Steam Dreams 2019 - New Summer and other tours

I'm there holding the camera above my head at Godstone! I'd not been there before and had hoped for a clearer view but NR rubbish and Buddleia were prominent - one to avoid in future. Saw you turn off the A25 to Nutfield behind me while I went straight on to Merstham. Still waiting for my 4k video from Earlswood and Merstham to upload to 'YouTube' - paying the price of UHR with incredibly slow uploading.

 

Also a couple of other shots (4K video frames). Earlswood and Merstham.

 

44871 was the duty loco for todays Windsor trips, with this clip showing the 5 heading through Barnes Bridge with a leaking loud drain cock.

 

44871 with 33207 on the rear over Richmond Bridge roughly on time with the Sunset Steam Express. Looked like a decent loading this week.

 

Black 5 44871 seen on all 3 Windsor Shuttles and powering up Gomshall Bank on the Sunset Steam Express

 

I was at Hackhurst Farm Bridge and it was a splendid (very smoky) climb with far-carrying sound. When my 4K video can be uploaded, I'll try to share it here.

 

Merstham Tunnel, just after all the light had disappeared...

 

Newbie alert!
We're thinking of trying out the Windsor Steam Express - as the timings suit us better than a full day trip. On the other hand would like to have a chance of seeing the loco working hard / stretching its legs. Does this route and timing combination offer any opportunity for this, can anyone with experience of the trips tell me? I guess none of it is on the fast mainline - unlike a trip we did to Winchester with Steam Dreams years ago which had some fast running near Fleet from memory. Also, the seating in Standard Class looks very modern, like a Mk3 coach, or is it new seats in older coaches?

 

@Big Al
Thanks for that tip. Unfortunately the evening one doesn't work for us due to lateness and distance, but I see where you're coming from. So the Windsor trip is a bit of a stroll / amble then? And do you know if they are using Mk3 coaches for std class?

 

The Windsor trips are not one for performance, so they are as you say more of a stroll, and the coaches they use are Mk2s, quite comfortable if I say so myself.

 

A bit delayed but one from me of the first Windsor departure with 61306 on the 18th June at Waterloo. Full caption can be viewed by clicking the picture below.

 

My video from last Tuesday on the Surrey run.

 

Unfortunately, even in high summer, the daylight on the Surrey run is anything but good, as the whole section after Guildford is after sunset. The run from Chertsey to around Guildford may catch the last few minutes of the setting sun, but that's it. The light will only worsen from now on until the season finishes in early September.

 

Any idea which loco is on duty today?

 

Back to Mayflower this week, through Vauxhall on the first run to Windsor around 10L.

 

That's a fine shot, contrasting the old railway and train with the modern architecture. The exhaust adds a nice focus.

 

How did it manage to lose 10 minutes between the platform and Carlisle Lane?! Over half an hour late at Windsor.

 

Afternoon run at Datchet: