THE CAPITAL CHRSTMAS EXPRESS - Saturday 27th November

According to uksteam.info it looks like a repeat visit for 44932 (vice 34067 Tangmere) to Swanage.

A few tickets are still left I believe:
http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/capital-christmas-express---271110.html

 

Anyone who's around Swanage early enough to have a wander, give me a wave; I'm early turn fireman on the service train, sign on 06.30.

 

Keep an eye out on the return as "Gresley" will be in the area moving to Southall.

Mike M. (70c)

 

Currently R.T.C. are quoting :From Basingstoke we join the Reading line and pass through Mortimer and Bramley. From Reading we hope for a fast run along the Great Western main line all the way in to Waterloo.We retrace our steps back to the West Country with Black 44932 ready to round off the day in true historic steam train style.

Not Paddington but still the GWML. Lets see when the official timings are made public.

Mike M. (70c)

 

I expect James S knows more about it than the RTC web-master ;-) UKsteam.info also says Waterloo vice Paddington.

I wonder if the blurb on the RTC website was copied from last year's description and not altered as fully as it should have been? I've suspected in the past that the person who updates their web-site knows more about computers than s/he does about railways. There are two obvious give-aways in MikeM's quote: "a fast run along the Great Western main line all the way in to Waterloo" and "Black 44932". I think RTC need to pay a little more attention to their electronic shop window.

 

Times now at www.uksteam.info/tours/t10/t1127c.htm
Via Woking both ways

PS I'm not quite sure that the Swanage-Motala times are correct.

David

 

The RTC site now has Swanage Departure at 07:50 and Arrival back at 22:40.
Very few seats left:
http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/capital-christmas-express---271110.html
Be interesting to see how much noise the Black 5 makes compared with Tangmere's (relatively quiet) fast progress last year.

 

It is a real shame it didn't get its path via Basingstoke-Reading and the GWR mainline. Just a crawl round the suburban Staines route now

 

44932 going well at top of Parkstone Bank at 0924 with 11 on after a good solid climb - two brief slips towards top of the bank very quickly and well controlled thus having relatively little impact on speed at top of bank - unusually due to the wind direction this morning was able to hear her storming away from Branksome across Bourne Valley towards Bournemouth. DH

 

Through Woking nearly 15 down

http://simon71.fotopic.net/p68253065.html

 

44932 through Ashford Middx approx 15 down

http://stephen-leek.fotopic.net/p68253714.html

 

Here's my video from Deepcut this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic6n2PEVRHg

Great day for vapour, just hung in the air afterwards, smelt lovely.

 

PS Found this brilliant clip from Brockenhurst, stunning video by Southernrailwaysfan, wish I'd taken it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euc-79AJlO0

 

saw the tour this morning at Basingstoke and again at Woking, loco looked in fine form although a few mins down at both spots
Basingstoke:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/5212348844/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/5212349724/

and finally at Woking
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/5212351270/in/photostream/

 

cheers Ralph, yeah i think the driver held back, or thats what i like to think lol

 

Lovely pics Matt, as usual. You must really have had to go some to get from Basingstoke to Woking!!!! I looked at the timings and thought I couldn't get two locations anywhere.