Steam Dreams 2021

Here's my footage of 61306 Mayflower and 45596 Bahamas flying up Llanvihangel Bank on the return leg of The Welsh Dragon back to London. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

So its steam with 61306 outward from London kings X via Cambridge as far as Norwich and following a reversal at norwich toward G. Yarmouth the Diesel leads for a hour, So then returning to London kings X its steam return from G. Yarmouth avoiding Norwich via Reedham and and on the Same route outward? (P.S. looking forward to my 1st long tour out with 61306 and steam dreams although its costing me a hotel stay in london until sunday morning.)
Davo 56F

 

The reason why Steam Dreams and Pathfinder were unable to reach west Wales.

Thanks to Jack Boskett for the photograph. <BJ>


Postponed – The Cambrian Coast Express – 8th September 2021
Due to a bridge strike at Machynlleth last week, we cannot run ‘The Cambrian Coast Express’ this coming Wednesday.
Pathfinder Tours plan to re-date this tour to May 2022 (To Be Confirmed).

 

Alas in these current times, he'll be back driving a lorry in no time....

 

61306 with 47802 on the rear, passed Bygrave crossing near Baldock a couple of minutes early. Sounded good, 47 on tick over, and they've actually remembered to put lamps on the loco for the first time in several tours.

 

Better late than never, here is a few scenes from the last day of the Welsh Dragon.

 

Crossing the flyover and Stotfold Road at Letchworth Greenway on the outward and working hard through Ashwell & Morden on the return with today's Kings Cross to Great Yarmouth tour...



https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/51449139461/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/51448386442/in/dateposted-public/

 

My pic of 61306 Mayflower at Great Yarmouth before going for servicing I hope everybody on board the tour had a great day out with steam dreams today what a fantastic day on the old G.E. and G.N. Metals i had with 61306.
Davo 56F

 

The steam to Cornwall trip 30/9 to 1/10 is off the Steam Dreams website but assume it is fully booked. Also not showing on Railtour Info 2021 either.

 

The tours are still showing on Railway Herald and Steam Dreams websites. Look under Holidays by Steam. The tours set off on 28th Sept not 30th. <BJ>
Journey by Steam to Cornwall in 2021 – The Steam Dreams Rail Co blog (steamdreamsblog.com)

 

Sadly, I've found RH to be out of touch on many fronts regarding tours of late, so that should be taken with a cruet of salt. If it's still on SD's site, that lends more credence. I happen to be staying in Devon over that period so hope to be able to see it.

 

I find Railway Herald a good source of information. Let's not be too hasty in having a dig at it. You never realise how useful something is until it's gone. <BJ>

 

Some pictures of yesterday's tour. Must be the first steam locomotive to use the carriage sidings at Great Yarmouth since they were brought back into use by Eastern Rail Services, maybe the first in preservation?

In Thetford Forest near Santon Downham.


47802 arrives at Acle.


Departing Acle after crossing the service train.


Entering the sidings at Yarmouth for servicing. The 47 also shunted the stock into here instead of leaving it in the platform.



Passing Breydon junction after departing Yarmouth.


At Kilverstone Heath, just East of Thetford.

 

RH in general is quite good but its tours page is now often lagging well behind. Of course, we were spoilt in the era of the sadly-missed UKSteam site.

 

and we certainly don't have a comprehensive archive facility any more.

 

Next week's trip to Cardiff cancelled :-(

Railtour companies not having a good run at the moment with pathing, timings etc! I'm hoping the (re-routed) VT trip to Cardiff on 2nd October still runs!

 

They are of course assuming that it will be possible to re-arrange the trip next year with better timings. I've heard it said that once Crossrail is up and running fully there won't be any capacity for charters in/out of Paddington. Not sure if that's true.....

 

So much for open access

 

Times up for the Chichester run.

 

London to Highgrove Gloucester Lydney Cardiff flyer is cancelled I was booked on this tour and also lost my money on a hotel booking at the Darlington hotel near Paddington station the previous night before the tour was scheduled to depart but I fancy transferring my booking onto the york Xmas market 18 November but would have to bail at Peterborough ret to get up to leeds. But is the York Xmas market steam up and down from London? As far as it looks on S.D. website its 60163 advertised as the motive power.