Any Questions?

I suppose - in Ben's view I presume - by putting money where your mouth is. If Ben could cost a Pannier month then see how many people would pay the price then I'm sure that something could be arranged. Whilst I am not speaking for Ben and - by virtue of distance from London - certain that I would not be a participant, I'm sure that there would be enough interest and income to justify a London Pannier Period of around 1 month that could be profitable to all parties.

 

The double headed Beattie Well Tanks Al?

December 1962 I think.

I chased that one with big brother Don. On push bikes I think!

Not the best of my photos, but it captures the moment as they left Wimbledon alongside the footpath.

 

VT normally use their own coaches as well as locos. When they start and finish from Tyseley, that's a big advantage. However, a month away from home for the whole train might be a bit too much - for example, they'd have to pay for siding space for it during the week when not in use, and it couldn't be used for other tours in the mean time. Then there's the problem of all their regular catering suppliers being from Brum. There are probably ways to make it work - some kind of joint venture, perhaps, either with TfL, FGW or one of the other tour companies? But it all gets a bit complicated...

 

Excluding Steam on The Met back in the 90s, I haven't been behind a Pannier on the main line since 7752(?) did a Moor Street - Dorridge and back run in c.1973. I'd be well interested in something in the London area, especially on a Sunday.

 

Bit late to the party Ben, but how about doing a 'bucket and spade' run to Cleethorpes or Skeggy in the summer please? (via Nunny or Coleshill of course )

 

Lincoln and Cleethorpes ? ( there is a triangle at Habrough/Ulceby )

Western Champion to Weymouth ?

 

Yes if it can be done in a sensible time - departure / time at scabby / return. Scabby is certainly a better destination, but not if you have to get up a stupid o'clock and only have a couple of hours there etc. What's the norm for York - Scarborough?

 

Not sure about this as the Pannier water capacity is 1200 gallons; based on the Network Rail calculation that 4000 gallons will last around 72 miles then the Pannier will need a drink every 20 miles or so - and York to Scarborough is 42 miles. As has been noted earlier the logistics of getting a pair of Panniers to Southall (at around 100 miles from Tyseley at best) means either diesel haulage as a light engine move or an overnight run with water stops at (possibly) Leamington Spa; Banbury; Oxford; Didcot and Reading in order to reach Southall.

Daft as it seems, however, the overnight run does give the option of staging with passengers buying a total stage from Tyseley - Southall OR a single Tyseley - Leamington / Leamington - Banbury / Banbury - Oxford / Oxford - Didcot / Didcot - Reading / Reading - Southall stage - or any combination. This could mean (for example) £10:00 per stage or £50:00 for all !

Perhaps I ought to offer the suggestion to Ben as a Christmas Present and the following image to wish all posters a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year

 

What's wrong with taking route one?.................................

 

Fred, sorry my suggestion wasn't Pannier based - Castle, Hall or Prinny I was thinking - gauging permitting of course!

 

See times for the Duchess in June - http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t0629b.htm

 

So it's been done before, I should have guessed. I'd say only 3hrs at Scabby and the return time of 23.37 would rule it out for the bucket and spade brigade, so maybe Cleethorpes would be a better bet.

 

Apologies Sheff as I was still in the Pannier train of thought (sic); more of local interest is that Birmingham's favoured coastal resorts according to my Grandparents were either the Cambrian around Aberystwyth or South Coast around Weymouth but IO presume weight restrictions would limit trips to the former and distance restrict trips to the latter.

Shame !

 

Fred, Not for nothing is Barmouth is known as Birmingham-by-Sea. Any Manors with mainline tickets these days? A Crewe steam start would be do-able for me - how long since the Cambrians last ran? I heard IR was looking to kit out a Black'un with ERTMS? But would rather travel Ben-Rail if poss, based on their track record.

 

An overnight trip with a pannier could be interesting

On the branches around west London watering shouldn't be too difficult.. Brentford can use Southall the paddington- Greenford direct only has 1 train per week, the freight only lines round Kew etc could use Willesden yard, barking- gospel is also an option.

GW signal semaphores still at Greenford, LMS on the Kew line too.

 

Problem I think would be the connection between the water carrier and the Pannier plus the problem of servicing 2 such locomotives on the move.

 

By the looks of this thread Ben you are going to have to get those panniers out and about a bit. Speak nicely to the NRM, they might give you a home for a couple of weeks for a VERY modest consideration.. You'd fill all the seats oop 'ere with a York/Scarborough job. I'll take two tickets now.