Santa Steam Express & Christmas Steam Express - 13, 14, 20 & 22/12/21

Departures at:

• 09:20
• 12:00
• 14:15

More info https://www.steamdreams.co.uk/santasteamexpresstours.php

Departing at 18:40
More info https://www.steamdreams.co.uk/christmassteamexpresstours.php

 

Indeed. I do wonder what the attraction might be for a steam train ride entirely in the dark, as one of the things that so many passengers say they like is the sight of steam blowing back past the windows. I hope it succeeds but I suspect it could just as easily be diesel as far as 90%+ of passengers are concerned.

 

Seems odd to me that they've decided to run it when they have - the first two dates are when children are still at school.

 

It appears to be pitched more at the dining market from the description. So Xmas meal for office groups etc. They will get chance to see the steam loco before and after, I would expect this to be quite a successful operation subject of course to a Covid spike impacting things. (And them being sober enough to hold the phone level on arrival back at Victoria)

 

Why do you assume Santa trains are for children? Don't you believe in Father Christmas? I can hardly wait to meet him on an exciting scenic trip around the Hounslow loop!

 

Are the Santa trains confirmed as routed via the Hounslow loop or are they via North Pole ?

 

The words say Barnes and Chiswick (hence Hounslow loop) but I guess you could go back via "North Pole" using Kew East Junction and Willesden but that would make a short trip unless it sits somewhere. Gives an even "better" scenic experience than the loop!

 

Experience has taught me to be wary of sitting on strange mens' knees!

 

Shorter yes, but would allow Santa to give out his presents closer to his home ( more authentic/seasonal?) and make life easier for his Elves, reindeer with the slay on each occasion they have to get to the train to restock his sack ? ☃️
Can't see Steam Dreams missing the opportunity of taking a Santa steam train to the 'North Pole' ?
Hounslow loop or the North Pole ?

 

We do not wish to know about your experience.

 

The route info has been updated.

Santa Steam Express:

Christmas Steam Express:

 

From many railtours via the Hounslow Loop reasonably accurate I feel if not totally correct. Moving slowly and an engine running slowly sums up about 75% of my tours that way.
verb
(of a vehicle or boat) move slowly making regular muffled explosive sounds, as of an engine running slowly.

 

Perhaps people who try to appeal to the lay-person with such 'cutesy' descriptions. I'm a little surprised it doesn't say 'chuff', though, which has more of the steam train about it than the diesel-ly "chug".

 

Diesels do many smells and sounds. In my book "chug" aint one of them.

 

Diesels don't chug, they go "Boggler, Boggler"
(Fans of Steve Bell cartoons will know what I mean. IIRC there was a detailed correspondence in the Guardian letters pages a few years ago about what sound a diesel locomotive makes )

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The guest loco certainly doesn't chug.
Bulleid Pacific's chatter. A former SR steam driver that my Dad knew used the word chatter to describe the sound of Bulleids to my Dad and I when we used to listen to his wonderful footplate stories at Chilworth station while waiting for steam charters to pass through. He had some hair raising tales about the Q1's. And his description of the sound 4472 made when climbing the Surrey hills was "it sounds like someone dropping a bag of spanners down a long flight of stairs". The A3 was certainly not in the best of health back then.

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When I did the Surrey hills with 4472/60103 the only sound I heard was the Class 37 on the back growling away. Total waste of time as a steam experience but a good evening having a few beers with some nice people I met onboard.

 

Now that the non-stop 'pan-handle' route has been confirmed, I assume the Stewarts Lane triangle will be used to put 61306 at the front for the next trip each time? Would it be reasonable to assume that a diesel will be lugged around for the whole trip or will it drop off after the climb out of Victoria? Will, too, the evening runs be via the Surrey hills, I wonder?