Great Britain XVII - 26/04 to 4/05/25

They might be open (10-5) on the return with a 'bit' more time too .
(Although at around 20 mins walk its a bit tight)

 

A couple of pubs will do.

 

Day 7
Inverness to Newcastle

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U48467/2025-05-02/detailed

 

Day 8
Newcastle to Norwich
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U48826/2025-05-03/detailed

 

Day 9
Norwich to Claydon DGL
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U48575/2025-05-04/detailed

Subsequent timings for Day 9 not yet shown in RTT at the moment

 

Early start on the last day to get a path down the East Suffolk Line. Taking water in Claydon Loop before what will presumably be a relatively finish at Kings Cross?

 

Royston is all RRB due to engineering works on May 4, so will not be going that way as originally planned from Cambridge.

 

The RTC itinerary shows going straight down the ECML from Peterborough to KX. Involves going back over previous day's route Ely-March-Peterborough.

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U48576/2025-05-04/detailed

Last leg, so just Ipswich to Peterborough is missing.

 

ECS for the GB leaving Carnforth for Southall shortly. Rake is 8x Mk. 2 air-cons plus Mk. 1 kitchen car. All maroon.

 

Hopefully there should be a lot more fresh green spring growth by now, with maybe more of last years dead growth being overpowered by it. So, fingers crossed any new fire risk won't evolve until the final train comes to a stand at it's scheduled location on 4th May.

Bryan

 

Worrying, but at the same time perhaps a fair load to give all the locos a good chance?

 

Formation is - FO, FO, RBR, FO, FO, RMBF, FO, FO, BSO.

Same formation last year with BSO replacing the BSK.

 

2015 - POB, FO, FO, Kitchen, FO, FO, FO, FO, Kitchen, FO, FO, BSK - 12 coaches and a capicity of 336.

10 years later - Couple of coaches lost. 60 seats lost. Prices well up. To me that’s a declining market, but you’ll probably tell me otherwise!

 

It may well be a declining market, but it may also show the difficulty in finding hotel rooms for so many people at a workable price point when the number of facilities have declined and the prices have rocketed. I would have thought getting that many to pay either £4.5K or £3.5K plus a £500 single supplement is not too bad in this economic climate.
10 years ago I was paying around £80 for 2 nights in a Travelodge for a stewarding trip, this weekend it would be £173 for the same (grotty) place on the M4 service are near Heathrow.

 

It's been nine vehicles plus POB(s) since 2016, other than 2018 when it was ten due to the addition of an RMB that year.