Steam Dreams 2013 & 2014 Archive

Oh, shame. I'd quite fancy an A4. During its layover, we could pair it with our varnished teak carriages - isn't that the sort of matching combination of loco and stock all the photographers clamour for?

Tom

 

Would look nice with the GNR Saloon. I'd love an A4 down this neck of the woods again. Remember seeing 4464 (as 60019) whizz through Haywards Heath a few years ago with the whistle blowing. Was a great experience.

 

Not really a surprise, no water carrier, second tender or one with a larger capacity with SNG.

 

and also it would have to turn at Westbury. Going via Bristol, an hour longer is not possible since A4's they are out of gauge one way between Westbury and Bathampton.

 

"only" (sorry) £99 if you join at Westbury. 60007 comes out of traffic in 2015 so you're not going to get many more chances to enjoy the loco on the mainline. SNGLPT would be very pleased to be asked to run for RTC as well.

 

Any possibility of joining the Crewe pool in the summer or next year winter CME season?

 

I remember reading somewhere that there will be no WCME's next year due to engineering works.

 

Maybe they could do a variation, Carnforth - Lancaster - Manchester - Halifax -Keighley -Hellifield - Carnforth ?, or revive the Cotton Mill Route starting from Preston.

 

Very attractive alternative still permitting AC traction to/from Lancashire.
Seem the Lancastrian trains last year were not viable this time though so maybe south Pennines less of a draw.

 

Having run one last year that went a more direct route, no guarantee of a path through Reading just yet, I can understand them running this one via the Portsmouth Direct route, since people who live close to this route have only previously been offered trips to Bath and Sherborne.
Tours that have convenient pick ups (in the south east) in my opinion are rarely the best tour from an enthusiast’s point of view. I understand why they run these trips with multi pickups, which do not go the most direct route, since I have met many people who will only travel if there is a pickup a short distance from home.

 

[quote="No.7, post: 754661, member: 120].60007 comes out of traffic in 2015 so you're not going to get many more chances to enjoy the loco on the mainline. SNGLPT would be very pleased to be asked to run for RTC as well.[/quote]

Nigel

What month in 2015 does 60007 come out of traffic, and what months is it available for mainline trips ?

Thanks

Paul

 

Will it show up though ?
Looking back through the years on uksteam, 60007 doesn't appear very often, and showed up even less.

 

I think the fact 60007's ticket is up next year and the amount of mainline runs it's had in this ticket up to now, shows you the amount/length of issues there has been, I do hope money for the next overhaul hasn't taken as much of a hit as first impressions give.

 

Looking at the Steam Dreams website I see The Cathedrals Express hauled by Oliver Cromwell has "London - Cambridge, Ely & Norwich" day trips on May 1 and June 12, both listed to originate from Chiswick. Have I read that correctly? I can't recall a steam excursion starting from Chiswick before - certainly not in my recent memory, although that is nowhere near as long as many have on this forum. Both services are then scheduled to travel via Putney, Clapham Junction and West Brompton. The Cathedrals Express is also listed to stop at Chiswick on April 27 on a "London - Canterbury" day trip (Steam Locomotive TBC) which is listed as travelling from "London" via Richmond, Chiswick and Putney, which again looks unusual.

 

Thanks Big Al. So what route would the May 1 and June 12 engine and stock take from Southall to arrive at Chiswick so they can set off east towards Putney and Clapham Junction?

And does the "London" via Richmond, Chiswick and Putney route to Canterbury for April 27 mean a loop the loop: West bound Putney / Barnes / Richmond / then turning back East via Hounslow / Chiswick / Barnes / Putney?

 

I agree about the virtue of a run from Southall via some pick-up points without reversing. But I can't see how you can get from Southall to the North London Line towards South Acton without reversing.

 

To answer a few questions:

Paul: Ticket up in September 2015.
Crewe pool: no, 60007 is committed to NYMR running this summer.
ADB: 60007 has had a series of problems with stays, firebox and valves over the last few years, all sorted now but that's steam loco's for you. 60007 was available for mainline work last year but for the only tour offered to us the relevant parties couldn't sort out the paperwork (totally outside our control).

Running in 2015: To early to tell, depends on what tour operators offer us. In principal 60007 is very flexible next year but I am sure we will run on the NYMR as well as the mainline.