Cathedrals Express to Kingswear, 29th/30th Sept

Does anyone have any definite news about whether either or both of these tours are going ahead as planned? At the moment, I'm assuming they are, since there is nothing on the Steam Dreams web-site nor on their twitter feed, nor on UKsteam.info, to the contrary, and SD usually post news of changes in good time. However, I've heard a few rumours that:
1) the DBS/ASLEF dispute has not been finally resolved yet, so SD tours are generally still in doubt;
2) there are problems finding paths out of London for both the Cath Ex. and the RTC tour to Minehead on Saturday morning.

Rumour 1 is probably just line-siders being our normal gloomy selves, but I can see how rumour 2 may have substance. The RTC web-site shows "actual" departure time 08:05 from Paddington. Steam Dreams' site shows 08:00 from Paddington, but I think that's a "proposed" time. One suggestion I've heard is that the SD departure may be diverted to another station, perhaps Euston.

I'll probably hit the "submit" button only to find that UKsteam.info has been updated while I've been typing!

 

Hi, I've just registered so I could reply to your thread. We are booked on the Cathedrals Express to Kingswear for this Saturday 29th as an 80th birthday present for my Dad. Our tickets hadn't arrived yet so I tried to ring Steam Dreams this morning - the number is "temporarily out of order". I tried to look at their website, it isn't online. I have a feeling of doom about this. Have you found any more news? Thanks.

 

There seems to be a regular path out of Paddington at 0805 on Saturdays. Both SD and RTC tours have used it this year. I am booked on the RTC tour to Minehead and have received confirmation and tickets for an 0805 departure so I hope that isn't going to change.

 

Okay, just got hold of Steam Dreams. They have had a power cut this morning so that explains phone and website problems. They have confirmed that the Saturday train will NOT run due to the fallout of the ASLEF dispute (now resolved). However the Sunday train will run and there are some places still available. i'm much relieved!

 

Thank you very much for posting this info... more issues with ASLEF? What is this world coming to?! I can imagine that GB and the A1 team are fuming about this! Should be out to see 60163 on Sunday though - am away in Bournemouth so might need to catch a few trains to get to Castle Cary or Westbury!

James at SVN

 

I also see the Sunday tour is filling up fast, I wonder if most/all of the passengers will be offered a transfer onto the Sunday tour? I would book sooner rather than later!

James at SVN

 

We were offered to transfer to the Sunday tour and accepted. The stations have changed though. We had planned on departing from Newbury, but were offered Maidenhead, Reading or Hungerford. We chose Hungerford being the nearest to us. We have received email confirmation already and Steam Dreams could not have been more helpful. We're off to Devon!

 

I fancied doing the Sunday run but with NR digging up bits of the GN and buses replacing trains, getting to Paddington on time was going to be a tad problematic.

 

This train now starts at Maidenhead at 09.40 and returns at 22.10 . Passengers scheduled to join the train at Paddington will be escorted by service train to and from Reading Full timings now on SD website

 

Steam Dreams - operators of The Cathedrals Express steam train trips

 

Interesting to see that the 29th Sept train is actually "Postponed to 23rd March 2013", rather than cancelled.

 

That's normal practice for Steam Dreams - they always try to run tours at a later date if they can't run when scheduled.

 

We are looking forward to seeing 60163 on Sunday at the Dartmouth Steam Railway. A tight turn round time but I'm sure we'll get it all turned round in time.

 

I reckon it will bring the number of visiting locos to 6 this year if I've got my sums right. Cromwell, Duke of Glos, Britannia, Bittern, Kinlet Hall and Tornado. Not bad at all!
Wonder what 2013 will bring. Castle? Blue King? Duchess? (that would be good!)

 

Cromwell? I don't remember seeing 70013 on any tours to the DSR...

Don't forget 6024 as well!

James at SVN

 

Cromwell has visited Cornwall on various dates but I don't believe to Kingswear.

As for the King, it ran to Kingswear on 17th March, on it's final railtour prior to the expiry of it's mainline certificate. <BJ>

 

Any news on how this is running.

 

Reported on time at Bedwyn

James at SVN

 

Thanks for that on time Exeter departed on time superb departure

 

Safely up to Churston. Good climb, unassisted.