The Great Britain VIII

Announced recently:

Monday 27th April - Tuesday 5th May

Day 1 - London Victoria to Exeter - 6023
- Exeter to Penzance - 5029 & 6023
Day 2 - Penzance to Cardiff - 35018 & 34067
Day 3 - Cardiff to Grange-over-Sands - 44871 & 45407
Day 4 - Grange-over-Sands to Edinburgh - 46115
Day 5 - Edinburgh to Inverness - 60009
Day 6 - Inverness to Kyle & return - 61994/61264
Day 7 - Inverness to Wick - 61994/61264
- Wick to Inverness - Diesel Hauled
Day 8 - Inverness to Oxenholme - 46233
Day 9 - Grange-over-Sands to London Kings Cross - 70013

http://www.railwaytouring.net/train-tours/great-britain-viii

(Updated due to error!)​

 

I wonder if the King and Merchant Navy will be ready?

Sent from my C1905 using Tapatalk

 

Interesting! No mention of Ireland, no mention of 6100, a welcome return to the Cumbrian Coast, and northbound to the Far North. Looks good.

Reading the RTC web-site more closely, I see that Day 5 runs via Aberdeen, Day 8 is via Aviemore, and actually continues through Edinburgh to Oxenholme, and day 9 runs via Manchester, Chesterfield and Grantham to take in the WCML, Midland and ECML in the same day.

 

How are they going to d0 all that they have planned for May 4th?

 

I assume you mean the 5th?.... Very early start, very late finish?......................................... I asked myself why the need for a coach journey, and assumed engineering works?.......................

 

So it is Inverness-Edinburgh w/6233 but not further?

 

Reading the website, it sounds as though Inverness to Oxenholme the whole way? At least, that's how I read it...

But my word does this trip sound appealing. Definitely going to have to ask work for some time off next April/May!

James

 

News in the latest Steam Railway magazine is that the Irish part has been postponed till 2016 hence they are now going to Penzance which was not originally on the agenda.

 

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Railway Mag has mentioned on several occasions that Didcot is hoping to have 6023 ready for the main line some time this year, so next April hopefully should be achievable. As for 35018, although the usual Carnforth line is, "It'll be ready when it's ready", it's hard to imagine RTC would have advertised 35018 without a word with Mr Smith beforehand regarding the progress of the overhaul. It would be great if it is ready next year. I've always had a soft spot for this engine since a visit to Barry in 1974 when it was the most conveniently situated MN for a photograph

 

Surprised they didn't turn left at peterborough and try for the GEML too

Has the Great Britain gone to Anglia thus far ?

As for 6100.. it's been advertised nearly every year since the tour started (apart from last year).. indeed next year might be the one it makes it

 

Nigel's turned over a new leaf then, has he? ;-) I really appreciate what RTC have done for mainline steam over the years, but they do sometimes display surprising optimism in their advance publicity. Don't get me wrong - I'd be delighted to see British India Line out and about next spring, but I stopped "holding my breath" for that loco back in 1985, having been told in 1983, in Ropley shed, that she'd be finished in18 months!

More to-the-point, regarding day 1: have RTC had news of gauge improvements west of Par? Unless things have changed recently, there's a bridge near Hayle with restricted clearances in the down direction. When Steam Dreams took Spud 1 and Nunney to Penzance a few years ago, they had to travel wrong-line in the wee small hours. A Bulleid, Brit or a Black Five might squeeze through the down road...

 

Ok well I'd like to see the route for that one after its been passed to the gauging man at NR and he has been discharged from hospital after his apoplectic laughing fit.

So thats day one down the pan as advertised.

 

6024 has been out of Victoria in the past, so it might fit.

 

So has 5029 for that matter as well. Also, as I work nearby Victoria, Platform 2 has been renewed this year, so no doubt a few persons within NWR are trying to find the as-built records to show that the track has been put into design, never known that being an issue before!

Also, from memory, the issue with Platform 2 is more to do with the area around the buffer stop than the country end. I swear I read it on here a few years ago.

 

It will end up as the black 5 show, part three. Now there is an idea, I'd pay for this, THREE black 5s! Two up front one on the back.

 

Unlikely to be any problem on this route.

 

Hilarious! The loco list for this will have me laughing for the rest of the weekend! Might as well have 6100 as well! Or 4472!