Steam Dreams 2019 - New Summer and other tours

With a faint haze of an exhaust, 61306 speeds along between Meldreth and Shepreth on her way to Norwich. Had intended to go to Foxton to catch her on the rising gradient past the signal box but there was a TSR in place with everything crawling through so a quick change of location was required.

LNER B1 4-6-0 61306 'MAYFLOWER' MELDRETH by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

61306 heading away from Ely North Junction with the Cathedral on the horizon on the approach to Prickwillow. A shame nobody could locate any Eastern discs or even lamps but the omnipresent headboard was an easy find!

 

I could have done with some of that exhaust at Meldreth.

 

Nice capture Andrew

 

I think only at the Cross. I seem to remember Mayflower propelling the ECS out of Norwich station and, having run round, propelling back in. Six Bells Junction agrees.

 

It's a 45mph speed restriction for this stretch of line, so I wasn't expecting anything from a coasting B1. Thankfully the fireman chose to throw a bit of coal on the right hole!

 

Thanks John, well worth the 3 mile walk from home (near that water tower) to snap her!

 

A good day out that broadly did what it said on the tin. Decided to spend the day at Ely to catch up with a friend, but the aim of the exercise was simply to get the Hertford Loop done with steam. 61306 looked good throughout. This was my 'run and grab' at Royston.

 

Chased the tour to the Broads and back yesterday, eight locations Letchworth, Waterbeach, Wymondham, Reedham Swing Bridge, Brundall, Norwich, Meldreth and Ashwell & Morden...

 

Spooner Row and crossing Reedham Swing Bridge:

 

Photos from yesterday...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72157707249501145

 

After visiting the North Norfolk Railway Gala I caught the return leg of this tour in a couple of places, first at Reedham Swing Bridge:


Then in very dark conditions at Eccles Road, passing the now closed signal box. There were delays on this line that appeared to be caused by the modern technology that has replaced said box in controlling the level crossing...make of that what you will. I then drove West back towards the Midlands, most of the way under cloudless skies!

 

Mayflower crossing Soper's Viaduct, Cuffley

 

Not the best picture, with hazy light and summer exhaust, but posted because of its relative rarity. I am not 100% sure but I believe Saturday's trip with Mayflower may have been the first steam hauled tour in the preservation era to run FROM Lowestoft TO Norwich. There have been several in the other direction, though mostly tender first, but all steam departures from Lowestoft that I can recall have used the East Suffolk line. I would be grateful if those with better records or memories than me can confirm or contradict this assumption. The location is Haddiscoe, having just passed through the low level (and now only) station, and on its way to the equally rare (for steam) location above from David Likes Trains at Reedham Swing Bridge.

 

So, the last day of the Royal Windsor Steam Expresses, seems to have been a success, bookings now being taken for 2020. All in all quite feat to run a scheduled steam train out of waterloo at busy times without causing too much agro on the other services.

Well done to all those who made it possible.

61306 puts on a good show here, bit of Doppler whistle through Datchet, everything looks very clean and tidy, and even 33207 has slapped on some fresh new lipstick to make a tidy rear end to the consist.

 

According to posts from the official twitter accounts these trains will be running again in 2020 every Tuesday from 2nd June to 8th September.

Tickets for the June trips are now available.
https://www.royalwindsorsteamexpress.co.uk/tours.php
https://www.sunsetsteamexpress.co.uk/tours.php

 

The final week of The Royal Windsor Steam Express, seen at Waterloo, Brentford and Barnes:

 

Lots of locals out for last night's "Sunset Steam Express" (at Whitton and Chertsey at least), I for one will miss the regular mid week steam workings going past my house! Slightly grainy photos and video from Whitton, Chertsey, and the footbridge at South Croydon...

 

My take on "The Royal Windsor Steam Express" this year. I managed to capture the train with Mayflower leading at every single station it passed through on the route to Windsor. So here is a compilation of them all, in order!

 

Having a browse on RTT I see there are Q paths for the ECS loco to and from Acton Lane for the 26th September trip to Swanage.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10865/2019/09/26/advanced
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10868/2019/09/26/advanced

There is also a Q path from Southampton - Swanage.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10867/2019/09/26/advanced

Could this mean there is a chance we could see 31806 on the Swanage - Southampton leg, using it as a test run or positional move for the Northam Traincare Open Day on the Saturday?

It's probably just wishful thinking but I'd be seriously tempted to book if it were to be the case.