our worst fears about the timings for this trip. It is such a shame that when this trip was conceived it was not possible to first find out whether any half decent schedule was possible. I have to say that the original publicity gave the impression that this had happened, but apparently not, or more likely, things may have changed subsequently. I can't see VT going blind into a promise of this re-enactment without some reassurance from NR that there was a path available. After all, that's the only reason I booked.

    It’s only a personal opinion but I frankly will get no enjoyment out of a non stop run that involves trundling along behind something that calls everywhere. The original Cheltenham Flyer never ran non stop anyway and called at Swindon. My guess is that many punters would have been delighted to get a fast run between Swindon and Paddington rather than from Gloucester that comes at such a price it’s arguably a pointless exercise.

    So in the spirit of creative thinking, can I suggest how it might work on the return.

    1429 ex Plat 9 Paddington and then to FL immediate behind 1C18 (1430 Padd – BTM). Remain on FL to Reading and ahead of 1B46 (1445 Padd – Swansea).

    Reading Plat 9 pass at 1510 before arrival of 1B46 (1445 Padd – Swan).

    To RL at Reading West (1511/1512) immediately behind 1M54 (Bmth – Man Picc) that leaves Reading at 1510 (or ahead if it’s late). Follow this to Didcot and ahead of the Wembley to Didcot Freight that sits at Reading until 1513.

    Cross to FL beyond Didcot around 1528 after 1B46 has passed at 1525.

    Continue FL to Swindon – arrive by 1552 ahead of 1C19 (1500 Padd – BTM), due to call at 1554...and wait for the path that's available after the 1500 from Cheltenham clears the single line section at 1605. This would put us ahead of the Sprinter at 1614 but what I don't know is whether two trains can be on the single line section (heading in the same direction!) in which case we would have to wait at Swindon till our path at 1630.

    No doubt there will be many issues that would guarantee NR software wouldn't find this path, or it hinges too much on a charter train behaving exactly as it should and it's too risky for the service trains. Anyway, if I were NR, given that charters are at the bottom of the pecking order, I wouldn't waste my time looking to make it work. But miracles can happen. I guess we shall have to wait and see.
     
  16. camraman

    camraman Member

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    Unless it's a misprint my piece of paper says it's 14.19 out of Padd.
     
  17. Robbo

    Robbo Member

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  18. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    My tickets arrived today. I'm sure it will be a good day out come what may. Let's face it, it's better for 5043, aided by sympathetic people in Control, to end up putting in a performance which is somewhat better than the offical timings (as per the Bristolian two years ago) than for it to have been given a fast schedule which then goes haywire. At least the heavy rain has knocked on the head any thoughts of diesel substitution. For that much we must be thankful.
     
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  19. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    It's common VT practice to put the departure times at the start point and destination 10 mins earlier on the letter sent out with the ticket than the actual timings NR use, probably to ensure there are no stragglers and the train can depart on time.
     
  20. camraman

    camraman Member

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    Sorry, can't see the sense in that. Let's face it all trains leave on time and 'stragglers' get left behind. Hard luck. Works for proper trains.
     

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