Portsmouth Direct 13th April

Still a month to go and I received my tickets today! Also 'Times' which I find a bit odd. I expect most others on this have theirs. Never had a ticket from SD's this early.

 

What's this about? Do you have a link?

 

its about a railtour from london to portsmouth with 70013 oliver cromwell to celebrate the 150 aniversary of the line, more info on steam dreams special events page.

 

Could make the title a bit more relevant to the unaware, i don't blame 34007 for not having a clue frankly.

 

Although it celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Portsmouth direct line, the train only goes as far as Petersfield then Havant & across to Salisbury & Yeovil. I believe it returns by the same route. It looks sold out apart from premier dining.

Details here, http://www.steamdreams.com/content/view/139/58/

 

And all being well it shoudl be a good trip!

 

Sorry about any confusion with the title of this. I guess you assume we are all clued up.

 

70013 Oliver Cromwell off Stoke Gifford Yard (Bristol Parkway) 11:14 LE + support coach returning to Southall in preparation for Monday's railtour to Yeovil. <BJ>

 

I received a letter from Steam Dreams this morning outlining a route change as "due to our locomotive being out of gauge at two bridges over the railway, one near Mitcham and the other near Sutton. In effect, the railway has not been maintained to allow sufficient clearances under the bridge for our steam locomotive despite our use of this route with steam in the recent past."

The outward tour is now running via Woking but "Our return journey is unaffected and the train will still call at Epsom on our return at 2116hrs."

Cheers
Alan

 

what are the new timings for the tour then?

 

Here, http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t09/t0413c.htm

 

They are the old times if the tour is now going via Woking.......

 

I hope now as the post above shows the following.

EDIT: someones just got to it before me lol

 

Sorry, I should have written that the letter from Steam Dreams states that the departure from Victoria remains 08.45 and departure from Guildford 10.07. No information about route to Woking. If it is direct, then there is going to be a lot of hanging about!

Cheers
Alan

 

It really is disappointing that only 5 days before the tour NR can just change the route like that. Can anyone say how it is possible for NR to issue confirmed timings without someone checking the guaging?

Another mystery is how can it run via Sutton on the return,or is the suspect bridge like that one near Sherbourne which at one time was OK in one direction but not the other?

Despite all this it should be brilliant trip and I am really looking forward to it

 

Well doesnt seem to be much in it really, just going the long way round but should make the running abit more lively if it falls behind time! Mind you, hopefully not too late because I dont want to be waiting at Liss for ages.... [-o<

 

i take it then that it will still come through eastleigh at 12ish.

funny though, the steam dreams website gives some funny times
Eastleigh South Junction 1203 hrs
90.0 Eastleigh 1213 hrs
90.1 Eastleigh East Junction 1215 -1220 hr

whereas uksteam.info just say it is at eastleigh junction from 1215 to 1220.

who is right?

 

Interesting article on gauging in this months Railway Mag. It does show how complex the job is. What I don't understand is why Network Rail allow their contractors to make the gauge smaller. Increases in gauge would be useful so why don't they take any oportunity when costs are not involved, or limited, to increase tollerances? And if contractors carry out work that results in a reduction is gauge without authority they should be required to make good.

 

Seeing as WImbledon is dug up on Monday, I assume this is now going via the Windsor lines? Any revised times for this yet?
Might have an amble out somewhere local with the camera if the weather is ok.

 

There's an interesting article in the Railway Magazine this month which gives some idea of the complexity invilved in gauging. What i don't understand is why Network Rail allow contractors to narrow the gauge. I would have thought it would be useful to increase tolleances whereever possible if it can be done without increase in cost.