Great Britain XVIII: 18/4 -25/4/26

As far as I heard when on the Sussex Belle, 34067 is still broken and it was uncertain if it'd be back in time for the Great Britain.

 

Well presumably then day 3 would be either another leg for 34028 or an earlier start of the Black 5 show.

 

For anyone interested on Day 8 for the southern end of the trip, the train will take water at Wymington, between Wellingborough and Sharnbrook Jc where there’s a Network Rail access gate, however the timings and the STN allow a 26 min slack between Sharnbrook Jc and Bedford to facilitate the water stop (someone needs a rethink on their geography )

Additionally the ECS from Euston to Southall reverses at Neasden Jc and Ruslip Gardens Jc, this in turn sees the first steam between Neasden Jc-South Ruislip via Wembley Stadium since 2013!

 

RTT https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U80725/2026-04-25/detailed shows reversals at Acton Wells and Ruislip Gardens but only "Service stops for pathing (passing train)" at Neasden Jnc, and you don't need to reverse there to get onto the line towards Northolt. But anyway, what is happening to prevent it from running straight from Acton Wells to Acton Main Line?

 

Line blocked for engineering work

 

I’m sure this will have been covered miles back upthread, but what is the stock this year plse?

 

See the link on post #93 for images of the full set.

 

So two early Mk2’s with toplights & CDL?

 

Yes, one of the posts said they are in a table for 4 and table for 2 config, but apparently according to another with not as much room as a normal first. Not having travelled on a WCRC one of these cannot comment personally.

 

Are they carriages that were in the Green Train/Steam Dreams Sets years ago? I remember some passengers complaining about the lack of legroom and being charged First Class fares in the 8 rowers. Think we had them on one of the Coronations.

 

Not sure but I think one the posts on here may have said they were on a discussion about non a/c Mk2's at one point.

 

Same configuration internally but different vehicles - 5229 and 5239 are air-braked (they were in the Wessex Trains “Excalibur Express” set in the 2000s) whereas the three in the Cathedrals Express set (ex Green Train) were vac braked.

 

Traveled today in coach B (5229). Slightly tighter than normal but having opening toplights and being able to hear (
and smell )the loco is well worth it.Superb performance from Eddystone all day.

 

34028 Eddystone on The Great Britain xv111 at Bradford-on-Tone en route to Penzance

 

Strange headcode on the loco. On the Southern in the old days this was the code used for a brakedown train going to clear the line. But it is eye catching and does look good despite being somewhat inappropriate. Glad it got to its destination on time.

Peter

 

Was also the head code for Churchill’s funeral train

 

Yes, that's right. 'V' for victory. <BJ>

 

Also via Mkt Harboro rather than Manton as advertised, .One hour stop at Leicester Humberston Road. About 40/45 miles between water stops .I would have thought they could have made it somewhere along the Bedford /Bletchley line.

 

Loco goes into Leicester LIP during the hour stop in Humberstone Rd, guessing it’s a top up of coal/water
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U80942/2026-04-25/detailed

 

Anyone any ideas why its currently looped at newton abbot please.