Cath Ex, Tornado Kings X - Durham 13th April.

Cant see a separate thread for this, so here goes.

I see the operator is having trouble with getting a path for this one, its said due to the massive landslip at Hatfield Colliery. Wonder if it will run?

 

Nothing is going past that for a good while track is all over the place all four lines.

But does it go that way?

Cheers Dave

 

No, but some service trains are being diverted via Selby due to the landslip, which may reduce the number of paths available north of Doncaster. There may also be some diverted freight trains which also use up some of the paths.

 

I'm unsure of pathing, gauging or intensity of services throughout the route, but on the face of it, it could be possible to bypass Doncaster station by using the avoiding line opposite Platform 8, heading through Bentley towards Wakefield then taking the East Chord of Wakefield triangle to take up the route through Normanton, Castleford, Sherburn in Elmet to Colton Junction. However, not only is pathing and gauging an issue, but also the fact that it adds around 40 miles to the day. I'm taking an interest in how they solve/don't solve this problem, as it will probably also have ramifications for the Cath-Ex to Scotland trip in June.

 

Steam tours are often routed via Ferrybridge and Church Fenton between Doncaster and York, rather than using the more direct Selby-avoiding line. I doubt they'd go as far west as Wakefield.

 

I'm just thinking about the potential for congestion immediately north of Doncaster before you reach Shaftholme Junction for the line to Knottingley. It would make much more sense, though.

 

Just read on the A1ST facebook page that this tour has been cancelled.

James at SVN

 

Tickets have just been sent. The tour is due to go to York not Durham, no path available that leaves after 0630 is the reason given

 

As AMP has clarified, the Facebook post refers to just receiving a phone call to inform them that the York to Durham section has been cancelled.

 

It would have helped if I had read the message on Facebook properly!

Thanks for correcting me! :thumb:

James at SVN

 

Presumably, that must be a path north of Northallerton that is the problem if York is possible?

Was this the one originally meant to go to Scarborough - would that be possible again?

Steven

 

It was supposed to go via Bridlington to Scarborough originally; not sure why this was changed. However, wasn't she supposed to go to Scarborough from York last year & ended up at Durham due to a lack of crew who signed the Scarborough route?

Mark

 

Pathing beyond York is not the problem it is the fact the train is taking so long to get to York because of problems in the Doncaster area and consequently there isn't time to go beyond York and give people a reasonable amount of time at Durham. Steam Dreams are offering a service train connection from York to Durham but even with this there is only 1 1/2 hrs there.

 

They moved the Scarborough trip to July.

 

Thanks for info on that - I did wonder about time - and, of course, there would need to be time for the empty train to run to Tyne Yard and the loco to turn in Newcastle, all of which it appears would be very tight.

Steven

 

Still no times up on Steam Dreams or uksteam - pathing through Donny must be problematic?

Mark

 

This could be it...

Outward: Realtime Trains
Return: Realtime Trains

James at SVN

 

Thanks James. Looks hopeful.

Mark

 

Times now on UKsteam.info, with links to RTT. Just under 5 hours KX-York, 4-and-a-half on the return, routed via Temple Hirst Junction between Doncaster and York both ways. IIRC, that's via the direct Selby Diversion - shows how much I know about these things!

 

Cheers. Let's hope for a good run tomorrow then

Mark