6024 - THE St DAVIDS DAY CATHEDRALS EXPRESS & HELP FOR HEROES SPECIAL 01/03/11

Thought I'd start my first ever thread here for this run as the times have just been out up.

Route has slightly changed from what was advertised when I booked, personally it's for the better for me. Bonus of Horfield bank on the outward run. Let's hope as its a standing start from the water stop that we don't have a Tangmere!!! Sorry but I couldn't resist.

I'll be signing up to railtour for the run and will post updates, plus update on here. I'm also contemplating on timing the run as well and will try and write it up for here, if my access at work to the sectional appendix still works.

Here's to a successful run with the King!

t0301a.htm

Regards

James

 

the new route has definetly opened up my eyes as it will be the last time the king roars up sapperton before her current mainline ticket ends, she used to be a regular engine along this route, and will be sorely missed, fingers crossed the overhaul is a fast-track one like with the duchess, be good to see her again on sapperton, after a fine performance a few years ago., heres looking forward to the 1st March....10 days and counting..............

 

Food for thought is that, fingers and toes crossed, you can compare a single chimney king on this route in July and October. I haven't done this route with 6024 for far too many years. Last time I went up there was on the coronation express which was lively as ever but can't be compared as it was a double header.

Either way I totally agree with you on the overhaul and for the run.

 

UKsteam.info also suggests they're using Riviera's EH01 coaches. That's the Chocolate & Cream set used for last year's Torbay trains, isn't it?

 

Basically yes, but you may find a few intruders of other liveries. When SD used this set before Christmas there was some blood & custard Mk1s and a blue & grey Mk2 for Super Standard.

 

Should be a good run I hope with 6024 (if they have better coal than the last CE run). Never been up Sapperton with a King before so am looking forward to this even more now. I also hope she has a relatively quick overhaul.

 

Wish list - Nice mix of crimson, maroon and chocolate and cream ala 1950's/60's Western Region.

Reality - Anglia Mk2 on the back!

 

The return is now to Euston vice Paddington.
David

 

Got the tickets and timings. What a farce and a nightmare for SD. Outward run now doesn't stop at Reading and SD stewards have got to escort passengers onto a service train for Twyford where the charter is now picking us up. This is due to the modernisation work at Reading. As mentioned by David above, the return run is now going into Euston instead of Paddington due to gauging issues. And the train sets down at Reading on the return and doesn't at Twyford! Let's hope everything goes to plan.

 

Would this be the first time a King has ever been into Euston ?? I think the locomotive exchanges ran out of Kings Cross.
Colin.

 

Two days later the King is running from Bristol to Paddington, will the same gauging issues on March 1st prevent the it returning to Paddington on March 3rd?

I noticed that the run from London to Cardiff has a water stop at Bristol East, which might suggest that it will be standing start towards Filton Bank.

 

The letter states pathing and gauging. I think it is only allowed in 4 platforms at Paddington 1, 3, 9 , plus either 5 or 7.

 

I suppose the relief lines will closed at the Reading bomb site again. As for the gauging issues, didn't the King run into Paddington only a couple of weeks ago?

 

Just looked at UKSteam, from the time the stock leaves Eastleigh until it arrives back there is 22 hours! Must be a long day for some.

 

what are the local arrangements at Paddington? any chance of getting on the platform without a ticket to view this western masterpiece?...

 

Think most of the platforms at Padd are gated although you could buy the cheapest ticket to get through?

 

FFS...

 

Platforms 1,8 & 9 do not have gates. The train leaves from Platform 11.

 

You could just get Annette to distract the gate staff and you could jump over?

 

lol an idea! or could just plead with there better nature to grant access