9466 - 2 heritage railways and mainline in one day - a record?

The MNR Facebook page (Mid-Norfolk Railway | Facebook), referring to 9466's exploits today, has this comment:
"After a long, busy but very successful day, 9466 returned safely to Wymondham and the end was in sight for the hardworking steam crews. The engine had hauled passenger trains on two heritage railways (the MNR and the North Norfolk Railway) and on the National Network all in one day. We think this might be a new record!"

So - over to all you knowledgeable people on Nat Pres - is this a record or has any other loco matched this?

 

73096 operated "The Green Train" from Alresford on the MHR to Wansford on the NVR a few years ago. I was at Wansford when the loco arrived. Whilst it was beng serviced (6)1306 took its train for a complete trip over the NVR. Following this 73096 did the return run to Alresford. So that's 2 heritage railways TWICE in one day and a great higher mileage on the main line all in one day. So 9466 doesn't even come close to establishing a record with today's run.

 

This has happened a lot in the past with the MHR, first to the WSR with 73096, then the SVR with 45407 (back when Daylight Railtours were still going).

James at SVN

 

Think Bodmin did a trip to the WSR as well from the MHR. Those were the days! Good old Daylight Railtours, actually catered for the enthusiast. Shame they packed up.

 

Dartmoor gala a couple of years ago featured an evening run to Kingswear iirc.

 

It did indeed, & a cracking day out it was too!

MHR >> Bishop's Lydeard with Bodmin (80-odd down the Berks & Hants with only a faint sandpapering noise up front);
BL >> Minehead with 4144 & 4160 (got the noise quotient up to more expected levels. 4144 looked like it was trying to climb over 4160 );
Minehead >> BL with Taw Valley (in maroon 'coz it was still doing the 'Hogwarts' bit);
BL >> Westbury with two sector-liveried class 37s held together with Isopon & wishful thinking (almost as loud as the two 41s!);
W'bury >> MHR with Bodmin (& a really slack path... still, can't have everything).

Bonus gricing opportunity in the shape of a Blue CanPac whilst we were waiting to get off the main at Norton Fitzwarren.

I joined & left at Guildford, was back indoors in SE London before midnight (just). Right time at both ends... & it wasn't an expensive day out either.

RIP Daylight. Sadly missed.

P.

 

Can't remember all the details, but must of been the one I was on because I remember HEARING 35005 screaming past at the junction with a long loud whistle (I was looking out of the wrong side!). I joined & left at Reading (West on the outward journey if I remember correctly). As you say, sadly missed. Cheap day out, run as planned, decent timings, no long hanging about in loops etc, NO BOXES! (apart from those planned/scheduled), timings issued sooner than 10 minutes before the trip, everything not so unpredictable as it is now. Those were the days, as you say sadly missed. Round about 2000/1 if I recall correctly, still got the tour brochure somewhere.

 

thanks for all the replies - I was unaware of the heritage railway to heritage railway tours - sounded like they were an excellent day out.

so, going back to my original question, could it be that 9466 is the first TANK loco that has worked two heritage railways and mainline in one day?

 

Very strong chance that 9466 is the first TANK loco to do so, however in fairness your original question did NOT say TANK loco!

 

I thought 41312 did a tour from the MHR to another heritage railway (I think it was Didcot, but not sure a) you classify Didcot as a preserved/heritage railway - I would and b) if it was Didcot). She couldn't go too far from the MHR with limited water capacity and with a 35 or 45 mph speed limit.

James at SVN

 

Not a heritage railway, but 5572 ran from Didcot to Reading Diesel depot (as it was then) & back for an open day around 1985 (I think). Also took some Didcot stock with it including railcar 22. Whilst there I think it ran some short shuttle services with a couple of GWR coaches.

Confirmed, found this.
http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/850601br.htm

 

If Didcot counts then tyseleys panniers have gone from Tyseley to SVR, and numerous other Tyseley trips have covered preserved centres..

 

In fact 9466 was on one such run out of tys with 9600 that ran onto the SVR.

 

I know I was on it... fantastic run, I wont forget the departure from Ironbridge heading back to Wolverhampton, and the climb up to Snow Hill after we left Kidderminster.

 

I won't either, I recorded the climb from Ironbridge from the first coach.

Cheers Dave


I would upload the recording and attach it if I knew how.

 

I agree with both of you. The Daylight Railtours were excellent days out and very good value for money. I was also on the WSR excursion. What a bonus it was to see 35005 storm past the DLR charter.
The MHR did quite a few of their trips to other preserved railways:
The ones I can remember are :
In 1999: March - 73096 to the WSR (BL) with 41312 and 7820 hauling the Green Train over the WSR one way and 7820 with 5541 hauling the return from Minehead to BL.

In 2000: April - 45407 to Bridgnorth (SVR).
September - 34016 to WSR (BL) with 4144 and 4160 to Minehead and 3205 with 34027 back to BL.
34016 to Okehampton and Meldon Quarry with one of the MHR Class 33's on the diesel sections.

In 2001 : September - 35005 to Leicester with Bus link to the GCR (Not a direct connection I know but the tour still took people to the GCR!)
November - 35005 Alresford to the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel and Wakes Colne.

In 2002 : July - 35005 to Newport with passengers able to get off at Lydney for the Dean Forest.
6024 to the WSR with a Class 37 from Alton to Didcot with 6024 working from Didcot to Minehead and then the Class 37 from BL back to Alton.

In 2003 : April - 73096 to the Nene Valley Railway and 73096 diesel hauled back to Woking due to fire risk after 73096 was blamed for starting a lineside fire on the ECML.
September - 73096 to Worcester with some passengers going to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on a connecting bus between Cheltenham and Cheltenham Racecourse station. This run also
featured a loco swap between the MHR and SVR with 73096 working on to Kidderminster and 60009 working from the SVR to Worcester to haul the return run back to Alton.
The swap was reversed again in October on a SD working from Alton.

In 2004 : June - 73096 to the WSR.
October - 73096 to Newport with another visit to the DFR where 9682 worked a special train to Parkend for the DLR passengers. Sadly this turned out to be the final DLR.

 

I was going to say if 34016 to Dartmoor counted but didn't know if it started at the MHR or not.

 

Deleted

 

The RTC are running a special from Bridgnorth to Sheffield Park on November 2nd so that counts as two one day and the following weekend although not running on its tracks another tour runs parallel to the Spa Valley from Birchden Junction to Eridge (and gets close to the former trackbed to another preserved line and then runs via the Bluebell later that day.

 

OK, So who's going to suggest a practical tour that takes in three preserved lines in a day?