SHAKESPEARE EXPRESS 2011

As it seems to be fashionable at the moment to create threads for Summer regular trips I thought I'd make one for my local!

Timings are very similar if not the same as last year http://uksteam.info/tours/t11/tshake.htm

Website http://shakespeareexpress.com/

6201 Princess Elizabeth is the loco for the first day on 3rd July.

 

So they arent going to terminate at Moor St after all?

 

No cross over between the tracks in the new platforms Moor Street.

 

Yes I think that was a bit of a hoax - other than the private charter last month and perhaps a "pannier trip" with VT I can't honestly see any steam using those platforms. Even with a crossover you could only get 5 coaches in the platform!

 

I must admit it never looked very likely, the idea that they could justify the cost of a diesel, let alone a pannier to shunt release trains at Moor St sounded like a nice idea... but hardly practical on a regular basis.

 

On the Paddington trip last year, 9600 + load 8 + 5043 only just fitted between the buffers and starting signal so sticking with usual Shakespeare load 8 it's difficult to get a shunt release loco small enough while having a decent length train.

Seems odd they chose to get with restricted length platforms when Chiltern use loco hauled sets in them and of course with longer platforms you have the option of putting more than 1 unit in each.

 

I've always thought that listening to a Hall start from Moor street and bang and crash its way through Snow Hill tunnel was one of the best bits !! I miss the extended stop in Brum of a few years ago though. Especially after discovering some of Digbeth's watering holes

 

Still doing pay on the day?

 

Yes there are on the day prices on the leaflet http://shakespeareexpress.com/downloads/se_leaflet.pdf

 

4936 Kinlet Hall on the second week according to Steam Railway subject to a main line test run next week.

 

As 45305 has replaced 46201 on the 'Coast to Coast' today, will it be on the Shakespeare Express tomorrow?

 

6201 is on the Shakespeare Express tomorrow, 45305 was on the Coast to Coast as 6201 could not do both.

 

Lizzie on her way down to Stratford slightly early in glorious sunshine

 

Good to see "normal" folk with their kids too. Hopefully it will stay popular throughout the season.

 

Got stuck by the look of it under the bridge at Shrewley on the second run but soon got going again. Unfortunately a lot of the image quality has been lost through uploading.