B1 61306 to Stratford-upon-Avon. 22/08/2015

B1 61306 to Stratford-upon-Avon. 22/08/2015.

Timing now available thanks to 'uksteam'
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t15/t0822b.htm

It appears to be a diesel free run from Hanwell Brg. loop to Stratford - upon - Avon and return.
The diesel runs LE from Hanwell Brg. loop to Southall.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54137/2015/08/22/advanced

<BJ>

 

SD report on their Facebook page that 61306 has passed it's FTR so thats one bit of good news

 

Excelent. Can't quite believe that the flower is being let out on its own on this run, but lets see.

 

It depends on the load. I guess the limiting bit tomorrow is the restart from Stratford. Wilmcote bank is 1-in-75. Hatton is gentler, mostly 1-in-110, I seem the recall. So long as the schedule is not too demanding, she should manage 10 ?

 

Apologies if this is old ground, but it seems a bit arbitrary to start a tour to Stratford from Southend, especially as that gives punters a 15 hour day on the train. Having decided on Stratford as a destination, what is the thought process by which Southend is chosen as the start point?

 

I expect they start the other way round.Where can you go from Southend which they have not been to before and/ or recently. Southend is one of the most popular pick up points for SD.

 

10 coaches has to be borderline for Mayflower, on this trip. Wilmcote is the only potential stumbling block, though I'm pretty sure it will be either one of the Ray's on the footplate and they go up Wilmcote almost every week on the Shakespeare !

 

Well it won't be Ray Churchill he has got the unfortunate diesel trips tomorrow and Sunday.

 

Daylight Railtours ran from Alresford (Hants) to Alresford (Essex) some years ago.

 

A great day out it was too with 35005 hauling this trip.

 

And now something far more than trivia. Words the great man himself would have been proud to have penned. Not.

Today our train will steam to Stratford

Behind our flower that’s 3 months late

On the way we’ll all get plastered

Drinking beer from a massive crate

 

On time passing Twyford at 10.50am. No diesel. Weather sunny and very warm. Hot later but not perhaps in Stratford-on-Avon!

 

Seems to be going well so far. 5 early at Banbury

 

B1 seems to be on form today. I saw the train race through Oxford on the down main in fine style. Looking at the timings on Real time (I know it's not that accurate but it is an indication) pass Oxford to stop Banbury 23m 55 ch in 22 mins cutting 4 mins off the schedule.

 

And here is a part of that Oxford / Banbury section - 1 up at Tackley



Note no POB at the head of the train, on the back I assume. Those on the front got more noise, smoke, smut, and clinkers than normal!

 

Fantastic. Should have been on this and made the wrong choice with the WSE. Will try for next Saturday but will that be DL free?

 

hello
a few photos of her breezing up hatton bank at www.stevebottrill.zenfolio.com
regards

 

From the lineside it looked a really solid run, with a very spirited departure out of Banbury. Also going nicely through Leamington Spa on the return.