VT - Double Headed Hallage - TLW to Newport (via Gloucester)

PLEASE REFER TO THE LETTER FROM VINTAGE TRAINS THAT WAS SENT WITH THE TICKETS.

I ASSURE YOU WE KNOW WHAT ARE ACTUAL PASSENGER STOPS AND WHAT ARE NOT!

 

Real Dilema here. I was going to let go filming the not unusual Tornado and Tangmere services west out of london, and go on a road trip and catch the pair of Halls at various parts of the itinerary. We have the Spectre of SNOW. Now I know Clan Line ignored it earlier this year and blasted the white stuff into the weeds giving me my best video ever, but I understand there is going to be serious shed loads of the stuff dumped on the West Midlands over the next 24 hours. Is the service going to run? will the pax get there? Will I make it to my most northerly chosen spot through the snow ( its a really early start for us soft southerners).

I guess my plea is, if the service is cancelled, let us know ASAP Ben?

 

Just to let you know, current weather around Tyseley is a light dusting of snow that's rapidly turning to slush and no more coming down at the moment, anyone saying they can't get out because of it is trying to pull a fast one in my opinion, so you should all be fine unless a load more comes down.

 

I hope the loco's are on the stock early so the stock can be heated as i have a long drive to Brum

 

Be aware that there is heavy snow forecast tonight for several hours though,imagine motorway's will cope but with the time most people are going to be arriving i'd expect them to be down to 1/2 lanes judging by the traffic cams from the early hours last night,either way wouldn't underestimate the conditions,all well and good if you live in Brum but those outside,such as us in Wakefield and Geoff (Leander) in Bedford will need to leave at least an hour extra i'd say.

 

I'm going to double check tonight then, was planning on hitting the M40 at 5am from Wycombe. Should be ok, think for me it's around 90 odd miles.

 

Traffic England - Motorway Traffic Flow

If you check the cameras on that page then you get a good idea,the motorways were seemingly kept with at least 1 lane clear last night,so it's Ok so long as you don't get stuck behind a gritter,or someone doing 15mph.....

(Tick Traffic cameras and then select motorway)

 

Alberta - Thank you for the link, most helpful and now saved. Saw the light dusting up at the M42 junction on the M40 from the camera's. Problem will be tonight as it'll settle more / freeze up.

Must remember to bring balacarver with me for window observations, brain freeze the other week is not pleasant.

 

Does anyone know where the loco's are turning? I see the train is going on to Pengam sidings so the loco's could be going on to Cardiff or back to the Newport triangle.
I am intending to go to Newport to see loco's but as I have to change trains in Cardiff this info would be very useful.

 

Looking increasingly unlikely that i'll be leaving Wakefield,weather currently awful and street has long disappeared under snow. M1 is already going down to 1 lane in places too......is it really the 22nd March and how the hell is this supposed to continue until 10am as forecast....

 

Well we got the train up from London, and snow was coming down heavy ish at Moor St. Now tucked up in the hotel in Yardley and snow is down but only dusting the ground.

 

I'd of thought Newport triangle for turning, not sure there's anywhere to turn in the Cardiff area and if there was, best avoided with valley lines services flying around all over the place.

 

Leaving TLW at 07:12

 

Through Stourbridge junction at 7:49... Following chiltern unit now though

 

Canton triangle is regularly used for turning steam.

 

Last year on the 24th March, Vintage Trains ran the 'Double Lickey Banker'.
It was 23 degrees C when Lizzy passed through Bristol Parkway. Not much chance of that temperature today. <BJ>

THE DOUBLE LICKEY BANKER Solihull-Bristol (TY01) [wcrc]
46201: Solihull-Oxford-Swindon-Bristol-Cheltenham-Bromsgrove
46201+(bankers)7752+9600: Bromsgrove-Saltley
7752+9600+46201(rear): Saltley-Dorridge VNTL

 

Too right,just spent the last 90 minutes pushing my mum home from work as we now have nearly a foot,and as usual Wakefield council have been about as useful as 6 men clearing the snow with trowels.