46233 - Derby - Bham New Street - London Euston - 22/11/14

Another chance to take the Midlander trip again. Though this time from Derby. Diesel hauled from Sheffield.

http://www.prclt.co.uk/Tours.html

 

Probably the last chance to exit Euston behind a BR era Semi ! (Luckily I did it last time) hope it's with WCRC Mk1 maroon stock ?

 

Presumably this will go west through New Street and via Soho and Perry Barr, like the VT trip earlier this year.

 

Interesting that PMR Tours apply the same fares for the three classes of travel they offer to all the tours they run. That's certainly not a practice seen elsewhere. Is this the first time they've done this ? I can't recall them doing it before.

 

No, I seem to recall that they have always standardised the fares. Some trips they have done in the past have been very good value for money; others less so. However, the principle should mean that it all balances out to produce a reasonable profit for the Trust. Am seriously tempted to do this one, although I have an important meeting three days later that I should ideally be preparing for.

 

Ok, thanks. Maybe it's just that their website now has a separate fares page rather than having to show the same fares each time along with the tour details. I'm similarly tempted by this one, but it starts in the wrong part of the country for me so would require two nights away. If it doesn't fill up, (and I haven't been overwhelmed by temptation), I might see if they'd consider a single fare travelling on the down leg only.

 

just booked this one. cannot wait.direcr from derby to london by steam is alot a milage, hard working manual .. hope network rail give us a good path and send us via weedon.. as well as plenty of 75mph running

 

Highly unlikely for this to go via Weedon. Northampton is the preferred route and water will most likely be taken either at Rugby or Northampton.

I'm only guessing here but hearing this climb up through Monument lane will be rather pleasurable. It has a booked pick up at Tamworth HL so it will be entering New street from the proof house direction.

Don't forget. On the same day Steam dreams have a train to Chester coming up the WCML. Will we get two steam trains passing on the southern end of the WCML?

 

Could also go via Camp Hill, Lifford Curve and Five Ways into New St to be facing the right way to head to Coventry, but suspect Soho and Perry Barr is more likely.

 

Have sent for tickets myself. Not a lot of new mileage for me, but what new mileage there is is quite useful for my continuously growing steam map of Britain. Also, will get to 1,300 miles behind 46233 after this trip.

 

I have had two goes at trying to organise a shoot to catch heritage traction converging at speed at the same place. One I was 45 seconds out, and one I was just about in the right place. Trying to do the same with these two tours is going to be a tad more difficult.

 

As it was last time.

 

Looks like (rough guess without having access to final timings) they will be passing between Rugby and Northampton.

 

I was going to book a table for four for myself and some friends on this one but after the farcical Appleby Explorer last Saturday I hesitated and asked just to make sure this was going to be a proper steam hauled train. Unfortunately the answer I got was that a Class 47 will be on the train to provide ETH (roasted legs) and to do the shunting in London. So, sadly we have another WCRC set without steam heating - and don't they have a depot in Southall from where they could surely provide a diesel to do the shunting? Is is seriously necessary to provide a manned Class 47 on the train all day rather than send one the short distance from Southall? It certainly isn't a very "green solution" either. I just hope for members and everyone else who has booked the train that the diesel doesn't spoil the day by doing the Notch 1 thing or worse, especially leaving Euston for the climb of Camden Bank.

 

The only time it assisted on the Midlander tour, was at New Street. I know the 47 was switched on for Camden Bank, in case of a slip, but for the majority of the trip, the Duchess was lugging the diesel around !

 

Could get both on the high & low levels at Tamworth if you don't mind an interval.

 

All those stairs to climb tho.

 

Didn't know you were a Dalek

 

any timimgs/route information for this trip yey? only 7 days to go.. should be a good test for the duchess