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Cathedrals Explorer 2014/Highlands and Islands Explorer.

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by LMarsh1987, May 5, 2014.

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  1. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Anyone have any info on the route out of Victoria ?
     
    LMarsh1987, May 5, 2014
    #1
  2. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    alastair, May 6, 2014
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  3. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    buseng, May 6, 2014
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  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Appleby to Inverness in a day by steam was always a massive journey to try and attempt in one hit so I'm not surprised that steam comes on in Fife. Were I on the Explorer this year, that would have niggled somewhat given that you lose steam on Beattock. I hope that this isn't a sign of the missing good sense of Grahame Bunker on such matters.
     
    Big Al, May 6, 2014
    #4
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  5. 61994

    61994 Member

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    Edit: Just noticed post 2! doh
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2014
    61994, May 6, 2014
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  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Big Al, May 6, 2014
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  7. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    The original advertised plan ( which I expect was GB) for days 1 & 2 was Day 1 London to Troon and Day 2 Troon - Inverness
     
    Paul42, May 6, 2014
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  8. markjkirby

    markjkirby Member

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    as it said on the online tour last week on there website when I looked.
     
    markjkirby, May 6, 2014
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  9. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Indeed it was. And I thought that was also a big 'ask'. We know that it takes a whole day to get from Edinburgh to Kings Cross. How on earth are you going to get to the Strathclyde coast in a day by steam when the journey starts at Victoria and you take most of breakfast time getting to the other side of London? That's before you even think about fighting your way up to Hellifield for the S&C. Lovely original idea for Day 1 but not possible, IMHO, and definitely not from Victoria!
     
    Big Al, May 6, 2014
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  10. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

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    I think Euston would have been the best choice for the WCML day 1. No steam over Beattock. A 75mph locomotive would make more sense.
     
    mike1522, May 6, 2014
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  11. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

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    A need for 86259 Carlisle-Beattock?
     
    mike1522, May 6, 2014
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  12. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    I wonder if the original plan was based on Tornado from Euston looking at the path it was given for the return of the Christmas Coronation in 2010 see http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t10/t1120a.htm ?( would have to add another 21/2 hours for going via S & C) But would they have got a good path out of Euston on a weekday?
     
    Paul42, May 6, 2014
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  13. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Well, regardless on the comings and goings further south, I felt that allowing mere mortals to book the Kyle line this Sunday was too good an opportunity to miss, so will be heading to Inverness for this particular leg of the tour, and am crossing fingers that there will be no hiccups. Don't know when the last trip with non-multi day tourers ran over this route. Now... to get to Wick with steam!
     
    Bulleid Pacific, May 6, 2014
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  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    And the good news is that because Steam Dreams has the sense to choose Kyle on a Sunday you get the path that leaves after 9 o'clock rather than at 0630. Yes, Wick would be good for the future but once again you would have to aim to do it one way only in a day.
     
    Big Al, May 6, 2014
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  15. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    The problem is that Cath-Ex won't budge from the London area as a starting point, which is a shame as Edinburgh-Inverness-Wick-Inverness-Edinburgh (via Aberdeen) would be a pretty decent long weekend trip. Can't see anyone else do it as a normal trip, but my wallet will be one of the first to open if there ever is one heading that far north. Back to Kyle, loco is scheduled to be 45407 and departure time on ticket is 08:22, so will have to get a cereal bar for breakfast...
     
    Bulleid Pacific, May 7, 2014
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  16. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    "I'm taking an early holiday 'cos I know summer comes soonest in the south"...
    "The sun shines most on the Southern coast"

    Weather looks decidedly Bad - with a capital B - for the southern half of this trip.
     
    mrKnowwun, May 7, 2014
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  17. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Luckily I'm only doing the Kyle leg, which is currently forecast to be sunshine and showers.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, May 7, 2014
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  18. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    mrKnowwun, May 8, 2014
    #18
  19. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    If UKsteaminfo is anything to go by, it will be 44871 to Kyle, which is good, as I've only done Exeter-Penzance behind this locomotive.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, May 8, 2014
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  20. Rich and Louise

    Rich and Louise Member

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    Times are now up on Realtime for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (didn't check the rest of the week). Tuesday's a disaster if you're chasing - Aviemore to Perth non stop. Monday, not much time for the participants at Dunrobin Castle if they eat there as well, and so much for nipping into Oban for dinner for the chasers - 35 minutes stay and then return, must be top and tail from Crianlarich.
     
    Rich and Louise, May 8, 2014
    #20
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