Steam Dreams 2013 & 2014 Archive

Hope RTC will also be using 35018 as I don't book with Steam Dreams anymore

Don

 

I hope so too. RTC intend using 35018 as they have provisionally put her down for a couple of trips in their last brochure. I wonder who will get first choice out of RTC and SD? I hope that there won't be double-booking of loco's which has happened frequently in the past.

 

I have had some good runs with SD in the past and really like the sound of the proposed Sheffield Park-Ely trip, but I too am very wary of booking after the number of times in recent months when an SD trip has run with a diesel on the back.

 

It think it is very likely it will have a diesel on the back outwood as far as London ( it might need it for the whole trip if is going via East Coast Mainline due the climb back up from that to the North London Line on the return), and I expect the the return from London will be diesel hauled. The train will almost certainly be on a weekday in March when the Bluebell is closed. The whole train for trips outside London for these trips usually comes early morning from Southall. Pathing of the train to East Grinstead is going to be tricky due the number of services, and slowing down for the many speed restrictions due to the clearances ( and possibly also due to axle loadings).The nextwork rail siding south of the station has a train in it overnight which forms the 6.14am and comes to the platform just before departure ( there are 2 earlier services 5.45 and 5.58) The services from East Grinstead in the morning after this are 6:37, 6:45( the stock for this train arrives just after 6.00am) , 7:05, 7:19, 7:36, 7:49, 8:07 8:17, 8:17 8:37 and then every 30 minutes. Due to this I expect a diesel will pull the stock down with the steam on the back to avoid possible delays, and be dropped off in West London.

 

I wish I shared your optimism, of recent experience of suburban London tours that cross the capital, my guess would be steam on / off at Acton, let the diesel run down to Bluebell.

 

The proposed departure times for the trip cancelled earlier in the year was 9.ooam from S.P. With EG services from half hourly after 8.37 and Uckfield services hourly there is a path. From 2018 onwards when East Grinstead has 2 Thameslink services an hour in addtion to 2 Victoria services - no chance.

The cross London trip from Lewes to Cambridge and Ely hauled by 70000 was Steam out and back, and ditto Tornado hauled trips to Salisbury.

 

Just had a Christmas & early 2015 brochure through the door.
Says 35018 is expected in 2015 to appear regularly on rail tours. They show a picture of 35022 though!
The last four words of this made me laugh though, thought someone is having a joke. Haven't they forgot to mention something? Guaranteed "assistance".

 

It says British India Line ( 35018) with a picture of 35022.

 

I notice the 2nd of October Trip from the Mid Hants to the Bluebell is now to be hauled by Braunton

http://www.steamdreams.co.uk/Execut...r=71659&Route=1&Adults=2&Children=0&Infants=0

 

Says Braunton in the printed brochure I got the other day. Was it originally something else?

 

Was originally Britannia

 

Booked this trip up last week to use up the discount offer we had from last year. Looking forward to our first ML trip behind 34046. I hope that she doesn't get shoved around though as I guess there will be a diesel on the rear for the reversal from the Bluebell. The railtour is now only going as far as Kingscote with passengers transferring to a special Bluebell train to continue to Sheffield Park and then return to Kingscote.

 

Wouldn't HK be a better interchange point? More room there.

 

I was lucky enough to find some archive film on YouTube of just such a scenario:



Tom

 

Have to say I'd agree, not least because any interchange could be cross-platform (between platforms 4/5 and 3), and it also allows the charter to then shunt out of the way (into platform 2) until it is time for the return journey - especially as 2nd October is into the Autumn Tints season, which will be a two train service this year, so adding a service for charter passengers will mean three Bluebell trains in operation. Technically, a train blocking Kingscote for a few hours won't actually cause any timetable problems, but I'd still have thought leaving it at Horsted Keynes for the layover would be more resilient on the timetable.

Tom

 

The October 9th Kent to Bristol trip has now been cancelled due to 70013 being unavailable with lubricator problems.

 

The Brittania Class locos seem to be having a lot of trouble lately. Shame that Braunton won't be available given the brilliance of it's performances.

 

We can't allow the incorrect spelling of Britannia to pass without a severe reprimand.
Please be more careful in the future Mike. <BJ>