The Cheltenham Flyer

Good, let's hope it's fine on Saturday.

 

As long as we don't get soaked on the day then it will all work out fine

 

Oh, they aren't using those open top coaches again, surely.

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54733/2013/05/11/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54734/2013/05/11/advanced

 

Should we read anything into the fact it is listed as being a "diesel locomotive"?

 

No. Realtime trains only ever shows diesel or electric locos.

 

Not that I'm questioning what your saying, but where has this come from Al ?, I haven't seen any mention of timings or tickets yet.

 

See post #84 David for the timings.

James at SVN

 

Sorry, I somehow missed a few posts.

On the face of it, it's disappointing, but, what is scheduled and what happens on the day can be quite different,as Saltydog said earlier, remember the Bristolian return ?, if there's a gap on the day it could be unexpectedly turned onto the fast.

 

I wonder why the outbound is timed at 75mph and 420t but the return is timed at 60mph and 305t?
Steve

 

I presume we are now meant to catch the return HST an hour later. Will see when tickets arrive I guess.

 

Even Modified Hall 4-6-0's (Castle duty) on down Worcester services in the early 60's regularly achieved the 36 miles in the booked 40 minutes Paddington to Reading start to stop and yet here we have a train which take almost an hour tucked behind a stopper! I feel sorry for Vintage Trains and the passengers who are travelling and believed that a fast path would be found. When the Bristolian VT tour ran on the up main line in record time with 5043 there were a number of events which worked in its favour like late running service trains and exceptional cooperation from NR and FGW but for anyone to think this can happen again, I would suggest you do not build your hopes up. Do not forget that even on the down Bristolian on that magical day ran part of the trip from Paddington on the down relief line and switched to the down main at Reading and then trundled through the down middle road and only then to run fast to Didcot and beyond to Bristol.

Also compared to then, Reading has changed beyond recognition and suddenly the middle road has disappeared altogether and I don't think anyone can be sure on which platform it will pass and how fast, or slow!

I really do hope I am wrong, but I suspect, and sorry VT for saying so as it is only my view, that based on the Real Time schedule, this is going to be an anti-climax for high speed steam - even Didcot is booked to pass on the relief line in both directions thereby denying us non-travellers the opportunity of seeing 5043 at 75mph with whistle wide open racing through Didcot station.

Having said all of the above, I hope I am proved wrong. Vintage Trains deserve better. This offering from NR is meagre in the extreme and one hopes that someone, somewhere on the day, allows it to run ML especially as this will be the last steam train before the dreaded overhead wires go up. So come on NR, you know you can do it. If so, that would be awesome and what is more, on the down trip, those passengers needing to connect with a service back to London, will be able to get the connection!

 

According to all the figures put forward then, the up journey between Reading-Paddington (35mls)..63 minutes !! Makes Big Als ave speed on return leg pretty fast. Shall still turn out to see her though.

 

5043 has been allowed longer to run from Reading to Paddington than 5006 Tregenna Castle took to run from Swindon in its epic run!

Still, the weather has turned just in time to allay fears of lineside fires. I'm hopeful that the actual run, like 5043's Bristolian, may turn out a more exciting journey than these somewhat pedestrian timings suggest.

 

Of course the next fast connection with no changes is the 19.15. One back, presumably with a Swindon change is just after 18.00. I assume the ticket for the return now will be hassle free.

 

I'd have thought there would be a better chance of a fast run on the outward than the return. On the way back it can't run too early, otherwise it'll probably get held at Swindon waiting for the single line line to Kemble.

 

According to RTT it is 14 up & 12 down. These are the new ones right at the back.