Vintage Trains 2022

As it happens I can get back from the Welsh Marches trip but not to it and the reverse for the S&C trip so wont be on either .

 

For the Marches aside from Snow Hill to Tyseley the 47 will just be providing heating and assisting to shunt the set at Hereford.

 

Just booked on the The Welsh Marches Express for the 5th of March - that really is a proper day out on a train with steam at the front - irresistible!!. Timings allow catching a train from Shrewsbury to New Street with plenty of time in the morning, plus a reasonable return time in the evening. I can't wait.

Cheerz,

Alan

 

Confirmed details received from NR including stops at Birmingham New Street returning to Snow Hill.
The itinerary for the day will go ahead with 7029 throughout including its first southbound run over the Marches in its current ticket, through the Severn Tunnel and along the Billiard table as well as a run up Hatton Bank. 300+ miles of Great Western steam to start the season.
Plenty of seats still available.

 

But will it have a diesel on the back?

 

Fingers crossed, it will.

James

 

Will DB Cargo help Vintage Trains out on the S&C run as this will be the first time Vintage Trains have run on the S&C since they started providing their own crews?

 

Why so negative? To me that sounds like a decent itinerary, with or without something with more than 4 cylinders on the back.
You’ve said that in the past that you couldn’t afford to make mistakes in your previous job, so if there is something on the back perhaps VT might have listened and taken your advice?

 

I hardly need to answer this but I prefer pure steam as do many others.

 

We know Don, but unfortunately the railway has moved on a little since 1968.

 

I for one am looking forward to it. 300 miles of Great Western steam with a sensible start time and a sensible finish time. Who cares if there's a box on the back? I don't. It's early March so will probably be needed for the heating.

 

Maybe as the cancelled FS trip was not a sell out either perhaps the economic situation is beginning to impact on bookings for the railtour industry.

 

Going to go ahead and book this, that amount of Castle mileage is very tempting indeed.

 

As long as things go to plan on the day, loco, adhesion and point to point timings there's no real need for the diesel to do more than take its weight on the significant sections. The climb out of Severn Tunnel and the 10mph Hatton restriction is the only place where assistance will be probably needed, unless the weight is no more than load 12 equivalent.

 

The climb out of the Severn Tunnel is a mere 1-100. There's just over a mile of 1-68 at Cattybrook leading to 3/4 mile of 1-90 that includes Patchway tunnel.

After witnessing a Castle forge up the winding, torturous 1-60 incline to Sapperton tunnel in wet and windy weather, Clun Castle should have no problem emerging from the Severn Tunnel. <BJ>

 

We’re booked on this, in bacon butty class. Should be a good do - never done the Marches before. I’m sure our Management will welcome the ETH box, having suffered near-hypothermia on previous outings this time of year.

Personally I’d far rather there was no rear end assistance but I’m prepared to accept it if that’s what it takes to experience steam over new ground. Tornado over Shap or S&C would be a different matter.

We were intending to catch a XC to BNS but now they’re talking of striking that weekend, so it’s drive to TYS.


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