RTC 2023

Top up at Stroud? <BJ>

 

Pretty grim timings, 66 minutes longer for the outward. At WOS by 1130 previous years. Thought there were less service trains around this year 'cos passenger numbers are so poor. Sapperton both ways was the quick way, avoiding the Oxford area. Seem to be more trains at the Spa.

 

And it will get worse if GWR's MetroWest programme gets the green light. They're looking to double the frequency from May, with two trains an hour from Bristol to Gloucester, and hourly services from Bristol to Worcester instead of the current two-hourly. It's all been triggered by the junction improvements at Bristol East that give Bristol Temple Meads more capacity.

 

Busiest travel day now Saturday apparently, so may end up with more trains rather than less if the DfT have not shut the network down by then.

 

Reading to Westbury line is closed on the 18th so diversions will operate via Swindon, meaning more service trains than usual on the Reading - Swindon section.

 

Thanks for that. Lost touch with service trains in the last couple of years. Must do more timetable browsing.

 

From some planning done a couple of years ago for a different loco, Gloucester Yard was planned as a water stop.
Denchworth Bridge London side of Challow is the normal first place to take water for steam workings starting from London.
As far as I know Eckington Loop has never been used for a water stop. ( There used to be a close boarded wooden fence between the nursery and running lines.)

Cheers, Neil

 

Got letter for Saturday's Venturer. Sensible load 9. Should be fun when we're actually moving!!!

 

Will it be with a tail gunner ?

 

Shouldn't be as there is a LE path back to Southall. But who knows on the day?

 

It does look like a worrying sign of the times. Not only offers but from what @1020 Shireman has advised only load 9 as well, which is I suspect less than in the past.
There appear to have been offers on more tours than not so far this year, so a worrying trend both for the folks in Kings Lynn and those like us that would like to see these tours keep running.

 

All we can do is keep the faith and do what we can afford. Can't blame Kelly & Co. for discounting tickets when trains are marginal. We'll keep booking our 4+4 Standard Class when we think there's more than an even chance of getting a proper steam hauled train. Loads about right for a single chimney Jubilee. We did have 10 behind Bahamas last year. 45596 is generally allowed one more. Also the CV 45596 did was in June not February.

 

Hand in air. Inflation and the cost of living crisis might have something to do with it.

 

As long as it is only 9 and not 11 due to extra coaches being carried but without seats being allocated as on our Swanage trip last year

 

Good point Don. Not sure what WCR are doing with the stock. Apparently up north on the first WCME from Manchester the loading was very light, not even 6 coaches worth, but they sent an 11 coach set out, excluding POB. Was told the stock for the Bath and Gloucester train came down from Carnforth as 5V42 on Friday 3rd Feb. Not activated for tomorrow yet but would assume they'll only send down what's needed. If not, surely they could do a bit of shunting to form the right consist in Southall yard. As always we won't know until the morning. We were going to drive to Didcot but Jn 14-13, Hungerford to Chieveley, is closed on the M4 until 0600 on Saturday morning. Managed motorway nonsense so we'll probably get the 0530 off BRI to Reading and then the OXF-PAD to SLO, gets there 0709.

 

A combination of inflation/cost-of-living, the growing perception of the unreliability of the railways in general (and perhaps tours in particular too, especially those who want unassisted steam), the season (perhaps fewer non-enthusiasts want to traipse round Worcester in winter) and the inevitable general slow ebbing away of interest as the steam-age generation dwindles. Just my speculation on possible reasons. My wife and I will be staying in Ludlow for the weekend so we/I may make a trip across to Worcester.

 

Hope all goes well. We aren’t on it. Awful path plus Enginering works on our line plus uncertainty about whether it will actually be DL free.

 

I don't know whether the landslip line closure between Oxford and Hanborough will have any knock-on effects - minimal I suppose.

 

Ready to depart Paddington behind 45627, Diesel has been detached from the rear, Load 10. Andy Hawkins on the regulator.