Steam Dreams 2025

News from Steam Dreams (via facebook). <BJ>

''NEWSFLASH!

We are thrilled to announce that the iconic 60532 Blue Peter steam locomotive will be at the helm of our exclusive four-day holiday, “The Lakes Express,” to the tranquil Lake District this September.
This powerful locomotive, preserved with care and celebrated by steam enthusiasts around the world, promises to deliver an extraordinary experience''.

 

Times now up for Wednesday's trip from Shoeburyness to Cardiff.

Outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U50921/2025-04-16/detailed
Return: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U50922/2025-04-16/detailed

 

Steam Dreams website says of this trip: "We steam out through the suburbs along the Thames Valley, following the Great Western Main Line.
It’s not long before the glorious Cotswold scenery comes into view as we pass through pretty Bradford-upon-Avon and Bath on our way to the Severn Tunnel."

However, the timings suggest this is not the case.

 

A very disappointing outcome for the passengers. The Swindon / Badminton route is totally featureless and is plagued by ugly, over engineered masts and wires. <BJ>

 

From when i travelled on the S.D. Shoeburyness to Cardiff tour:

My pics of 70000 Britannia at Cardiff Central after a nice fast run out across the suburbs of London via Reading and Swindon and a nice climb up Sonning cutting. Although setting off 50 mins late from Willesden after changing from the diesel to 70000 Britannia we got to cardiff on time. And set off on time on the return journey from cardiff back to Stratford Barking Southend central and Shoeburyness

 

A funny thing the railtour market. I see the SD tour from Horsham to Chester is a sell out and yet it is only steam from Acton Lane to Chester. Tours do seem to be getting less and less steam and with the cheapest ticket on this being £220 I guess for many it must be more about the "railway experience" then what is on the front. I was going to say making a noise on the front, but of course in this dry weather it will not even be doing that.
Still 50 minutes at Acton Lane means they may have the joy of seeing their stock being "tagged"

 

Good evening Gladiator I'm just wanting to ask does this mean the S.D. tour tomorrow is planned to run top and tail formation with the diesel loco on the rear or is the train going to have the diesel assisting behind 70000 Britannia?

 

And our local press here going hard on "Historic Steam, loco travelling through Surrey" stories online at the moment too. Must have seen at least 4 in the last 24 hours!

 

It certainly seems that the local press got people out for it with the wrong info! At West Barnes LC near Motspur Park, a lot of people include a couple of families were waiting for it with quotes similar to "we'll see the smoke in the distance". I could tell they thinking it would be a steam engine. Despite this, I thought I'd make a record of this rare track for railtours. 57311 leads the railtour over West Barnes LC towards Raynes Park, with D1924 trailing at the rear:




I didn't stay around to hear if there was any 'disappointment' from the sight of no steam engine, as I decided to dash across Wimbledon to reach Haydons Road for a second image. 57311 powering away from the Wimbledon pickup:


Also, for what it's worth, despite the lack of steam mileage, the train looked quite full at this point!

 

Looks the business in the sunshine at Bletchley

 

I assume there is a rear diesel? I imagine the fire risk is still extreme so I can't see steam making any effort.

 

47810 on the back not making any noise as it passed

 

70000 Britannia heads north through Bletchley enroute to Chester with Steam Dreams

 

Unexpected ! Lovely sounds from the Brit climbing to Madeley.
70000 at Millmeece.

 

Been some lineside fires on the Chester crewe line disrupting avanti and transport for Wales services.
wether they were caused by 70000 Britannia they have not said.
Davo 56F

 

Leaving Christleton Tunnel on the approach to Chester.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54509992675/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54509828034/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54509828299/in/photostream/

 

The Brit cruising through Warwickshire this lunchtime

 

Interesting, thanks. I'm very surprised that steam is being allowed to work at all hard in the current drought conditions. Let's hope no fires ensue...

 

Although I dident get no photos of the brit 70000 at crewe or Chester I joined the tour at Clapham JCT i was wanting the steam route mileage between Willesden and Milton Keynes, As I've never before been pulled by steam on this section of the W.C.M.L. and this also been the reason me booking the S.D. tour to Chester.
I only did the tour northbound after getting a national express coach to London vic from leeds on the morning and returning back to Leeds to pick my bike up in Leeds Station.
Overall I found the tour rather interesting that the steamer was allowed to do the majority of the work this was quite noticeable on the trent Valley section and on the Crewe Chester line the fella sat opposite me as I were in the last coach H near the diesel asked the diesel driver if he had been assisting the steam crew and he said no not hardly so that was quite nice despite steam having to cope with the very hot late spring weather.