Steam trains on the Ipswich to Norwich line

Hello,
Does anyone know the timetable for what & when steam trains will be on the Ipswich to Norwich main line & the time they will be passing through Needham Market station?
I've been desperately trying to find this information out but have had no joy what-so-ever.
My 4 yr old son is completely bonkers about steam trains, so as you can imagine he would be so excited to see them go by.
Any info on this will be very much appreciated.

 

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Probably the best way to see if there's any tours planned is to check http://www.uksteam.info/tours/index.htm every so often - the first two links (mainline steam tour programme 2009 & 2010) should have details of whats planned, and near the actual date it should have timings as well.

If you want you can also check the Steam Dreams website and the Railway Touring Company's website, these being the operators of most steam tours on the Great Eastern Mainline and should normally say roughly what route they intend to take and rough initial timings.

(btw, i've had a quick look and the only tour i can see thats definately running through Needham is 'The Broadsman' on the 11th of March, although more will be confirmed as charter companies decide on next years calendar)

I hope thats of some help.
Chris

 

Steam Dreams trip from London Victoria to Ely via Stratford and Great Eastern main line on Tuesday 08 December 2009 will be passing through Needham Market.

The quoted locomotive is A4 60019 Bittern.

Will try and post timings nearer the date.

 

Thanks ever do much for letting me know. Are you able to tell me the time the Bittern will be at Needham Market (all be it briefly)? If not do you know wheere I can find this info out from? Thanks again, that's great news. Julia. PS if you here of any others I'd be very very grateful if you can let me know about them as well.

 

A sight he get addicted to, be prepared

Yes the broadsman is due next year and will thunder through on the way to Holt, Oliver Cromwell spent a few years doing just that (not to Holt though, to Norwich and Sheringham) during the 1950s.

Me last year on the Easterling http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1321877

 

Times now on UK Steam for 8 December 2009.

Outward journey is booked to pass Ipswich at 1320.

Return journey is booked to pass Stowmarket at 1806.

Hope this is of help.

 

This trip might well be cancelled unless a different loco can be found as someone has just found out that A4's are not cleared for part of this route!

 

could 34067 be used??

 

Or Tornado?

 

Could be Tornado's not due to run until the 21st I think.

 

Tornado

Hello, my son & I were lucky enough to see Tornado arrive at York station on 27th Nov. We happened to be at the NRM & by the main line viewing balcony when we saw it. My son who is only 4 is completely bonkers about trains so you can imagine how excited he was to see it. The Bittern is passing by near wheer we live soon so I'll be making sure we don't miss it. I've only recently joined this site & it's exactly what I needed for finding out info. Julia

 

Hello do you know if the problem has been resolved & the Bittern will be running on 08th Dec? Do you know where the info can be found as to cancellations & reasons? Thnx

 

I am booked on this tour and sad to hear 60019 won’t be able to work it. I think the best bet on the replacement loco would be 34067 rather than Tornado due to the tour requiring a new TOC, which at this late stage will be very difficult.

 

Tornado would need to be an DB operation, Bittern plus Green Train is West Coast. I am also booked on this tour, purely for Bittern on the Great Eastern. Where does this information come from?

 

Has the tues 8th dec run def been cancelled? thnx

 

Hello i've no idea where the info about it not being able to run has come from. I would have thought this hyperlink on UK Steam information would be pretty accurate http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs09.htm#dec Hope this helps.

 

Bittern to Ely.

Steam Dreams website still shows this train as running.I thought this train was routed out of Waterloo because Bittern was out of gauge for Liverpool Street.
Colin.

 

As far as I can see I agree it's from London Waterloo. Who said Liverpool Street Station? I'm not sure where the rumour started about it pos having to be cancelled. I assume the uksteam info web site will be the most accurate.

 

Bittern.

Steam Dreams and the Railway Touring Company have run their last few East Anglian trains out of Liverpool Street using Tangmere and Oliver Cromwell,Tornado also used Liverpool Street for the Kinder Transport train,all being in gauge for that route,I was told Bittern did not fit Liverpool Street..
Colin.