The Beltane Express - 1st May, double-headed GWR to Didcot!

The Beltane Express - 1st May, double-headed GWR to Didcot! Now with Timings.

I'm really looking forward to going on this trip. It gives us several hours at Didcot for the first day of their GWR175 event with a dozen or so loco's in steam, including Fire Fly and City of Truro.

Anyone else from here going on it?

 

Will be at Didcot that day, am looking forward to seeing them come in!

 

Not on the trip but we will be at Didcot for the gala. Should be a very good event if we don't get the usual Bank Holiday weekend weather!

 

I'll be there with 5029. Looks to be a great event! I hope they pose the 3 Castles together when 5043 is there!

 

Yes i will be there aswell along with hundreds of others dodging all the pushchairs !!

Not to be missed.

Mike M. ( 70c )

 

Vintage Trains just sent us the following times for the train, together with the info that they have had to cancel the stop at Warwick Parkway because there's no time in the allocated path.

Solihull 07.32
Dorridge 07.50
Banbury 08.34
Oxford 09.20
Didcot 09.36

Didcot 16.05
Oxford 16.21
Banbury 17.08
Dorridge 17.49
Solihull 18.05

Happy linesiding, I'll wave to you from Coach A :wave:

 

There are now timings on uksteam.info. http://uksteam.info/tours/t10/t0501c.htm

Anyone want to hazard a guess at the speed through Hatton on the return run? :happy:

 

That would be amazing, please ask them to do it! Hope to see you there.

 

I presume the water carrier is having another outing as there is not the usual water stop in Oxford loop

 

We'll see. Though maybe as it's only going to Didcot, a bit of freewheeling and a few extra pints of water poured in from the fireman's kettle will get it there

 

It's downhill all the way from Tys to Warwick and again from Fenny Compton to Didcot (almost!). With two locos on the front, they can take it in turns to apply power when needed. Not quite the same as having two tenders...

 

Now showing on UK steam as 5043 only. Anyone know why?

 

Pity, I am booked on and was looking forward to the sounds of the double-header.

Maybe they'll put Lizzie on it too - though she would be a bit of a gatecrasher at Didcot 175!

 

Still showing both locos on the VT website, hasn't been updated since the 23rd of April though.

 

Would be interesting to know what the state of play is, especially as i suspect the planned load to Plymouth in a fortnight is probably too much for 5043 alone.

 

Yes - very disappointing. I suspect 4965 may have failed its Fitness to Run if it was only changed today. On the plus side it means the train can go up to 75mph instead of being restricted to 60mph.

 

From what i've heard, unfortunately some routine maintainance on 4965 has over run due to the late delivery of materials from a supplier...... But 4965 will certainly be ready for the plymouth run in 2 weeks time...

 

603 is correct in what he says. It was unfortunate that a supplier couldn't deliver on time.
But every effort was made by the people at TYS to get 4965 ready on time. I can confirm that 'The Cornishman' will run with the specified motive power.

 

Not much you can do about outside factors unfortunatly, glad to hear it's in hand mind.

 

Any updates on this one? Hoping to see her at Culham.