Cathedrals Express to Oxford - 06/06/17 & 09/06/17

Glad to see the timings are still secret.

http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/1..._the_Flying_Scotsman_in_Oxfordshire_tomorrow/

I live in Oxford, but I'm currently in Chennai, so I'll miss this one...

 

Hehe. Shame the old branch to Woodstock was pulled up a generation or more ago... Never mind, looking forward to seeing the first steam train along the refurbished Bicester-Oxford line.

By the way (and linking with the discussion on another thread), can anyone tell me which way is "up" on the Bicester-Oxford line these days? It started life as an LNWR line, so I guess "up" was away from Oxford, towards Euston. Or maybe not, since trains from Oxford would arrive at Bletchley facing north, i.e. "down"... Anyone?

 

The up line from Gavray junction is towards Oxford. Gavray being where the cord from the bicester cut off line joins the Oxford to Cambridge line.

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RTT shows the train running to Willesden on the return (and likewise on Friday). It then reverses and is diesel hauled to Victoria. It seems a pity that they aren't including a set-down at Olympia.

 

I understand NR charge for each station stop and with no District Line service in the week not sure how many people an Olympia stop would benefit, West Brompton would be more useful to many I guess as District line stops there as well as Southern and the Overground.

 

Beaconsfield today - at least the rain had stopped.

 

It was blowing a gale when she came past Islip just now. Looked good, though

 

Blowing a gale as well on the new Bicester Chord. Filmed here from the footbridge over Gavray Junction

 

Sunshine at Goring.

 

That new footbridge, that appears to not be disability compliant (i.e. no ramps), does appear to be rather large!

 

An hour ago I proposed changing the name of the Surrey Circulars thread to cover the one on 9th as well as the one on 6th, and Big Al has duly obliged. I stupidly neglected to propose the same for this thread.

 

Saunderton. 09/06/2017 Make your own mind up.....

 

There's the reason why I had zero interest in these runs ! Would these trains be full of it wasn't for the acquisition of Scotsman ? Unlikely, SD clearly catering for the armchair brigade nowadays , feels like a long time ago since it's solid opening run on the GB !

 

Don't you know that is just their new noisy generator on the back..........

And that is why I never go on SD charters anymore. It's RTC and UK Railtours only for me these days.
I hope that from next year some of the other promoters get the chance to use 60103. I am pretty fed up with SD hogging Scotsman for ML charter work.

 

Looked more like Saunter-ton to me

 

The Power and the Glory! Flying Scotsman can impress as seen here at Bicester Village and Oxford on today's "The Cathedrals Express"

 

Bicester Chord:

 

Still windy there then!