Steam Dreams 2015

Southend is a popular pickup for them and people there appear to accept more diesel mileage if they have a local pick-up. There was a Southend to York trip ( due to demand ) which was I believe 13 coaches which fesatured more diesel than steam, while a another promoter had a Kingscross to York on the same day, all steam but was only 9 coaches. They could have had a shorter day and more steam mileage if they were prepared to travel into London.

 

I agree, it would be better to offer more drop offs along the way. Chances are the 25 will double head with SNG up to Churston where SNG will come off for turning and the 25 will take the train down to Kingswear. SNG will then go to Paignton for servicing before heading back down to Kingswear to pick up the train. Be aware that it is already a two train running day of the DSR so it will be tight timings.

 

Remind me where trains can pass on the DSR, please. Paignton, Churston and Kingswear? How long is the loop at Churston? Can it hold the full SD train (11 or 12 vehicles?) and 2 locos? The DSR signalman is going to busy that day...

 

Let's hope that as today she goes most places with an appropriate load.

 

I fear you are correct. On today's trip with 9 on,once you take away the support coach,kitchen car and brake van thats only 6.5 coaches. The economics for SD compared with 11 or 12 on must be massively different.

Still,its very reassuring that having said weeks ago that today's trip would run unassisted,SD and WCRC have delivered.

 

Are you able to share anything with us,even in a general way? Thanks

 

It's a shame that 61306 looks likely to be accompanied by a diesel for most of the remaining trips with SD. I've just come back from Cardiff on VT's Red Dragon, hauled by 4965, and this excellent trip shows that a well-maintained 5MT is more than capable of holding its own without diesel assistance given the right route and the right load. Bearing in mind that a B1 is somewhat more gauge-friendly than a Hall and also is permitted to run at 75mph as opposed ot 60mph, it ought to be possible to devise a number of itineraries which 61306 could handle unaided. However, I think you made a valid point in an earlier post - that few of the sort of trips SD prefers to run come into this category. Out of interest, does the Bluebell to Ely trip feature a diesel?

 

1st April's Oxford-Kingswear shouldn't need a diesel provided the load is 10.

 

The 1 in 55 up Torre bank on the return with a speed restriction at the bottom will be the limiting factor on this trip.

 

Is the speed restriction steam specific out of interest, or does it effect all trains on that route ?

 

How severe is the restriction David?

 

If it was fully booked, despite the uncertainty, then there's little incentive for SD (or RTC or whoever) to provide firm information well in advance. But if there were lots of empty seats, then it was a missed marketing opportunity.

 

Sorry, I read your post as implying that you wouldn't want promoters to have the incentive. But it seems we agree.

 

Letter has been received today postponing the 10th May trips until Tuesday 22nd September. Delays with the overhaul of Oliver Cromwell and engineering work being cited as the cause. Locomotive for the revised date is a locomotive scheduled to return from overhaul in teh summer representing Battle of Britain Class Lord Dowding (Braunton I assume) or a reserve loco such as 61306 Mayflower.

I am tempted to ask how Oliver Cromwells overhaul has affected the availability of Britannia though.