Steam Dreams to Bath - 12/03/20

Here are the times for this Thursdays tour, motive power being black 5 45212.

Outward
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U52111/2020-03-12/detailed

Return
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U52115/2020-03-12/detailed

 

That's some tight pathing on the way back: with a 60 mph limit, 43 miles in 50 minutes start to pass from Bath to Challow where the following 1A29 Bristol TM to Paddington can get past. It will need a shove from the diesel to get going and another through Box Tunnel.

 

Yes, the originally-planned loco; 'Mayflower', with its 75mph limit, would have had an easier time of it.

 

Landslip today between Guildford and Ash - line closed until end of Friday. Will it be re-routed or cancelled, I wonder? There are so few westbound steam workings along the NDL that this is a great shame.

 

NRE now claims the line will re-open at 0900 tomorrow! Will SD chance it or simply cancel the run?

 

Should be OK. The train is due out of Guildford at 09.29.

 

does anyone know any more on this

 

Yes, it should be OK, but if the line opens late or the situation on site worsens, trouble may ensue. I wonder if SD will risk it - I would guess they will, but it must be causing some angst.

 

This is the update Steam Dreams posted on twitter earlier:


Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk

 

Very odd, because the return trip is scheduled to pass Ash at 2005 and the line is not supposed to close until 2300! This is a far bigger margin than on the outward journey.

 

There’s a picture of said landslip on Twitter from NR Wessex.



James

 

Now expected to reopen at 0800.

 

ECS 30L leaving Southall. Pathing may be a slight problem for the tour now it's so late...

 

Good news. The ECS is on it's way from Southall to Clapham Jn. but running 25 mins late passing Willesden. <BJ>
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U52109/2020-03-12/detailed

 

Good-ish news, as I said above. Let's hope paths are OK to progress from CJ.

 

''Some lines have now reopened following a landslip between Ash and Guildford yesterday morning. Trains may still be cancelled, delayed or revised until 10:00''. <BJ>

 

I don't know the source of that quote, but this is the latest on the NRE site. Both lines have re-opened (the quote of some lines re-opening is bizarre on a two track route!):

There was a landslip between Ash and Guildford yesterday morning. As a result of this, trains have to run at a reduced speed between these stations.

Services may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Further repair work will take place tonight and the line will be closed again from 23:00 - 09:00 on Friday 13th.

 

More good news. The first service train between Guildford and Farnborough is running to time and will stop at Ash at 08:26.

The steam charter departed from Clapham Jn. 31 mins late. <BJ>

 

Do you know why it's only running as far as Farnborough North?

 

Left CJ 31L.