RTC 2026

Yes it seems it was indeed 34028 itself leading at the time. Incredibly sad whenever these happen, but have to feel for the crew and support crew as this is something well out of the ordinary for them

 

Fatality at Hanwell apparently, but RTT doesn't show the ECS leaving Southall

 

It most definitely did leave Southall. Considering it was the train involved in the incident at Hanwell.

 

I assume that when the path gets cancelled midway through it resets the status of everything; was watching it this morning and it was active as far as Hanwell, for which it was showing as 'Approaching' until at least 9.30am.

 

Thanks, a much more informative answer!

 

Now being reported on Facebook that the person at Hanwell was hit by a steam train.
A terrible event for everyone involved. As others have said I hope all of the crew get the support that they need after this.

 

My heart goes out to everyone involved in this, such a terrible thing to have happened. Hope the driver, fireman and support crew all get the support they need after all this.

 

Terrible to hear. I imagine the horror for the crew is marginally lessened by the distance from the victim compared to a diesel loco, but hugely traumatising nevertheless. I can't help wondering whether it was a suicide or a trespasser. My thoughts are with all involved.

 

Its horrific and hope all involved are getting the support they need/deserve.

Such things are becoming depressingly common on the railway at the moment and I suppose by the law of averages it was inevitable that a steam locomotive would be involved at some stage.

 

No idea but when I lived and worked in the area West Ealing to Slough was always a bit of a suicide hotspot. Including one infamous incident when BTP decided to keep a whole train of HeX pax on board for about 3 hours whilst they were interviewed as "witnesses" to a suicide at Southall. According to the local LHR newspaper it did not go down well with the businessmen trying to catch flights on a hot summers afternoon and were threatening to start breaking windows.
RTC do not have much luck having had to postpone a Swanage Belle after the fatality after the pax had boarded at Victoria about 4 years back.
I assume all the costs associated with the cancellation, which must be significant must fall on them as well.

 

Swanage Railway on Facebook.

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/12/first-person-killed-by-a-steam-train-in-58-years/

 

Some of the times are out for Saturday 19th December Cambridge to York and return.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U08887/2026-12-19/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U08889/2026-12-19/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U08888/2026-12-19/detailed

https://www.railwaytouring.net/cwr-19-12-26

So tour now starts from Cambridge North, not Cambridge itself - not a big issue, it's only 3 minutes away and there's parking. But diesel runs round in Ely reception sidings south of the station, so it's now only steam from Ely to York. There's a light engine move from Carnforth to York, followed by engine and support coach move the other way. And as they've already advertised 46115 on the vacuum braked set, and 44871 is doing the Polar Expresses out of Euston that weekend, that only leaves one Carnforth based air braked loco available...

 

Same times as last year, which also included a note about loco running round at Ely. Steam was leading the tour at Waterbeach though when I saw it there, then took water at Ely. Could be a RTT oddity, hopefully someone can confirm.

 

SLL confirms 34028 is only due on 1 outing for the remainder of 2026, 12th Dec Paddington-Bristol job before returning to Swanage