1st July 2010 CATHEDRALS EXPRESS with 5029 NUNNEY CASTLE

I'm suprised no one has mentioned this one yet.

5029 Nunney Castle is hauling the Cathedrals Express from London Victoria to Worcester via Sapperton. It should be nice seeing (or should I say hearing?!) a single-chimney castle over Sapperton again!

Now, do I go to Frampton Mansell crossing or do I book my ticket.... :confused1:

 

it's nice to see this loco getting more work this year looking forward to being on the working party for the double header to cormwall in june as well.

 

Book a ticket. That way the experience lasts more than a few seconds. And I'm sure Ben & Co. will appreciate the cash a lot more than the pics!!!!!

 

I think I will! It's been a while since I've travelled behined the old girl and at £69 per head in standard class you can't complain, for the amount of mileage anyway! I have to say some of my best runs have been behind 5029, she really is a cracking machine for her design age (87 years!).

 

Which just goes to prove the old adage.....If it ain't broke don't fix it!!!!

 

Excuse me asking,isn't the route wrong,shouldn't it be veering off outside Victoria to Olympia to get onto the GWR line via Willesden Jnc.
The present route states via Staines,I though the platforms are unsuitable for dear Nunney on the Southern metals.
...unless a miracle has taken place and this 'Castle' has been redesigned and modified.

No ex-GWR every goes this route.

 

Isn't 30777 Sir Lamiel around the same width?

 

I understand that 30777 'Sir Lamiel' is in fact WIDER than a GWR Castle so one would assume 5029 will be fine around the Staines route.

 

..if so,it will be the first time in history...buntins at the ready.
Before,when an announcement like this has been made,things change at the last minute.

 

I guess we'll have to wait and see. I'm just looking forward to the climb of Sapperton!

 

Can anyone say if this one is likely to have a diesel on the back?

Also am I right in thinking as 5029 is airbraked the stock will not be the Green Train,which I understood is vac. only?

Many thanks

 

All air brake fitted engines (with the exception of Flying Scotsman) can haul vacuum braked trains.

David

 

Just received e-mailed tickets from SD,however no times yet due to NR's wonderful new computer system. As someone predicted earlier,train is rerouted via Kenny O and Slough,due to alleged clearance problems on the Wokingham route.However,presumably the whole thing is now looking very iffy with the reported fires tonight between Taunton and Highbridge,will have to pray for some rain before Thursday!

 

A little bit of rain is forecast for the next couple of days. How much or if at all I don't know. This is in the Thames Valley area. Temperatures staying high though.

 

It rained last night in the Thames Valley so I imagine the fire risk is reduced now. Plus there's a bit more rain in the forecast over the next couple of days.

The Slough route is definite is it? Websites still showing Ascot. It's a pity, 60163, 6201, 35028, and others all use that route without clearance problems

 

Very heavy showers in Kent this morning. The ground has been well and truly soaked here. Lovely smell in the garden.

 

The return up Sapperton is 18:30, I suspect there will be a fair crowd/gallery at that time of day.

 

The timings say "5029 Nunney Castle (may be assisted by diesel locomotive marshalled inside if weather conditions dictate)".
Are they expecting heavy snow?
A further Diesel will be on the rear to bank out of Victoria.

 

Where did you get the timings? Nothing on uksteam or the Steam Dreams website. The banking diesel usually drops off (hopefully).

 

Apart from a light smattering of rain on Monday night there has been nothing up here in Worcestershire for quite a while. I'd say it's pretty dry at the moment and tomorrows BBC web forecast is for grey cloud but no rain.