The Salopian Express 22/03/16

I see West Coast are advertising this to Shrewsbury outward via Chester with the climb up Gresford bank. This is the sort of trip I would be on in previous circumstances with a local pick up and interesting route. However not being able to smell the smoke up Gresford from an open droplight or even, heaven forbid take a snap of the semaphores approaching Shrewsbury it will be the lineside instead.
A pity as an 11.37 start from Wigan is exceptionally civilised. Not sure what the steam mileage is from Preston but the West Coast blurb describes it not quite precisely as....... 'nearly a few hundred miles.'

 

Preston-Warrington Chester-Shrewsbury/ Shrewsbury-Crewe-Preston works out at 171 steam miles. By WCR's recent standards, not bad. "Nearly a few hundred miles" might just about pass Advertising Standards muster, and certainly what is on offer is far, far better than some of the wafer thin steam mileages that we witnessed on several of their "Spirit of the Lakes tours" last year.

 

What's the odds of it being diesel free, especially with Gresford being in the itinerary????

 

Well it is entirely within the scope of the TOC to manage the load according to the booked steam traction, is it not?

 

Last year's Salopian was assisted, quite a bit actually ! If it's Leander, maybe they'll let it out on it's own after last weekend's exploits.

 

I received a marketing shot from WCRC last week which states that steam on at Crewe. Not absolutely clear if it comes off again at Crewe, but would guess so. Website still shows Preston on and off. Not quite nearly a few hundred miles, probably meant to say yards or feet or . . .

 

Careful, you are in danger of straying into the territory of expecting clarity of information........

 

Timings are already up for this one:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10694/2017/03/22/advanced

and:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10695/2017/03/22/advanced

looks like steam is on and off at Preston.

 

Perhaps they employed Price Waterhouse Cooper to count the mileposts.

 

Wot, not even the one beside his alloted seat?

 

So is the stock Virgin Trains or Cross-country?

 

I must get my eyes tested, I thought it said widow . . . a new angle on "grab a granny night" . . . sponsored by Scottish Widows?

 

Quote "You know you're getting old when all the pretty girls are grandmothers".

 

Galatea now showing on UK Steam for previous day's Cath Ex (W. Brompton - Glos) and for 1st April Cath Ex (Hanwell - Bristol).

 

Hi
I'm not sure of the current condition of 46115 but I'm ever hopefull of seeing it at Shrewsbury . Does anyone more in the know than me think it has a chance of being at the front on Wednesday?

Thanks