The Great Britain XI - 2018

As I said earlier this was a remarkable thing to have happened in 2018. I wasn't on it but wish I had been, NR failures, diesels and all. Well done to RTC

 

Steam Dreams do 4 day tours by steam

 

0600 for my hotel on morning of day 3 and I recall from 0630 the day we left Inverness.

Dave B

 

I can’t find Al’s post about gauging to quote, but I’m confident things will improve in years to come once the strategic charter paths and annual certificates stating routes locos are cleared for come into action.


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Network Rail are a bit busy at the moment, as anyone who has tried to book an advance ticket will know! The normal T-12 confirmation that TOCs get for their timetables has gone out of the window, as anyone who has tried to book advances recently will have noticed! They are struggling to deal with Northern, Thameslink and other timetable changes in time, so hopefully even in weeks to come when they catch up charters will become a greater priority and be easier to path and gauge.

Source : http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/184755.aspx Although the T-6 mentioned here is still often not being met.

 

A dozen shots taken from between days 2 - 5 last week. I didn't realise how gloomy the weather was until I looked back at these. The sun obviously disappeared every time it heard the train coming. Hope you enjoy.

http://dragon-in-the-firebox.co.uk/the-great-britain-xi

 

Where’s the shot that’d has the stone ruin in, great picture

 

That would be Kirkham Abbey/Priory, in Malton. Steam trail courtesy of Flying Scotsman.

 

https://www.facebook.com/fireboxcha...0974789423951/840974212757342/?type=3&theater

 

Great shots, is that your fb page? Liked and followed

 

Many thanks Anthony, yes it is. My website is:www.fireboxchaser.co.uk​

 

Yes even journeys a few days ahead are not confirmed. Plus I have noticed that lots of temporary speeds have appeared locally . Maybe NR should concentrate on the things that matter and drop the massive upgrades which they can't cope with anyway

 

For a few hundred yards yes it is (1 in 630 according to my gradient profile book) but either side of said section of track its down hill, 1 in 82 and 1 in 100 so 5212 was never going to be working. Coming the other way on 2nd June will be a good shot for sure!

 

As far as I can work out the departure from Weymouth was the first steam trip banked by steam since 2012. The last one either being Bittern banked by Tangmere on July 26 where Bittern was failed at Dorchester South with injector issues, or possibly August 15 2012 if Tangmere did bank Oliver Cromwell that day but I was not around for that. Both of those being Dorset Coast Express workings. 2012 was a difficult year with the Olympics restricting operations and a great shortage of working mainline locos later in the year.
Can anyone confirm or have there been later workings?
Seems a long time ago hopefully we may see some more action again soon.

 

My video from the past week. A massive thank you to everyone involved with the running of the tour.

James

 

I really enjoyed GBXI
The free day in Bowness enabled a catch up with the classic vessels Teal,Tern and Swan and the L&H railway.
Quite a few decided not to go to Kyle and I enjoyed a v relaxed day around Inverness including a ride behind 828 at Aviemore
The ride to Swanage meant 3 preserved railways visited

Highlights- so many! 31806. 35018. Yeovil PM to Dorchester
60103 via Cambridge and Lincoln
45690/99 together
A B1 on the Highland main line( a first??)
Yeovil J. 3 locos in steam and Lord Fisher shunting the support coach and v friendly welcome

Sadnesses. Mr Cameron apologising to us at Perth- a very genuine and upset gentleman
Nigel being unable to be onboard after the huge amount of work ( literally hours and hours and hours)

Personally I enjoyed wonderful veggie food. And excellent company.

I could say a lot lot more.........4 locos( names at that!) on one tour on the second day felt like a railtour from 1965 !!

WCR staff and the Caterers were brilliant . Stewards and Train management exemplary!!!
As I'm friends with the latter I may be biased......
Thanks to BigAl and Ralph Whitby for getting me back into the forum!!

Now for GB XII ........mmmmm N Devon would be wonderful if an 08.45 path on a Sunday survives in 2019...
I can dream..............
Ray Mason