North Wales Coast Express - 8th and 22nd August

Just two runs this year on this tour. UK Steam lists 6201, 6233 and 71000 as the pool of pacifics rostered for this tour. How cool to have the Duke back on the mainline and on the route it plied for much of its career for BR - fingers crossed!

Departing Lime Street at about 10.00am, Chester by midday arriving at Holyhead 14.30. Then departs 16.55 returning to Lime Street for20.40.

If it is the Duke, a great day out! Well a great day whatever the loco but a refreshed Duke has the edge...

 

Reason being that RTC are only doing two NWCE trips is that last year they didn't fill well.

Which is why theyre doing more Welsh Mountaineer trips to Blaenua Ffestiniog this summer instead.

 

What were the pick up's and more specifically the set down's ?, Holyhead woulden't be my choice of a nice day out.

 

See the link from Railway Touring Company website for more info.

http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-north-wales-coast-express---august.html

 

71000 has been removed from the pool of locos on this tour. It seems WCRC will not operate the Duke. 6201 or 6233 listed as working this tour. Both also listed as working Scab Flyer and CME on preceding Friday and Saturday - busy loco's!

 

They may be a slight chance that a 3rd loco may be added to the pool to work the Scarborough's, CME's and NWCE nearer the time. That's just a opinion of mine.

 

Orginal pool had 60009 along with 6201 and 6223 on the RTC website (still does in fact) but UK Steam had replaced No 9 with the Duke. Tours sold as being hauled by a pacific. What would be available?

 

60019 Bittern could be utilised if they are approached by RTC, but depends if Mid Hants want to use it during August.

 

RTC brochure now has added 60019 to the pool - Jeff you have a great Crystal Ball ;-)

 

Seriously? That was just a random guest. :-0

Well, Bittern never been on the North Wales Coast so be good to see a different A4 for a change.

 

60019 has now been replaced with 60009 in the pool of loco's. I thought USA was undergoing long term maintenance? Have miracles been worked? Good news all around if they have!

 

Anyone any ideas on timings for this on the 8th August. All tours on UK Steam that week have times but for this one.

 

I would imagine it would be the same timings as from previous year's. I know for a fact that it's 6201 running to Holyhead on the 8th, and 6233 on the 22nd.

 

6201 website has there locomotive confirmed for the 22nd north wales coast, she is booked on cumbrian mountain on the 7th from liverpool so is unlikley to work on the following day, assuming 6233 is working the 6th scarborough flyer would probably be 6233 on the wales trip.

 

Let's toss a coin!

Does anyone have last years times please?

 

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t09/t0816b.htm

 

Thank you. Hopefully it will be very similar this year.

 

It is 6201 rosted for CME on 7th and 6233 for NWCE on 8th.

 

Just curious. It is said that one of the problems maintaining heritage loco's is that they are started from cold for one off journeys unlike the days of BR etc when a loco would run for a period of time. Would it not make sense to utilise the same loco on consecutive days to minimise the potential damage or it is a case of selective and protective use?