The Buxton Spa Express, 27 June.

It's very rare to get more than 3 steam train excursions on this line a year, only used when it needs to access the Midland Mainline, which hardly ever has any steam. After the 15th next month, we will have had 2 steamers on this line so far.

 

Not rarely enough in this case I feel. It's certain to put a hell of a lot of people out at the London end and one of our party who only decided to travel because of the Bletchley/Bedford bit. In my case I wanted to do the Midland route to Buxton and it now appears we do the other route via Stockport twice and A hell of long winded affair that is. I cannot find on RTT the return run so I expect it's back the way we arrived. Be nice if we could go back main line and turn off at Crewe then via Stoke and back bypassing Derby. Pigs will be flying I'm sure. Could be a long hard day.

 

Its a bit of a funny rout this, as I would have thought that from Hope line, it would have gone via Chinley junction and the Peak dale freight line into Buxton, and come out via Doveholes/Chapel le frith, as that would be less expensive, and allowed more time in Buxton, and could remain double head, but to go into Stockport twice is a silly way, unless its for water at Denton, but they could do that at Buxton.

 

RTC themselves now confirm that "a letter is being sent out shortly" concerning "operational changes".

 

http://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/buxton-spa-express

Now only steam one way

 

Always has been advertised as steam out and diesel return (from Stockport)

 

Big Al is totally correct! When Nigel returns from leading a steam tour in Sri Lanka( v exhausting-I ve led 2 in earlier times)he will be looking at several issues. GB7 has obviously had a plan B for over a month.......the phone was hot the night of the original closure at Dawlish. Recently,there are challenges north of Chesterfield leading to a new train plan for EMT/NR and making life for charters interesting . I"need" Bletchley to Bedford for steam..........but Ealing Broadway Dudding Hill is rateable and the latter was v difficult for 40yrs+ but has been done a few times now,mostly due to St Pancras being "unavailable"

RTC have had many sell outs this year so perhaps Nigel is doing something right!! I hope so as RTC is my only chance of steam on various lines in the UK such as Ebbw Vale Boulby Bathgate yet alone the elusive Dartford loop.....!!!
The overseas plans are the most ambitious for many years incl long continuous steam only hauls in Sweden,Finland and 3 x 440 s in Denmark let alone a plan for steam to Jaffna (as ambitious as GB1 in some respects)

I feel RTC ambitions help inspire the competition and keep NR train planners from repetitive work....!!!

 

True, plus I think going via Stockport on the outward leg there isn't much if any loss of steam mileage

Edit:

A 2nd path has appeared http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50516/2014/03/15/advanced

 

That's more like it! Looks like we may do both routes after all.

 

Not necessarily - the return times are via Peak Forest as well...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50517/2014/03/15/advanced

 

Not so - RTT is an automatic feed and will pick up anything uploaded to TRUST, even if it is only a draft.

As has been noted earlier, routing via Euston and Bletchley - Bedford does not work; this is due to engineering and pathing (it was, in fairness, RTC requested this way, as it did work previously). Ealing - Dudding Hill - MML does work and that is what has been drafted. It is then routed via Romiley, Denton and the LNW line up to Buxton, because of known restrictions for steam (for 70013. at least) on the Up line at Peak Forest, which is why most recent steam ops to Buxton have arrived via the 'Wessie'.

Just to add to the fun, the blockage near Dronfield has meant all Up train run via Sheffield and the 'Old Road', which creates a considerable bottleneck. The diesel-hauled return to London will therefore more likely run via Stockport and the WCML, regaining the MML via Nuneaton and Hinckley.

As usual, the devil is in the detail....

JS

 

So, we're still none the wiser. Maybe my pigs flying post No22 still could be ready for take off in slightly different mode.

 

Thanks for the background, James. Who would be a rail-tour organizer, hey?

 

Surely it would be easier for 4932 to run with Sherwood Forester instead of moving 4871 down South.

 

44932 would end up North after the trip and would have to run LE back to Southall, since it is standing in for Tangmere, while the later is being repaired. There might not be sufficeint support crew available for 44932.