The Yorkshireman 03/03/18: Ealing Broadway to York.

Steam Info gives this as 70013 in both directions. But the return train has no water stops ,and the times are very similar to the 17 December 2016 tour over the same route which was diesel hauled .

 

Mea culpa. RTC confirms the return is diesel hauled ! I guess this is the final tour before withdrawal for overhaul.

 

So do we assume this is will have a diesel on the back for the outward journey?

 

45 min stop at Brent Curve, IF for water they might be going for it to Kettering with no diesel.
After May Thames Link are increasing the number of trains over the route, even East Midland trains are having alter their timetable. A lot of trains are going to be non stop Wellingboro to St Pancras. Bedford passenger travelling north are being bused Bedford to Wellingboro.What's going to happen with freight and special's I don't know. I await the new timetable with interest.

 

OT but pax being bussed from Bedford to Wellingborough? How can DfT allow that as part of the franchise?

 

Yep ,TV BBC East of England news interviewed customers at Bedford station a few weeks ago ,none to happy. It only for three years though!!!'.

 

Electrification works the main reason I believe. Mainly in peak hours , but also involves Bedford losing its East Midlands Trains fast trains to St Pancras with some Thameslink running 'fast'.

Jon

 

Hasn't electrification beyond Bedford been postponed indefinitely?

 

Continuing to Corby- because it seems Corby warrants the benefits of electrification much more than Leicester/ Derby /Nottingham / Sheffield.....

Jon

 

Usually seems to have a water stop at Brent curve, this one seems longer despite leaving earlier from Ealing Broadway, than the past two York trips up the MML. FS trip had a diesel on the back, and from some video on Railway Herald so did the steam both ways trip on December 16th.

 

Strangely quiet on this one.
Is it actually happening I wonder ..

 

I had the same thought. Half tempted to do a pay on train.

 

Just spoke with the office and they say its on although forgot to ask if Ollie will be on the front. I can manage it from home with a 6:00 alarm so will take a look at weather and trains to St Alban first thing.

 

An enquiry with RTC this morning prompted the response that they are still planning to run the train tomorrow.

 

I see more snow forecast overnight for Kettering, I wonder how often the Harringworth Viaduct gets cleared as I guess it is not used that much and someone on a different forum talking about a cancelled diesel tour said there is already lots of snow in Kettering. Hope the ETH is working if it does run.

 

Presumably the first charter to use the 'new' Down line to Corby, now that the double track is in use.

 

Is 70013 on this? Currently running 20 minutes early after skipping the Brent curve stop!

 

Yes it is, just left St Albans on time.