Cathedrals Express Euston - Chester 30.11.13

Times are up on RTT:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50590/2013/11/30/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50591/2013/11/30/advanced
If the Christmas Cheshireman runs (no times on RTT yet) it has the interesting propect of two Britannias in Chester at one time, 70000 and 70013. Bet that hasn't happened in a long time.

 

Two Britannias regularly share Southall as an abode, just the public don't get to see them together too often.

Pity they didn't chose to swap trains at Chester, so both passengers get both Brits on the same day

 

I assume the OOPS with the virgin train should all be settlrd by then. The RAIB seem quite quick in gathering evidence

 

If needbe it'll be taken out of use until it can be fixed, the charters should use the through platforms.

 

Are they long enough now ?

 

Yes and No - the length is longer but the line is shorter due to litter impeding access !

 

30/11/2013 Chester – with a pair of Brits.

On Saturday 30th November 2013 two charters are booked to visit Chester.

70000 Britannia is due to haul the Steam Dreams Cathedrals Express from London Euston to Chester and return.
70013 Oliver Cromwell is due to haul The Railway Touring Co Cheshireman from Bristol Temple Meads to Chester and return.

Both trains are, as it stands, expected to arrive at 1300, and they are expected to leave within 5 mins of each other (1635 Bristol and 1640 London)

As both jobs are now West Coast the companies could co-operate to avoid turning both engines by exchanging and turn neither but as it stands they will be sticking with their trains. It should be an interesting afternoon.

RTT has been updated here.

 

The platform was long enough but the Virgin penetrated too far... Lack of experience maybe?

 

This now looks like being hauled by 45407 & 44871. 70000 is unavailable (mechanical work, reported elsewhere).
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs13.htm#twk

 

That'll do nicely, rare to see a doubleheader in the Midlands that doesn't involve a Hall or Castle.

Will complicate the watering arrangements though, from memory they are usually quick affairs on WCML tours.

 

it seems since 2008, apart from a few private moments at Southall, you just can't get both Britannias together..

 

Prob for the best, I know a couple of people who'd probably explode with excitement at the prospect.

 

Was certainly looking forward to seeing the Brit. Rileys pair will do nicely. Hopefully there will be some strong winter sunshine to aid proceedings around Colwich.

 

Are we sure it's double heading ? As steaminfo is reporting it's just 44871 doing the trip.

 

Steam Dreams website states Doubled Headed Black Fives and the timings page on UK Steam Info states " LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0s nos 44871 and 45407"

 

The "Dates" page on the Steam Dreams website has now been updated to say "Double-headed Black Fives" (although the "Timings" page still says 70000).

uksteam.info may have this tour and Thursday's RTC tour mixed up as it says 44871+45407 for the latter although elsewehere on this form it says it's just 44871 for that.

 

Interesting. I guess both locos are needed for the slog out of Euston. Other than that, there's no significant gradient all the way to Chester. I guess they'll work together for restarts, but one or the other will be drifting most of the time. By taking it in turns, they can extend their water range quite usefully.

I'm more surprised that Poole-Bristol doesn't warrent both locos. Then again, we know that a Black Five can cope with 10 on Parkstone and Upton Scudamore banks - anything 44932 can do, 44871 can do better, perhaps? ;-)

 

Thanks malc. Yes I got them muddled up - too much late night editing over a bottle of wine, maybe !

David

 

Had they both been facing the same way I would have rushed 250 miles up 't frozen wastes of 't north to catch this one. However they were not, and now one of them has gone awol the problem is now resolved.