Bittern to Lincoln 5/9/13

Marcus Robertson mentioned the change on the Exeter trip on 30th June (rather frustratingly AFTER those of us booked on the original scheduled run in April had been given the option to transfer to this or another run). Reason given for the change is that it would have taken too long to get steam through Surrey and London on the stop start schedule so steam now comes on in London. Looking at the provisional times it is still going to be a long day even with the change over. I was hoping for some high speed action as 4464's special ticket for 90mph running has been extended to the end of September................

 

From another thread:
Railway Herald has the official line from Network Rail - reporting that today's 'Scarborough Spa Express' set off two lineside fires on the route between York & Scarborough, which has caused delay to other services. West Coast Class 47/7 No. 47760 worked 'light engine' from York to Scarborough, and was included in the consist of the steam special back to York, albeit with LMS Rebuilt Royal Scot 4-6-0 No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' leading.

In response to this incident, Network Rail's London & North East Zone, which covers the East Coast Main Line from Kings Cross to the Scottish Borders, has re-introduced its 'Light Steam Policy' with immediate effect. RH understands that the definition of 'Light Steam' is for the steam locomotive to be positioned on the front of the train but dealing only with the braking, while the diesel locomotive within the consist provides the motive power. The only exemptions from this policy concern workings in and around York, connected with movements to and from the National Railway Museum to Holgate Sidings and the turntable, and the North York Moors Railway services between Grosmont and Whitby.

Presumably if we don't get some rain,and lots of it soon, the Lincoln trip will be a victim of this policy. Massively disappointing if it is.

 

The UKSteam site now shows the 5 September run to Lincoln starting from Willesden. I have no timings so I don't know if it still starts from Surrey to pick up, but that was the whole idea of the run in the first place! It may be that the train will be diesel hauled from Guildford, etc., and pick up steam at Willesden, but that won't please the Surrey passengers who are supposed to be the revenue providers for this train. Why, I wonder, has it only now been decided or realised that steam would allegedly be too slow in the London suburbs, when the outline timings were worked out months ago (indeed, the run was postponed from 4 April, and the timings had been published well before that)?

Regarding the north-east steam restrictions - what happened to the torrential rain that was widely reported as having fallen there a few days ago?!

 

UKSteam says...

THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS (28/08)
Guildford-Lincoln [dbs]60019: Guildford Willesden-Lincoln and return
[Rescheduled from 04-Apr]

i.e. the tour runs from Guildford to Lincoln, but the steam section is from Willesden to Lincoln and return.

 

Had the tickets for this run e-mailed through today but the worrying thing is that SD have still not had any timings from Network Rail issued. It's very unusual to have the tickets with no times whatsoever. Passengers have to ring up SD or check their website over the next 24-48 hours to see if any have been issued by NR.

 

Given that Bittern's high speed runs have been postponed, I wonder if she'll stay at York until the new date (as last time)? If so, perhaps Tornado will deputise, since she's not able to go to the NNR this weekend?

 

I was just thinking about that after reading the high speed runs thread. 60163 would be a nice substitute and the A1 steam trust could do with the fees after losing the NNR event.

 

I thought that the reason Tornado couldn't make the NNR was that she couldn't get out of the MHR due to engineering work on the mainline outside.​

 

60163 looks unlikely for the Lincoln trip as she is stuck at the MHR until the day after the trip.

 

Things are not looking good for this trip. Letter received from SD Thursday said keep checking their website for the timings over the next 24-48 hours. Still no timings so far and as predicted 4464 is listed as unavailable on UKsteam info.

 

Its not so much the timings I'm worried about,even if it does run presumably there will be a box doing all the work,given the current forecast of little or no rain & NR in that area being paranoid about fire risk. I would much rather it were cancelled and I get a refund,but I live in hope. I booked this one on board the Exeter fiasco on 30 June and now bitterly regret doing so!

 

I agree with you Alastair. Trouble is if they cancel it they will just try to transfer us to another trip. I recently used the discount offer from the 30th June on the 3rd October Alton - Canterbury trip. I wonder what will happen with this trip as 70000 is still undergoing repairs at the moment.

 

Now Tornado according to SD. Given the weather forecast assume diesel assistance inevitable?

 

LE move Alton to Southall,presumably Tornado?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O14849/2013/09/03/advanced

 

Looks like Tornado is the loco for this run now (she is due to be leaving the MHR tomorrow) . Timings now available on the SD site:http://www.steamdreams.com/executables/GT410WebContent.exe?ActionCode=Timings

An absolute joke if you ask me. Now 6.30 approx off Guildford in the morning returning at around 23.30. We will have to board at Woking now as the first train to Guildford for us does not get there in time.

 

A joke indeed...note also no longer via Leatherhead which was one of the interesting things about this trip. Looks like SD have really been stuffed by NR on this one

 

Having found the timings on the SD web site (its not easy you have to hunt out the link in the web page source code and load google docs) I cant find the appropriate timings on RTT. Anyone found the timings on RTT?

 

No they are definitely not currently on RTT. Not sure what the implications of that are?

 

Not yet loaded onto the train service data base which is the source of the RTT data.

Cheers, Neil