The Cheltenham Flyer

I think my travelling companion would be very pleased with that. NOT!

 

Booked on this now, was under the impression the railtour budget for 2013 was gone, but appears my dad had other idea's, not that I'm complaining.

Not that it really matters (just curious more than anything), does anyone know which headboard is likely to appear on the day ?, "Cheltenham Spa Express" or the massive "World's Fastest Train" type ?.

 

For those who are hoping for a fast run through Reading on the up middle road, I don't think this will happen. At moment this line is severed & think it will form the new down platform line when platform 7 (old 4) is extended forward.
Link to a picture on WNXX. Not mine.
Old Footbridge - The End, Reading Station Remodelling 06/04/2013 082 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

I'm booked... anybody else?
Steve

 

Quite right Buseng and what was expected. There's no way the Castle will be speeding through a platform road; too risky in this day and age especially when NO other passenger trains go non-stop. Big choice of platforms though !! ....Pete

 

3 tickets in Club. Looking forward to my first trip behind 5043 since Scotland. As people are saying it should be a fitting farewell for this part of the GWML before the wires go up. Though I'm quite excited by the D1015 haulage as well...

 

Yes, I'm booked, should be a special trip.

 

Yes- I'm booked too. Probably my only chance to do Sapperton behind steam before moving out of the Gloucestershire area. I'm really looking forward to it.

 

I'll see you on the day David, we haven't met for a while. As for the head board, I've no idea but personally I think it would be a nice touch to have the big "Worlds Fastest Train" one.

 

Nooooooooo! That iconic through road severed and realistically gone and gone for ever! This is a sad day for Western Region fans. It's all down to the memories, video's, dvd's and You Tube.

One question. Was 5043 the last steam locomotive ever to race through the middle road on the up record braking Bristolian? If so, I think that is very fitting end even if she crawls through Reading on the day, as nothing will take away that brilliant image of screeching whistles and speed towards London. Reading will never ever be the same again.

 

No 6024 did it in 2012: 6024 storms through Readings middle road hauling a railtour 3-3-12 - YouTube

 

3 tickets in Standard from Paddington to Gloucester and return.

 

VT don't go in for headboards very much except for the Shakespeare Express. I think that the "World's Fastest Train" would not really be suitable. Imagine being a non-enthusiast waiting for a train at somewhere like Pangbourne. 5043 races through at 75mph on the Relief line while an HST doing 125mph overtakes it on the fast line. Our non-enthusiast would find it pretty weird in these circumstances for 5043 to be carrying a headboard proclaiming "World's Fastest Train"

 

Could always do a modern take on it..

put "Was worlds fastest train".

 

I hope we are doing 75mph through Pangbourne - 5043 sauntered through Pangbourne doing about 15mph on this weekends Moonraker - she did seem about 5 mins up on schedule admittedly!

 

Fair point, but the Bristolian had the full regalia of headboard and correct reporting number for each direction, many of the tours they do there isn't an appropriate, authentic headboard for (Would you really want a headboard saying "The Double Headed Hallage ?), Chelt Flyer is an exception.

Would I be right in thinking the "World's Fastest Train" headboard is yet to make a mainline run in preservation ?.

 

Sorry John, that argument doesn't stand up. For instance I wonder how many non-enthusiasts were confused on Sunday when a steam hauled train heading north away from London went past bearing the headboard "London - Paris Night Ferry" in broad daylight. I tend to think that their first thought would be to get their phones out to photograph the 'unusual' sight of an old fashioned steam train belting through their station.
As for The Shakespeare Express, during the years I've worked on the train, to my knowledge the Bard has never travelled with us and no one has ever complained about not meeting him. :smile:
With regard to the Flyer I'd love to see the oblong "Worlds Fastest Train Headboard" but like the rest of you I really dont know what will appear on the day.

 

You can buy your own on Ebay, not far from me either.

POSTCARD THE CHELTENHAM FLYER HEADBOARD GWR WORLD'S FASTEST TRAIN | eBay

 

I've seen a few images on the internet of 34067 on the Peak Forester last Sunday and I have to say the headboard looks totally wrong - wrong line, wrong stock, wrong time of day. Don't know why they bothered with it. As for 5043, Personally I'd prefer a BR(W) style Cheltenham Spa Express headboard rather than "World's Fastest Train" for reasons set out in my earlier post, but quite honestly, I really don't mind what the front of the engine will look like. I'll be on board and will hopefully be enjoying my first trip behind one of the current main line stars on what seems like a pretty exciting day out. Only 25 days to go!!