The Cheshireman - 4464 - Thurs 6th June

The Cheshireman

Again RYTC site shows something very different to what this tour is actually going to involve.....

uksteam reports loco as Bittern not 70013 which has been out of action for months...... and the civilised looking timings have turned out to be anything but. (Euston start advertised as 0930, actually 0736. Return advertised 2025, actually 2226 - that's 2 hours out each way!)

Why is it timed for 60mph and running behind the slowest stopping trains there are for much of the day? What an insult to a loco we now know is more than capable of much better things.........

Outward - departing 2 mins after the 7.34 to Tring calling at Harrow & Wealdstone, Watford Junction, Kings Langley, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead and Berkhampstead. First stop for the charter is Milton Keynes! But after all that then scheduled fast line Stafford to Crewe!

Return - Again looped for over 10 mins at MK for two stopping services to go on ahead, one of which arrives at MK nearly 10 mins after 4464, then follows that for over an hour to Euston.

This seems typical of WCML paths these days. Its not a case of steam getting in the way of service trains at all. Its the other way around!!

Still hope anyone on board has a good day out, and the punters do get an extra hour in Chester than they originally thought (but for more than 3 hours extra travel time!)

 

Where have you got the new timings from. I can't see anything on UK Steam?

 

Sheff. try RTT, times already up, and as Campainr says, punters are in for a much longer day than advertised - in fact RTC put an ad for the train in last nights London Evening Standard (which cost 'em the best part of 2K!) times weren't on RTT yesterday, I looked as I thought about going out in the evening to the return at Carpenders Park if the light was good, ie setting sun glinting off the bodywork would have been nice, sadly not now...........................................

 

Take your point campainr but just the fact that we can complain about the timing of weekday steam out of Euston up the WCML seems a positive to me. And the punters get their brekky around 8.00am quite civilised really. Shame about 70013 however.

 

A fair point, there's considerably less LM 350's flying all over the place at weekends, this combined with most people under 65 being at work still gives me the impression weekdays tours outside the summer holidays are just plain daft, regardless of the pro's.

 

Indeed, a fair proportion of the passengers on some tours fall into that category!

 

Well I'll be out & about with camera in tow to photo the A4.

 

True, but there's a fair proportion under 65, and it's not like those over go missing at weekends, why instantly rule out a large part of your potential market ?.

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50687/2013/06/06/advanced

Lots of SL running, pathing stops.

 

Not when they are full of service trains stopped at stations.

 

That's standard south of Rugby on the WCML, basically it's a choice of slow line or no line, since NR allowed Branson to turn the fasts into his private railway, the Winter CME's only get the fast because they have an Electric going like a stabbed rat upfront.

 

As mentioned in the Royal Duchy thread, it appears that The Cheshireman wil now be hauled by 60009 rather than 60019.

 

60009 now listed on uksteam

 

Anyone know what happened to 60019 - was looking forward to getting some photos of an A4 in blue on the WCML

 

Does anyone know the reason for the one minute stop at Rugby on the return journey? There is no pick up/set down listed by RYTC and no pathing issue as such. Some sort of crew change?

 

60009 in platform 15 at Euston a few minutes ago. 33029 brought the stock in but I forget to check to see if it was still coupled up. Judging by the driver in the back cab and tail light I'd say it would be going for the ride today.

 

Through Harrow and Wealdstone 2 mins down, just missing the sun. Crompton sounded shut down as it passed.

 

Possibly a 350 crossing it's bows from Coventry to Northampton needing a min to get clear ?.