CathEx - Chester - April 2nd

Does anyone know is saturday trip with tangmere is still runnning please

 

The Steam Dreams web site states they are expecting timings from Network Rail by tomorrow and is still showing 34067 as the loco.
http://www.steamdreams.com/executables/GT410WebContent.exe?ActionCode=Timings

 

The ecs times to and from Southall, and at Chester are on Rtt.

 

Could this be its move from Carnforth to Southall?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P80049/2016/03/29/advanced

 

The move was a class 47 and 37 plus stock.

 

It does, however, disprove the idea,recently debated on here, that Southall WCR was or is "closed",so maybe progress of a sort?...

 

Apparently, the 47 & 37 and stock were moved South off exam.
Similarly, a pair of diesels is taking some stock North tomorrow for exams.

Nothing sinister there!

 

Still no times in RTT, the times on steam dreams website don't appear to include a water stop, but now says Galatea.

 

Has anyone got times for this run on saturday trying to find out what time she due though Northampton

 

The basic timings (including Northampton) are here - http://www.steamdreams.com/executables/GT410WebContent.exe?ActionCode=Timings

Would be fab if it does turn out to be Galatea!

 

Surprised it's going via Shrewsbury ! Extra mileage for the Pax, so a big bonus there. Galatea would be a masterstroke if pulled off.

 

The loco info on steam dreams website has just changed - now reads "Rostered Locomotive: Class 47 Diesel (London to Crewe/Chester to London) 45699 Galatea (Crewe to Chester)".

No steam out of Euston then, and explains why its going via Shrewsbury to give at least a bit of a run behind the kettle

 

Only about 77 miles of steam now if steam only one way. Nice scenery between Shrewsbury and Chester though.

 

I wonder if the diesel will stay at Crewe ?

 

I doubt it. I would imagine the diesel will be needed for the reversal at Shrewsbury and obviously the return from Chester.

Andrew

 

Indeed. I suppose SD were desperate to run this one and get some revenue in but if I had booked on it I would be really disappointed,thats under 2 hours actually running with steam plus sitting around in Shrewsbury and Chirk for a bit. And to cap it all,the "not too bothered about whats pulling it as long as its going somewhere interesting" brigade(who probably are a sizeable proportion of SD's customers) won't be too happy as with only a bare 90min in Chester gives hardly any time(given the location of the station from the city,and allowing a margin of error) to look around. This is just so different to what was on offer,I'm pretty surprised SD decided to run it. P***ing off your customers like this won't win them many friends.