If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

The Varsity Explorer - 25/10/25

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Big Al, Oct 6, 2025.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    23,221
    Likes Received:
    23,455
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Never mind all this exciting Railway 200 and north east stuff, what about Eddystone? I see that 34028 is supposed to be doing a one way to Chester later this month. Pickups at Milton Keynes and Rugby, but not Northampton. Surely West Coast hasn't found a path via Weedon for the first time for ages.

    Does anyone know?
     
    Big Al, Oct 6, 2025
    #1
  2. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2007
    Messages:
    4,049
    Likes Received:
    1,104
    Occupation:
    A Thingy...
    Who knows, but it crossed my mind. Fingers crossed my request for leave comes through on one of those days!
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Oct 6, 2025
    #2
  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    8,849
    Likes Received:
    7,523
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I would be very surprised as even on a Saturday morning RTT shows a northbound Avanti about every 10 minutes from MK.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Oct 6, 2025
    #3
  4. AMP

    AMP Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2007
    Messages:
    474
    Likes Received:
    345
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It's a no......

    https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U67949/2025-10-25/detailed

    Couple of things look odd to me, the move at Chester and Southall to Rugby the long, long way without a top up????

    Andrew
     
    AMP, Oct 11, 2025
    #4
  5. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    9,397
    Likes Received:
    10,446
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    5944, Oct 11, 2025
    #5
    sunstream likes this.
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    23,221
    Likes Received:
    23,455
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Really looking forward to having a run behind Eddystone that's rather more than at 20 mph even if it's only one-way to Chester.

    I'm pretty certain that @5944 is correct in saying that there will be a servicing stop between Bicester and Winslow. Claydon Down/Up Loop is at Steeple Claydon and is long enough to take a charter comfortably. The trackside access also looks pretty good. Can't think of anywhere else where Eddystone will be able to take on coal either as it's a long way from Southall to Chester and 5 tons without a top up en route might otherwise make for an interesting journey.
     
    Big Al, Oct 20, 2025
    #6
  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    23,221
    Likes Received:
    23,455
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    On board with Eddystone and 'enjoying' the unnecessary shovage to get us away from Reading and, later, Oxford Parkway. Unnecessary because we were on time off Reading and found ourselves five early at Didcot. It's as if Bill Monteith doesn't know how to time the train and has to have help.

    Anyway, we were 8 early through Oxford so maybe that was the plan. Nice running throughout though and great to have Eddystone at speed for a change. Here's hoping the diesel driver goes to sleep.

    Currently taking water just beyond the long loop at Claydon.
     
    Big Al, Oct 25, 2025 at 9:50 AM
    #7
  8. TH Railway Videos

    TH Railway Videos Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2016
    Messages:
    303
    Likes Received:
    584
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Steam returns to the Varsity Line! Eddystone going well nr Winslow, second coach has been the victim of graffiti IMG_4056.jpeg
     
    TH Railway Videos, Oct 25, 2025 at 10:14 AM
    #8
    leander, Gladiator 5076, 30910 and 4 others like this.
  9. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2013
    Messages:
    3,041
    Likes Received:
    4,109
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    TBC
    Location:
    Birmingham & Arley
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Heads up for photters, stock on the driver's side has graffiti.
     
    LMarsh1987, Oct 25, 2025 at 10:28 AM
    #9
  10. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,776
    Likes Received:
    3,935
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Rolls-Royce engineer
    Location:
    Bath Green Park / Mangotsfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Considering that the stock is a combination of maroon coaches interspersed with blue and greys, it just makes the train a little more colourful. Just sayin'. <BJ>
     
    free2grice, Oct 25, 2025 at 10:40 AM
    #10
  11. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    23,221
    Likes Received:
    23,455
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Lovely run up the WCML. Nicely managed by signallers. We kept going at 70 ish. Early at Crewe for our final water stop.
     
    Big Al, Oct 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
    #11
  12. charterboy

    charterboy New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2007
    Messages:
    199
    Likes Received:
    167
    Isn't that the norm now on Steam tours which are always accompanied by a diesel friend due to the MK2 air cons ?
     
    charterboy, Oct 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
    #12
  13. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,539
    Likes Received:
    2,221
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I noticed that the diesel driver was still awake at Searchlight Lane:)
     
    staffordian, Oct 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
    #13
    Oswald T Wistle likes this.
  14. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2013
    Messages:
    2,878
    Likes Received:
    2,809
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Relaxingly retired
    Location:
    Deep in the country
    What do you suggest Bill does Al? Do you know any way the driver on the steam locomotive can prevent the diesel driver assisting? Unless Bill's changed in the last couple of years he hates the diesel on the rear way of running trains.
     
    1020 Shireman, Oct 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
    #14
  15. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    15,329
    Likes Received:
    8,890
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    My settee, mostly.
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The only thing that would get me out to photograph blue/grey Mk.2s is if they were on the ECML and had a blue Deltic or 47 on the front - or that real rarity, a blue 31/4 doing the Leeds Relief on a Saturday afternoon!
     
    The Green Howards, Oct 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
    #15
  16. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    36,902
    Likes Received:
    10,230
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Perhaps you should go and talk to Bill and offer him your advice on driving to a time schedule.
     
    RalphW, Oct 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
    #16
    Spamcan81 likes this.
  17. TH Railway Videos

    TH Railway Videos Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2016
    Messages:
    303
    Likes Received:
    584
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bedfordshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Just a short clip of Eddystone making history today passing Verney Rd nr Winslow
     
    TH Railway Videos, Oct 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
    #17
    bristolian, alts1985, staffordian and 5 others like this.
  18. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,539
    Likes Received:
    2,221
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A shot of Eddystone passing just north of Searchlight Lane, and one of the tail-gunner helping out...

    PA250522_v1.JPG PA250527_v1.JPG
     
    staffordian, Oct 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
    #18
    leander, 30910, bristolian and 3 others like this.
  19. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    5,610
    Likes Received:
    3,476
    Perhaps you should consider the probable use of irony?
     
    Enterprise, Oct 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
    #19
    The Green Howards likes this.
  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    23,221
    Likes Received:
    23,455
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Completely misunderstood. It's as if you do it deliberately.

    I was just saying that because we had a massive shove out of Reading and until we were motoring, we gained time on the schedule. My point was that the booked time would accommodate a conventional run with load 13 equivalent.
     
    Big Al, Oct 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
    #20
Page 1 of 3

Share This Page