Welsh Marches Express - Cardiff: 27/11/16

To quote Ray from the RTC 2016 thread:

"Birmingham Intl to Cardiff and back is steam with 2 5s
No diesel assistance Bromsgrove to .............
Ray Mason"

Four different scenarios:

1. Diesel comes off at Bromsgrove on outward; the Fives do shunting at Cardiff before heading off to Newport alone. Diesel reattached at Bromsgrove to drag stock away at the end of the day.

2. Diesel comes with us, dragging whole train around at Newport.

3. Diesel goes on a separate path via Gloucester to Cardiff to turn the train, and shadows/attached for return.

4. No diesel at all, having been left behind at Birmingham International.

 

Thanks for clarifying!

James

 

Under the new guidelines, the load for a 5 up the Lickey in the Autumn is only 5 coaches. The formula for assisted trains is full load for the most powerful, 5, plus 1/2 the load for the assisting engine, only allowing 2 1/2 more. Bit of a nonsense that, as it technically restricts the load to 7/8 behind a double header. It would only be 7 + 3 1/2 for the rest of the year. The limit on Llanvihangel etc. would only be 9 in the autumn and 12 for the rest of the year. Were these 'limits' really agreed with the TOCs, Promoters and NR?

 

Anybody received their tickets and timings yet?

 

Not I as of yet. Suspect it will be Thursday.

 

Just received mine, Coach G 22B. Plus a later start of 08.40 from International but not returning til 22.14.

 

E-ticket just received.
8 passenger coaches plus Kitchen car and I presume 2 support coaches.
8:40 of B.I. Out and return 22.14. I am in coach G and will probably join at Barnt Green.

 

E-ticket arrived here too. coach f, seats 5 & 6. later start works well for us and if we run to time I'll have a nine minute layover until my service train back to Sheffield.
Now just fingers crossed that there isn't a class 47 in sight at international on Sunday morning!

 

Yep. Deaf ears to the forum if so.
If a diesel does go it will have to work so as not to exceed train load limits if dead.

 

I Am sorry the diesel will have to come with us as its the only way to do the shunt in Cardiff STEAM HAS TO GO TO PENGRAM FOR SERVICING so there is no way it can be left behind we tried but it is impossible
There has been huge difficulties organising this train we will never run steam this way again its just too difficult
very few sign the route now no Ray Churchill ETC so this is the last steam over Worcester to Hereford line as far as RTC is concerned
diesel shovage will be kept to a minimum depending on conditions on the day
we think it will only need to assist on licky

Nigel

 

Thanks for updating us, Nigel.

 

Thanks for the confirmation Nigel. Whilst the news is disappointing it is also understandable, and I'd much rather find out now than at half 8 on Sunday morning.

 

Also a chance to enjoy what may become an even rarer trip via Malvern. They certainly won't be idling on the front up the Lickey, either.

 

What's the load? Would still like to do it and there is a good gap between trains on the Marches on a Sunday. Provided it leaves Cardiff on time there's 29 mins at Abergavenny and 27 mins at Hereford before the next Manchester.

 

Judging by the E-ticket it is load 10 or 11. 8 passenger vehicles plus minimum of pob and kitchen.

 

Load 11 up the lickey from a standing start should be a spectacle. Espically as the route is soon to be electrified. I'm trying to find a foot crossing on the lickey.. can someone advise of a good view down the line to view??