"THE GREAT BRITAIN 2", 6th - 13th April 2009

I know this has been discussed already on the RTC 2009 thread but I thought it might as well have a thread of its own now, given how much will be written.

My wife and I are booked on this - anyone else on Nat Pres booked yet?

It will be my first main line steam in Scotland.

 

I know a few who are booked,can't afford it this year,you will enjoy it and i dare say it will be better than the North Briton by a fair way! Hopefully going to see it around Dawlish on the day it goes south with diesel and north with steam then at Stoke Canon too.

Cheers,
Mark

 

I wonder why the loco from Bristol north seems to have changed again?

 

I intend following The Great Britain from Cumbria around Scotland and down to Berwick Upon Tweed. Can anyone recommend photographic spots at Drumochter Pass, Plockton, Forth Railway Bridge and Berwick Upon Tweed-any advice wouild be greatfully received. Cheers

 

Do you mean from 60163 to 46201? That happenend a few weeks ago. Or have you heard of another change since that? There's nothing on UKsteam.info implying a further change, though I suppose it's a risk, given that Lizzie is still having her winter maintenance ATM.

 

Any idea why that change occured?

 

Presumably because the train is operated by West Coast and they don't (won't?) operate 60163 at present.

 

Any money on it changing again?

 

WCRC are the TOC for Steam Dreams, who are using 60163 several times in the next few months.

 

I'm wondering what else could work it if a change is required again.

5029 has a tour the weekend after from Tyseley so will a LE move from Preston be viable?

70013 has a tour in London a week later, so again is a LE move from Preston suitable?

34067 atm doesn't have another tour for about a month, so maybe she will come North for maintenance like last year?

Other than those 3 I can only think of 60019 in that sort of area that could be available.

Mind you, we never know and 6201 could be working again by April.

 

seemingly not now entirely. DBS are operating Steam Dreams Valentine Specials on 14th February. Indeed all trains using 60163 currently appear to be DBS operated but I have no idea why.

 

Ah yeah, good point. I hadn't noticed that.

 

WCRC are still down for the Coronation, although i guess there's plenty of time for that to change. I'd be suprised if there was a real reason for not using them, perhaps it just comes down to DBS being a known quantity.

Chris

 

I had only seen the change from Tornado to Lizzie when i posted that, tis a shame as i was looking forward to my first glimpse of Tornado, but always a damn good show with Lizzie! =D>

 

Maybe EWS is a sponsor of 60163 or providing preferential rates ?

 

Does the latest change IE not including Chester mean it wont now head through Shrewsbury??

 

60163 currently is only derogated through DBS. In today's crazy system you actually have to be derogated for each TOC and this takes time.

When it comes to the mainline nothing is easy!

 

Still booked through Shrewsbury but will then turn right and run via Prees, Whitchurch and Crewe to Warrington rather than going via Gobowen, Wrexham, Chester and Frodsham to Warrington, which was the way GB1 was routed. Guaging with 6201 at Gobowen could be the reason why the route has been changed. Pity though its not running the full length of the Welsh Marches viz. Mainsee [Newport] - Chester.

 

For Mainsee in the above post read Maindee, typing error, sorry!

 

When at the NRM I did speak with someone from the A1 trust who suggested that both WCRC and EWS would be able to operate as this would allow many a tour operator to then hire Tornado and allow it to be seen all around the country.