RTC 2025

The Worcester Steam Express on Saturday 5th April has been cancelled. Shame as it included a climb of the Lickey bank.

 

A very memorable day yesterday and very lucky to have avoided the rain!
45596 & 34067 on Shap and the S&C around Langwathby

 

The Yorkshireman this Saturday is having its steam/diesel haulage in reserve as to what it was initally stated, with diesel haulage taking the outward and 45212 returning the train from York-London Euston

More than likely the case as 45212 is already at York

 

Timings now available

Northbound
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U48136/2025-04-12/detailed

Southbound
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U48141/2025-04-12/detailed

 

One of those trips that suffers a slew of bad luck but manages to keep going. Would have liked steam over Harringworth again after I've been running around elsewhere for the past 15 years, but at least the main event - Bedford to Bletchley - is still there.

 

Although now in the dark with steam.

 

First westbound run along there for many years and it'll be in darkness with a 47 pushing. Shame.

 

Indeed, but a case of taking the rough with the smooth. Also wondering whether it's taking the slow or fast lines at Sharnbrook - RTT only mentions the junction. If the latter, it's a bonus bit of required track for the steam map. Seems Platform 4 at Wellingborough is best for the slow lines, but never know.

 

Up Slow Line all the way from Wellingborough to Bedford through Sharnbrook Jc and Bedford North Jc, will have to content with the 20mph restriction through Oakley

 

Thank you.

 

A quick part fare bash from Bletchley to Kettering to gain some railtour mileage over the Marston Vale and through my local area with 57314 leading and 47812 at the rear

All being well 45212 will have (more than likely) the 47 behind the tender and the 57 tagging on the rear

Thanks Henry & Les for having us onboard for a short while, looking forward for steam on the return!

 

I’ve waited 13 years of my life for the occasion I never thought would happen through all the cancellations of trips and movements over the line before
Steam returns to the Marston Vale Line! 45212 takes water at Bedford St John’s

 

Here's hoping for some rain soon, but pleased to tick this stretch of track off with steam at the front. Currently waiting time at Bletchley.

 

Significant rain here in Surrey today and much more forecast for Tuesday, but I assume the official fire risk will remain the same for Wednesday's 'Sussex Belle', thus with steam only simmering in front of a diesel

 

An upload I never thought I’d type the title of and witness with my own eyes, given the previous cancellations from before we weren’t believing it was happening until the moment it was routed out of Bedford into St John’s!

Soft me aside, 45212 returns The Yorkshireman from York to London Euston, despite the presence of 2 diesels in the consist and the 47 working it’s nuts off it was a pleasent surprise to see the 5 working a fair bit!

Seen at Barrow on Soar, Oakley, Millbrook & Leighton Buzzard

 

Depends on your definition of "significant" I suppose. But the Met Office rainfall data for yesterday shows virtually nothing for Sussex and only around 0.5 to 1mm per hour at its maximum for Surrey.
I would not regard that as significant after all this time, but who knows which way NR will go.
https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/ma...34375],[64.62387720204691,38.18847656250001]]

 

The outward trip for the Sussex Belle has been retimed to not have a water stop at Haywards Heath as originally planned. That would assume therefore that 45212 will be doing very little.

 

2.8mm total here in Gomshall - plenty to wet the vegetation thoroughly (which is the important element for fire rather than soil moisture). However, much more is forecast for Monday night/Tuesday morning. I appreciate that these bans have a slow reaction time, though. I didn't really expect any relaxation.

 

I think that the Haywards Heath water stop was a fairly recent innovation. Certainly in the 2010s, this run was made without one (I've just checked an old diary for timings). It's less than 70 miles for Victoria to Eastbourne so maybe rather than indicating "show pony only", it could have been decided that the stop isn't necessary.

I awoke this morning to a distinctly soggy landscape here in East Sussex - certainly the heaviest rain we have had in quite some time. Normally in such circumstances no one would be discussing having a second diesel tucked in behind the steam loco, but these are not normal times. I guess we'll have to see what turns up.

 

There’s the hour and a half journey from Southall to add on to that plus the normal NR requirement to have a minimum reserve of 1000 gals in the tender. I would think it will be a fairly close run thing to do the trip on 3000 gals.