Vintage Trains 2025

On 1st November there is a trip ('Farewell to Steam') from Birmingham NS to Paddington 'top and tailed' by a diesel and 7029. Railway Herald shows it using Greenford traingle to have 7029 "facing the right way at Paddington" to depart steam-hauled. Hovever, as the diesel heading the southbound train will presumably be at the buffers at Paddington anyway, I can't work out why the turning move is necessary at all. Clearly I am missing something obvious, but perhaps someone could enlighten me? I am assuming 7029 would be at the rear of the train for the southbound run with tender adjacent to stock?

 

This was discussed some way back, on page 21 of this thread. As far as I can see, the last post on this subject (#417 from @crusader612) suggested that the train would be double-headed, with the diesel ahead of 7029, from Birmingham to the Greenford triangle, where the diesel would go to the other end to haul the train into Paddington. Unless I have missed something, this has not been confirmed on here, but that arrangement does fit with the description on the VT website.

 

Another dull day sees 5043 on the Derby to Stratford leg of todays Shakespeare Express near Barton under Needwood .

 

Apologies for missing that, and thanks for clarifying. That all makes perfect sense now - I had doubts about the viability of 7029 being hauled at any useful speed at the back! I had interpreted the train's composition as including one of two possible diesels, not both. Quite a complex run. Many thanks again.