VT Farewell to Steam Special - 1/11/25

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.

 

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.

 

Times are now up for the ‘Farewell to Steam’ special:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68715/2025-11-01/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68716/2025-11-01/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68719/2025-11-01/detailed

There’s also this path, which appears to be the supporting diesel going to wait to drop on to the front of 7029. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68868/2025-11-01/detailed

 

Isn't this due to be 7029s final railtour of its current ticket - and isn't it steam hauled out of Paddington?

 

The diesel will run round to the rear in Hanwell Loop, then they’ll use the Greenford triangle so that 7029 is leading out of Paddington.

 

Just to be clear, when the ‘Farewell to Steam’ trip leaves Paddington, the diesel will remain on the back, right?

 

Looks like it, no LE paths have appeared out of Paddington.

 

Hoping to head up to Paddington to see this tour. Last saw 7029 nearly 6 years ago (when I was on a tour with 60163 and they both went to York) and didn't really get any pictures of it. Plus it'll be the first time I've seen Western steam at Paddington.

 

Re; Saturdays tour, as I am now abit confused (NOT difficult!) can anyone advise PLS what will haul the Bristol/Birmingham leg of the tour??
Many TIAs N

 

7029 Paddington to Bristol and Bristol to Birmingham.

 

The ECS moves at Bristol do not show the train being turned so I can only assume those on RTT are not the confirmed times, for these movements anyway.

Edit: 5Z37 now changed to show the turning move. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68718/2025-11-01/detailed

 

News from Vintage Trains. <BJ>

''Here is the headboard that will adorn Clun Castle on this Saturday's train recreating the Farewell to Western Region Steam rail tour that took place in November 1965.
If you haven't secured your ticket already for this historic train, don't wait too long as we only have limited availability remaining across Pullman, First Class and Tourist''.

 

As a slight aside, the VT site said the approximate timings were to include a 1404 departure from Paddington. RTT now shows it as 1440 - while acknowledging that the approximate timings had not been confirmed, I wonder if the 1404 had beeen a typo for 1440 all along? It's of no consequence - I'm just curious.

 

Not surprisingly, the provisional VT arrival and departure times for Bristol TM also differ to that of RTT.

Arrive 18:12 (was 17:24}
Depart 19:47 (was 18:24)

To be honest, I'll be pleased to see the tour arrive whatever the time is. <BJ>

 

Its a shame its being run this late in the year, looking at the timings it'll be well on towards being dark by the time she reaches Swindon so the majority of the steam bit will be under cover of darkness.

 

It was just the juxtaposition of the numbers in 1404 and 1440 that made me wonder - coincidence I expect. No matter; I hope all goes to plan.

 

If you look back at post #489, @Michael Whitehouse said "7029 is alive and well. 7 years of her boiler ticket is up by the year end, so to keep her going for the balance of the 10 years we will retube her over the winter, so she is available next year onwards. She is in very good shape."

 

Sent by a friend

 

In the highly unlikely event that both trains are running exactly to time Clun Castle should pass Eddystone on the ECS from Reading off the Manchester trip somewhere around Hayes and Harlington.
Even more unusually both trains (although less so for the ECS as it is going into Southall yard) are shown on RTT as being on the mainline at that time.