Steam Dreams 2013 & 2014 Archive

Well all of the proposed loco assignments have been posted for through December. What does everyone think?

 

Double headed Black 5's for all trips in December. I was hoping for some variety.
Loco for 29/11/14 TBA There are 4 trips on this date and it appears limited options with regard motive power available.

 

I think black fives are great engines, but I'm surprised that the whole SD Christmas programme has been allocated to them and that 35018 hasn't been included. The Sherborne trip on Saturday 20th would have brought 35018 back to its old stamping grounds and would have seen to MNs out of London on the same day, as 35028 is taking the Pullmans round the Surrey Hills as well.

One possible variation on last year's programme is that 45212 might be ready by then.

 

Maybe it's a good idea not to include 35018 on any trips until it is certain it is going to be ready and available. I seem to recall all sorts of criticism here about locos being "promised" on trips and not turning up.

Double headed 5s may take away the need for any diesels on the back at a sometimes very slippery times of the year?

 

I had two trips with doubled headed fives last November/December so was hoping for some diference for the trip on the 2/12.
Ian Riley appears to have a large pool of support crew, which possibly only 5305LA and the Tangmere crew can match. It also helps that Ian is a driver and a number of his staff are firemen.

 

I expect support crew is also another issue. RTC have 6 trips where 34067/35018 are listed ( and I expect which ever loco is used it will be the Tangmere support crew), while SD have 7 trips with doubled headed Black fives. SD'S trains are typically longer than RTC'S so doubled headed fives is probably the better option than 34067 solo if 3508 is not finished. This comes across as good planning.

 

2 classes of engines on the Jacobite.
I do like variety but hearing a few peoples opinions before I make up mine is helpful. Having Riley's Black 5's is a good strategy to ensure that these Christmas tours are executed and successfully. It would be nice if there were more options in terms of mainline loco's at this moment.

I really do like the fact that Bittern is down for several runs.

 

5029 is down for Pathfinders trip to Ludlow while 6023 or 70000 are down for RTC'S trip to Worcester on the same date. 34067/35018 are down for the Swanage to London trip.
LSL could be providing motive power for 2 of the 4 trips, therefore I doubt 34046 or 60019 will be available.

60009 is an option ,subject to support crew availability, since it appears it will be based a Southall in December.

 

Presume you mean Weymouth to London. RTC have not originated a tour from Swanage for some time.

 

Yes

 

Is 35018 really going to be available this year? I had no idea that it's restoration was that far advanced. On another thread some people think it's being highly optimistic listing it for next year's Great Britain.

 

Is anyone going/tempted by the Watercress line to Bluebell train in October with Britannia?

http://www.steamdreams.com/Executab...ute=1&Board=ALT&Adults=2&Children=0&Infants=0

Does anyone else think this could tie in nicely with the rumour/suggestion that there could be a set (maybe even two if the mainline set is split) of Brown and Cream carriages for the Western Theme Gala?

 

No because the set of carriages used is also certainly be in West Coast colours plus the SD Kitchen Car which is in Maroon.

 

I know there is a novelty value of doing "one heritage line to another" (happy memories of Daylight Railtours Alresford to Minehead,must be nearly 20 years ago!) but with a total mileage of no more than approx 160 (and some of that diesel-hauled), little chance of any fast running, and virtually guaranteed to have diesel on back all day, this one really does not appeal .

Would have been a gesture if SD had offered a cheaper fare on this. Surely the running costs must be substantially less than a 500 mile round trip for which they charge exactly the same? Will be interested to see if this one loads well.

 

A reply to my post expressing surprise that SD has stuck to the Riley Blakc Fives for all its Christmas specials pointed out that at least two black fivcs was better than one bullied plus a diesl on the back and I agree 100%, especially given 35018, although an exciting prospect, may take a while to bed down. However, as far as steam specials in the south are concerned (and not just with SD), I think it's a case of enjoying the black fives while we can. 75mph locos are always going to be an easier proposition in the rather busy lines such as the Bournemouth, Salisbury or Canterbury routes, and with 35018, 35027 presumably 34016 and hopefully 34092 available before too long, I would expect that, within about three years, we will rarely see black fives unless the special runs over a line where gauging is very tight indeed.

 

One what?

 

A vintage machine that was produced in desperate times with wartime shortages of materials leading to novel but untested design ideas, yet which is still subject to a constant barage of harrassment on internet forums 70 years later. I think that defines "Bullied"

Tom