Steam Dreams 2026

Nearing journeys end, 71000 puts on the power and whistles to the waiting crowd to the north of Waterbeach

 

71000 Duke of Gloucester on today’s trip to Ely, something that’s quite a rarity with Ely as a destination for steam
Seen at Waterbeach, Ely & Foxton

 

Three clips of 'Duke of Gloucester' at speed with todays Haywards Heath to Ely tour. Outward powering through Welwyn North having been held to let six trains pass at Digswell Junction, and then speeding through Ashwell & Morden after a pathing stop on the fly over at Hitchin gave us a chance to overtake. For the return its Ashwell & Morden again, and the summit of the 1 in 163/1 in 183 climb from Royston, and 'Duke of Gloucester' is seen powering through at speed...

 

https://flic.kr/p/2siyARm

Video of 71000 at lunchtime.

 

Six photos from yesterday... https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72177720332025146

 

My few from yesterday -
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=28966354@N00&view_all=1&text=71000+1Z52

 

71000 captured moving the ECS just north of Ely Station, then the return leg between Ely and Little Thetford, followed by the outward journey coasting the last few miles into Ely.

 

Rumours of a Steam ban coming into effect on the main line from Monday. Has anyone heard anything as I was hoping to go Into London and see Thursday's Oxford outings with the Duke.

 

There's virtually no rain forecast and temperatures are still going to be up in the high 20s, so I'd say it's pretty much guaranteed.

 

With the RTC job on Sunday now diesel hauled which covers almost all the route 60007 is due to take on Saturday with the Steam Dreams job one could assume this one is diesel vice steam? Nothing to suggest otherwise from SNGLT & Steam Dreams at the moment

 

Safe to say this trip will not be steam hauled and will it even be allowed to go to through Paignton?

 

The signalling has been repaired but the station is still shut, so who knows.

 

Paignton station is to remain closed until at least the end of the day on Monday, 27th. See video below. <BJ>

 

They're terminating services at Torquay but running to Paignton to crossover and reverse. Whether that means they'd be able to run a charter straight through without passengers alighting, pass.