Shropshire Mainline Steam

During 2009 I only know of 3 rail tours that come into the county. Is there anyway that Shropshire could get some more mainline steam. We have the ever popular Welsh Marches, which hasn't seen regular steam since the 1990's and the Central Wales Route, which does have rail tours, like the Marches, but not as many as some enthusiasts would like. There is also the line from Crewe - Shrewsbury which has seen little action during the past couple of years.
Is there any way in which Shropshire could get more steam excursions? :-k
Would anyone want to see more mainline steam action in Shropshire? :-k

 

Give it time, Most operators don't yet have programmes out for the summer and beyond.

 

Are "some enthusiasts" going to travel on them, if more trains are run in Shropshire?

 

I have seen from a Past-Time Rail leaflet given to me at the end of November that they plan to do a tour on the Heart of Wales line with Stanier 8F 48151. They plan to run it in May but haven't seen anything advertised yet!

 

After the Nunney Castle failure at Ludlow last November,with the resulting massive delays,I would think tour promoters and NR would think long and hard before scheduling another trip over this line. I agree thats a real shame because its a great route for steam but the combination of a quite busy schedule of service trains,and manual signalling with longish block sections,and an absence of loops where water can be conveniently taken or a service train overtake,seem to be working against it.

 

With ETMRS about to descend on The Cambrian I believe before the end of this year maybe a final steam trip to Aberystwyth could be arranged with the train starting steam hauled at Crewe which would give you another Shropshire steam special. I think a trip offering what could be well be a final steam hauled climb of Talerddig would fill.

 

I woulden't say that would be too big a problem now given we can look back and know what went wrong with that trip, just greater attention would be paid to the trailing weight and the loco's capabilities in future.

 

UKsteam.info lists The Welsh Marches Express on 6th June: Bristol - Shrewsbury - Bristol, hauled by 70013 Oliver Cromwell. It's a Past Time Rail tour. On the same day, 5043 Earl Of Mount Edgecumbe hauls The Welsh Highlander from Tysley to Llandudno Junction and there's a Cathedrals Express from London to Chester with steam haulage (tba) on the return. Honestly! You wait a year for a steam tour to Shropshire/Cheshire, then three turn up at once!

 

I agree, its poor this year for steam tours picking up in Shrewsbury. Going on the Welsh Highlander but got to go to Tyseley to get on. It picks up Wolverhampton and then Crewe, neither being much nearer so may as well go on full trip. I suspect it is not routed through Shrewsbury from Wolverhampton to Crewe, very few are now. Why? It was poor last year too.
Heart of Wales line should get more specials than it does. Its every bit as beautiful as Settle Carlisle, provides good hard work for the engines, through fantastic scenery.

 

I totally agree, the Welsh Marches and the Central Wales Line both have great potential, and can compete with the Settle - Carlisle for scenery!

 

GWR outside cylinders would do an outstanding demolition job on Albrighton station if routed Wolves - Shrewsbury, they sure as hell don't go via Stafford for the scenary ](*,)

As stated in another thread somewhere, half the loops on the Heart of Wales are currently knackered which makes pathing difficult.

I think tour operators are more interested it doing intineries that appeal to people to book on rather than going certain places because it goes past someones house.

 

Past Time Rail have added two more tours for the Welsh Marches in October & November. Dates are Sat 3rd October & Sat 28th November. The locomotive pencilled in for October 3rd tour is GWR 5029 Nunney Castle.