Saphos Trains

Can’t imagine this’ll come as much surprise to be true.

Train cancelled and returning to Hereford due to the severity of delay.

 

Info from uk-rail. <BJ>

''A wagon coupling from the 6M76 snapped off, then the 1V31 hit the coupling in the 4ft. Job well and truly stopped. LSL charter caped and returning to Hereford''.

 

1V31 didn’t seem to leave Shrewsbury so will be surprised if that is the case but who knows

 

if you look at the times RTT shows it as cancelled on arrival to Shrewsbury at 05:30 before the incident even happened which suggests to me it continued onwards before said incident and maybe returned to Shrewsbury following it

 

Personally would disagree as RTT shows no departure time and it would show one if it had left. But again could be wrong

 

yeah not sure, conflicting stories. I am sure we will know at some point

 

Supposedly that is the case as I am seeing more reports now saying the 150 (1V31) had the fuel leak after hitting the coupling off of 6M76

 

Times for The Golden Arrow tour down to Canterbury and back on Wednesday. I assume that whichever steam loco it is will come on and off at Willesden on both legs.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...4/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=LS

 

It would appear it's been rerouted. Last I looked the outward was going via Maidstone and up Bearsted bank but now it's going via Tonbridge and taking on water in the old mail platforms.

 

Probably a sensible re-routing given the previous issue with Bearsted Bank in October (it isn't a great view for 3 hours I seem remember .....)

Andrew

 

At least it won't be blocking any other services tomorrow.

 

The problem then was that they did actually run without a diesel on the back on that occasion. They won't be making that mistake again.

 

Surprised by this in an SD email this afternoon.
"New for this year is our elevated Pullman Dining class; The Helicon Club. A private enclave of exclusivity and decadence"

There are various dictionary definitions of the word "decadence" not sure any imply anything other than moral decline. Cambridge even quotes it as "low moral standards and behaviour"

I wonder which market it is aimed at, although as I received it, they are obviously aware of my low moral standards. It does mention live entertainment as well.

 

Presumably Braunton will be doing the honours tomorrow.

 

Hopefully, yes. I'm planning to be out tomorrow to rekindle memories of the last time I saw a rebuilt West Country class pacific hauling the Golden Arrow.

 

Can confirm Braunton on the front with Golden Arrow regalia, mark 1s at the front and a couple of mark 2 'pullmans' plus a green Class 47 at the back.

 

I'm booked on next week's Welsh Marches Express from Stourbridge to Shrewsbury, and times are now on RTT:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U53161/2023-10-11/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U53166/2023-10-11/detailed

It'll be interesting to see how many passengers are on this as, on the face of it, it's rather an unusual one. Stourbridge to Shrewsbury is only a 30 mile drive up the A458 so I can't imagine people will be booking on this to go on a day trip to Shrewsbury. I booked on it because I wanted SNG up the Marches.

The outward trip looks to be a bit of pain as well. I'd assumed the steam would be coming on at Bristol Temple Meads but actually it comes on just south of the station at Bristol West Jn. So no getting off the train to take photos or stretch your legs etc. Then the water stop at Hereford is on the centre road so, again, no getting off. So you're stuck on the train from 05:42 to 13:32.

Anyway, I'm hoping it is SNG and I'm looking forward to the usual exemplary on-board service from the stewards.

 

I would hope that they let passengers off for the 15 minutes during the second BTM visit. Would be a cruel T.M. that did not.

 

No. 7 is running at NYMR that day, it's staying until November.

 

I did the last Marches trip. Despite what it said in RTT the loco swap took place at BTM so the train was stopped at the station for at least 30 minutes. Train manager was very happy for people to get off for a leg stretch.

At Hereford they park the train in the middle road and take the steam loco off to a bay platform for watering.