61306 - Cath Ex to Bristol - June 4th

Looks like Mayflower's trip to Bristol on June 4th is going ahead. Timings on Steam Dream's website and on RTT:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63602/2015/06/04/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63600/2015/06/04/advanced

 

Just received tickets.

 

Looks a bit pedestrian between Reading and Newbury Racecourse. 28 mins ! The stoppers with five intermediate stations do that every day !! That's the only bit I've looked at because possibly nursery school class can see it through Theale.

 

The return train which calls at p15 at Reading looks like the first steam-hauled passenger service to use the reopened flyunder to reach the southern lines at the east end of Reading station.

 

I was thinking the same about steam departing on p.15 at Reading using the flyunder to the southern.
Although a friend of mine informed me that 5029 with it's support coach from the Mid Hants to Barton Hill
via Guildford used that route which turned out to be it's last run.

Mike M.

 

For those of us north of the river it looks like a change of motive power at Reading on the way home. SD e-mail today offering 20% off this with new bookings.

 

It will be the second time this year in the down direction, though 1st April may have been the first time ever.

 

On return looks like pathing stop after Reading for Reading - Farnham ECS which tour booked to follow as far as Ascot.

 

In plat 2 at Victoria. 61306 looking good. 37706 at rear has been uncoupled. Tail light on rear coach. Load 9.

 

I'll hope to see it at Wokingham.

 

1 min early at Reading. Barely a green signal so far. Max 54 Ashford and 58 in Winnersh dip. Some nice sounds but loco not being pressed .

 

Turned heads at Clapham Junction as it accelerated through platform 5.

 

Arriving at Egham

http://simonwhittinghamphotography.zenfolio.com/p655428931/h49235ddb#h49235ddb

 

It's a tale of two halves. Over 3 hrs to cover first 60 miles to Newbury then 89 minutes for the remaining 70 miles to Temple Meads. Held at Racecourse for train to proceed but change of plan allowed us out ahead of Bedwyn unit and Exeter HST, but 13 late. From 58 at Hungerford and 64 at Bedwyn went over Savernake at 56. Nice run down Lavington at the 75 limit. 66 max between Bath and Bristol. Arrived 8 late. Hope return is as good.

 

Posting my video of the train between Bracknell and Wokingham, but can't seem to get it to embed.

Can't get the embed to work, but it's the first video on my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTgT0Mt9Ln6SFsgO3PzELlQ

 

Approaching Longcross this morning.