The Cheltenham Flyer

Hi All,

I've just joined this forum today and have enjoyed reading the comments posted about the Earls exploits on the Cheltenham Flyer. I have been an avid watcher of steam for a number of years now particularly along the line from Bristol Temple Meads to Yatton. The website UKsteam.info has been my bible. I now notice that they've added real time info which is great as it saves me waiting and wondering at my favourite bridge!!!

However I was a bit annoyed when my girlfriend and I looked at the real time info for the return trip of the Flyer at lunchtime to see that it was cancelled. We were even more annoyed to read on this thread to find that it had actually run. Thankfully we saw the Earl this morning at Uffington but it has left us wondering why it was posted as cancelled. Can anyone shed any light?

Will definitely be logging on to this site again when we're watching our next steamer!!

 

It ran with a sooner, faster path, which was on RTT, and ran to time on that one.

 

WOW!!! What a great day!

 

A big thank you to all who made it happen!!!!

 

Great photograph and sounds like a great trip happening. I think Tyseley have done that a few times to 5043. She had them when she went to York on the Railfest tour last year. Its always a nice touch for a great loco.

 

When I looked at the RTT website this afternoon there were two sets of timings for the train. One list mentioned that the train was cancelled due to duplicate timings. The updated schedule below appears to be as the original timings. <BJ>
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O85296/2013/05/11/advanced

 

Well I was almost right, The Earl was turned and not hanging off the rear. Only one thing wrong, a 47 leading but 5043 helped get the train moving out of Cheltenham.

 

I'll second that! I have often regretted that I never booked on The Bristolian, and hoped that this might be something equally special. When I saw the pedestrian timings for today's trip, I was disappointed, but remained hopeful that 5043 would somehow better the schedule. However, I never expected a run that must come close to rivalling 5043's great day three years ago. Phenomenal is an understatement. It was pretty obvious even by Swindon that this was going to be something special, but even so, I didn't dare to hope that we could continue like this after Didcot, when we were switched to the Relief line. I couldn't believe it when we were switched over to the fast line at Twyford. We were absolutely flying after that, until the final section from Westbourne Park, where the driver did so well so avoid stopping. The suspense of the "will we, won't we be non-stop?" as we just about kept moving was almost as exciting as the fast dash over the preceding 30 miles.

Then, of course, we couldn't possibly have such a superb run back could we? Oh yes we could! Fast line all the way to just before Didcot. If anyone on board was using a more accurate method of timing than my wristwatch, I'm open to correction but I think we made virtually even time to Reading, even allowing for the very slow start from Paddington. Another example of skilful slow-speed driving to get us onto the single line betwen Swindon and Kemble without stopping and a similar situation on the outskirts of Gloucester. Still arrived back about 50 minutes early.

My thanks to Ben at Vintage Trains, the loco crews, signalmen and everyone who made it such a memorable day. One can get rather carried away in the use of superlatives, but this performance certainly justifies such terms.

 

My footage of 5043 on 'The Cheltenham Flyer' today. Seen at Frampton Mansell, Sapperton and Uffington.

Enjoy

 

5043 seen passing Taplow with the return working.http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Rail...-2013/27612053_3JfwvG#!i=2506216927&k=z87QwtH

 

Superb trip. Did the up and the down. Thanks to Vintage Trains, West Coast, Loco Crews , First Great Western and Network Rail.
The only thing late all day was the bacon rolls.

 

Timetable? Who needs a timetable! If I can blow my own trumpet, I think I got the whistle of the day at Cholsey

 

A great day. Many thanks to all who made it happen. FGW, NetRail, WCR, the staff and volunteers from VT, and not to forget all the passengers who bought tickets and sold the trip out in 8 days!

When we say trust us, sometimes it is best to TRUST US!

West Somerset in 2 weeks. See you then!

 

Well I did the 'Bristolian' and now 'The Cheltenham Flyer'. Things really don't get much better! After all the doubts too. Thanks to everyone involved that made this possible.

 

I suspect the real decisions were made at Didcot (Thames Valley Signalling Centre) where NR Signallers and Controllers in Swindon will have plotted a path for the train. I'm sure FGW had some input but it's up to NR to deliver the service.

 

Well that humble pie was absolutely delicious... Well done to all involved in what appeared to be a superb tour! I was very sceptical that this would be a non-stop run, seeing as there could have been congestion around Swindon on both outward and return had 5043 been on time (HST to Cheltenham would've arrived just a minute before the Earl was due to pass). How wrong I was, and I am so pleased I was wrong!

I really must congratulate all of the crew - those performances were absolutely astonishing. Would someone be able to confirm or deny a rumour that I heard at Didcot though... Was the section from Paddington to Reading section the fastest run between the two in preservation? I heard 2 people mention that, and it would be quite something if that was true! 5043 truly is a wonderful machine, and it really is a pleasure to see it on the main line at full tilt. The buffer detail was a very nice touch too!

Anyway, here is my video from the day, captured at Uffington and Challow on the outward, and Didcot and Steventon on the return:

Great videos and pictures by the way everyone!

James at SVN

 

Awesome Doppler there buddy.... great vid! thanks for sharing

 

Cholsey on the return run: