Steam dreams adding three locomotives for 2012 program!

I just went to their website and noticed that Braunton is down for a trip.
Also, not only is Duke of Gloucester be added to the program but surprisinly Clan Line

It shall definitly be interesting to see where Clan Line ends up away from her VSOE Duties.
This is good news for 71000. The Locomotive is definitly going to get to stretch its legs more.

 

My first journey on the mainline behind steam was with Clan Line in 1995 at the age of 6. Some friends of ours won the tickets and knowing how much I was into trains gave them to us - I remember we travelled from Basingstoke to Bournemouth, via Salisbury on the outward journey if I remember correctly. Sadly we were unable to head up to London to do the whole tour.

It would be very nice to relive that, no matter where she goes!

 

I'd love to see 35028 doing a few more enthusiasts' specials; she's an outstanding locomotive and a credit to her owners. Its also probably the best time to experience a trip behind her as there'll be a bit more competition in future where MNs are concerned. Now to digress... My first mainline trip was behind 76079 on the Cambrian when Arriva Trains Wales ran it in 2006. That was soon followed by 45407 (as 45157) on the West Highland Extension. My first 'proper' one-off railtour was 5051 from Swansea to Paddington (one way) in 2007, pretty much because it was in the area (I was in university at Swansea, and I made my excuses to participate). Apart from the clinker issue at Patchway, it wasn't a bad trip overall. However, it would take until January 2009 before I had the pleasure of a trip on Southern metals, 34067 down to Folkestone. I more than made up for my lack of Southern motive power on the mainline that year, as I had 35028 from Waterloo to Bristol via Slough and Reading and return via Wilton Junction and Salisbury. I still think that was my best year on the rails due to the quality of the runs. However, 2010 saw me reach Stirling and Penzance whilst carving up the West Midlands and experiencing a 'Royal Scot' on the West of England mainline (probably the one and only time 46115 has been down south so far). All in all, and apart from a few setbacks, it's been an enjoyable five years on the rails, and I hope it continues for a few more years...

 

The Best trip I’ve had behind 35028 was last years UK Rail tour from Waterloo to Weymouth. The highlight of the tour was from Waterloo to Woking on the down fast.

 

Good news about 35028 and 71000. It confirms something I heard at the MHR Gala at the weekend (DBS will be operating the CE program next year). 60163 is due to be working a lot of their trips as well. I don't think the CE stewards will be very pleased about the trips that start from outside London though; they end up having a very, very long day.

 

Any idea why they have changed TOC? It will certainly be good to see Duke get more runs but hopefully Yawnado will not dominate the 2012 programme.

 

Could be very good news indeed. Have to see what SD can set up with her, as she is already shown as having a very busy VSOE year in 2012.

But even a couple of trips on her old running territory arranged in the same superb way that SD did for Tangmere on the 9th July trip this year could be simply mouth watering.

 

I gather from a conversation I had with them earlier this year that they don't like the business of chopping and changing coach sets etc... that happens when you use more than one TOC. Given Graeme Bunker's association with "Yawnado" it is not likely that they are going to drop it from the programme which means the operator has to be DBS. One just hopes that they can come up with a decent set of stock rather than the "rainbow" set that has been cobbled together at times this year.

 

I think you may be right Al. She looks fully taken for 2012 already.

 

Presumably if the DBS only rumours are true it means no playing with 70013 and a few others in 2012...

 

Cheers for the info. I very much doubt it will be anything but a rainbow coloured set unless the 'Royal Scot' set is available for the mid week jaunts. As a passenger it will be much better than some of the rakes West Coast put together.

 

30777 & any other vac only engines. Also isn't the Green Train vac only, so what happens there?

 

The current "green train" is owned by WCRC.....?

DBS stock off EH i'd assume.

 

The Green train is indeed WCRC owned, Vac Only and based at Southall, im sure WCRC will find alternative uses for it, as in the past it has turned up on others tours when not in Cathex use.

What it does mean is DBS suddenly need another rake of coaches a lot more times in 2012, and if you thought some of their rakes were currently shabby, there might be a temptation to dig up even crapper vehicles to make the numbers up now.

 

I believe the Duke and Clan Line were recent additions. I look at that page quite often and was a bit surprised to see the changes.

 

Shame that a long tradition is coming to an end. The Green Train & SD have been associated together for many years now & Mid Hants Daylight Railtours before them. Although it has more maroon vehicles added in recent years. It was one of the few remaining "traditional" trains being vac braked & steam heated. Albeit mostly Mk 2's. As mentioned, SD maybe acquiring some new loco in it's pool, but will be losing some as well. Especially the vac only ones. I wonder which tour operator will use the Green Train now. 34067 will never look right on a mix & match set.

 

I (and, for that matter, Graeme Bunker) find this present Nat-Pres fixation with which TOC will operate for SD quite bizarre. I currently have a full list of SD's 2012 tours sitting on my desk for consideration and discussion. It is quite possible that we may not agree on all the itineraries and SD are, of course, free to engage whichever TOC they feel suits their needs best, as they have done for the last couple of years. The only main line locos which have failed to satisfy WCR's acceptance criteria are 60163 and 71000, which leaves a fairly wide choice from the rest (including 35028, which we operated in December 2010).

The Green Train remains as a complete set, based at Southall, and has recently received some considerable attention, including a complete repaint, in recent weeks. The green Mk2s have been supplemented on a regular basis by maroon Mk1 FOs or Pullmans, as the green vehicles comprise of TSOs, SOs and a single FK (and, of course an RMB and BSO).

JS

 

DBS also operates the 'Royal Scot' blood and custard set. This was used for TBEL's series of Poole to Bath and Bristol trains this year. Very smart. <BJ>

 

Pity about using DBS, as I much prefer WCR as an operator but I suppose SD has no choice if they wanted to use Yawnado. Cant see the attraction of it myself. As for 35028 well I think its there for a purpose but we will see. My best run with it? Well 12th December 1966 of course with the late great Gordon Porter at the regulator, max 103/104 at Fleet on the 851 pm arrival. Just four of us on the train and well documented and certainly never to be forgotten. A good load and an ordinary service train.

Don