Steam Dreams 2019 - New Summer and other tours

Slightly late but an image from Thursday evening trip, taken at Byfleet Junction

 

Some images from yesterday's tour (Byfleet & New Haw, Grateley, Redbridge, Mottisfont & Dunbridge and Potbridge)

 

A few shots and video from yesterday at Victoria, Andover and Brookwood. A lot of people seemed to turn up for the Brookwood stop in the evening.





More photos here - https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MainlineSteam/Steam-Tours-in-2019

 

Could someone please inform me whether N09 will be working the trains out of Victoria to Folkestone on June 13th?

 

Looking at the "Royal Windsor" train timings today it appears that steam will lead out of Waterloo on the public one-way trips and diesel will take the train back.
However, the third return working http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55151/2019/06/04/advanced is shown as reversing at Willesden S W S which would indicate that steam will be leading into Waterloo for the evening circular trip.
Can anyone explain this?
Also, does anyone know for sure which engine is working these today? - I assume it's 61306.

 

Or 44871 if it is unavailable.

 

The loading gauge in Kent is very restricted, so it is likely to be 61306 if it fits or otherwise 44871.

 

It's gonna be a old school train chase today, currently bound for Hounslow for Mayflower but RTT isn't working so will have to just wait and see, I believe it's late as I was at vauxhall when it should have passed heading to Waterloo but no sight.

 

61306 through Vauxhall RT with load 10. 47245 bringing up the rear. I feel my Tuesday commutes are going to be a lot more interesting from now!

 

Excellent!

 

That answers my earlier question but creates another one: why are Steam Dreams advertising these trains as "steam hauled one way" trips from Waterloo to Windsor when they will be diesel hauled in that direction and only the ECS workings back to Waterloo will be steam hauled?!!!

 

I think you're reading that wrongly Jeremy. BR73082 reports the train as left Waterloo with 61306 on front !!

 

Must be a sight to those morning emu commuters.

 

You're right! I was reading it that the train he saw was the ECS heading into Waterloo!

I now presume the REV on the ECS working later today at Willesden SWS is the name of the line on which the train parks rather than an instruction saying it reverses.

Put it down to a lack of sleep . . . .

 

And here we are at Wraysbury, 10 minutes ahead of schedule routed ahead of the SWR stopper.

 

A nice BA ad with a steam tour in the middle! Still I hope those two flights were full and contributing to my company pension.
Did you see what the tour loading was like, difficult to tell from your clip?

 

Looked half empty to me.

 

Just a suggestion. Perhaps the Royal Windsor Steam Express should have it’s own thread. As it’s running throughout the summer, I guess there will be a significant number of photos, videos and comments over the coming weeks.
Dave.

 

Or half full.

 

The tour and ECS seen at Hounslow, Brentford (ECS) and Barnes Bridge.