Steam Dreams 2025

I did go out, to Farncombe, and got unlucky, as 71000 was just ambling slowly behind a service train on yellows - you win some (or so I've heard!) and you lose some...

 

That's a nice shot - shame it was so horribly dull as to blur the loco, but the composition works well, including the aggregates train. Such a shame about that lone Mk2!

 

Thanks Yes it's just a phone camera pic, was pouring down

 

To be fair, though, yes 61306 is steam, but the weather was so dire that it was also a tricky decision for me, only really swayed by it being 71000 (and my outcome was poor anyway, as it happens!). I suppose all this depends on how much travelling is involved.

 

Or how much you enjoy the sight of steam on the main line? [BJ]

 

Because, as snobbish as this is, the Duke was the motivation for heading out to see this trip. While 61306 would still have been steam and is a very good loco, but it's a loco I've seen plenty of times over the years, whereas the Duke I've not seen for nearly 20 years and would have more justified an earlier start, and both train travel and the cost of it, even if it would still have been steam. I rarely head out for steam, because I don't have the ability to drive out for it and an reliant on train travel (that includes visiting heritage railways).

As Deepgren says above you win some, you lose some.

 

Bit of a rush this morning when I realised it was out! Managed to see it at Haslemere and Hedge End. First time I've seen the Duke, so very glad!

 

Coasting towards Farncombe.

 

Which I very much do, but in heavy, driving rain, and general gloom (this morning), I may choose to limit my travelling to more distant places to account for my familiarity with a particular loco.

Perhaps more to the point, I hope the passengers were able to enjoy their Bath wanderings in the dismal weather!

 

Here's my footage of 71000 Duke of Gloucester powering through Storm Bram to the Bath Christmas Market. I filmed the Duke at Bapton and Newton St Loe. I hope you enjoy it.

 

71000 is seen working the London to Bath Christmas Market at Egham, Witley and Bapton, Enjoy

 

There are some good pubs there in which to take shelter.

 

Problems at Bristol. The ECS departed from East Depot but only travelled a short distance. It stopped around the St Anne's tunnel area for some considerable time. A local passenger service was stuck behind it before reversing back to Bristol TM. The Duke railtour has now reversed back to East Depot. [BJ]

 

Anyone keeping tabs on 71000 tonight? Seems to have gone a bit quiet on RTT…

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U72587/2025-12-09/detailed

Simon

 

Seemingly hasn't left (arrived at?) Bath yet. With a scheduled 0001 arrival at Victoria now looking more like 0040 at best, this must surely pose a threat to those seeking onward travel from there? I imagine those may bail out at appropriate places en route, if possible.

 

5Z72 has moved to BTM (diesel to run round?). 0Z72, presumably the Duke, still at East Depot.[BJ]

 

Got to feel sorry for those waiting to board. I had toyed with treating mrs Simon and me to a trip - I'm glad my inner scrooge got the better of me

 

Posts on Facebook indicating brake problems with 71000, and that 57311 is taking the tour back from Bristol. Looks like it's currently ready to leave BTM with the ECS to Bath.

 

Bristol is always a problem, I think the train would have been split to get into the depot so the shunt was probably to couple up again. It’s all signalled from Didcot 60 miles away so another potential problem.