Steam Dreams 2013

No Graeme Bunker is Chief Executive.

Julie has been at Steam Dreams since last August according to her Linkedin profile.

 

Clan Line is now doing August 31st as well.

 

For anyone like me booked on 9th March trip to Plymouth,just had an emailed newsletter from SD which states that this trip will now be "single-headed by Tornado and reduced to 10 coaches". Looks like the proposed double-header is fated never to happen,however not really a surprise as it has been apparent for a while that neither Nunney Castle or Braunton would be available.

 

Glad I didn't take up the offer of a 10% discount on this one for those who went last year. Interesting that RTC are still planning a double-header to Plymouth the following week, although with Braunton still unavailable I don't know what will be partnering Tangmere. I think RTC have more options than Steam Dreams though as they work with WCRC who operate more steam locos than DBS (e.g. their own locos and Rileys Black 5s)

 

SD have got a trip from Shalford to Lincoln on 4th April. According to the brochure this is routed via Leatherhead, Epsom, Wimbledon and Kensington Olympia.

I was just wondering if this is the first time steam has run from Epsom to Wimbledon. Seem to recall that line coming up on a recent list of no-steam sections? Also am I right in thinking Wimbledon to Kenny O will involve running via Southfields and East Putney, has steam run that way before?

 

I would of though it would more likely go Wimbledon - Haydons Road - Balham - Clapham J. - Kenny O.

 

SD seem to be delivering some Christmas cheer to West Sussex this year. As well as the Lewes to Sailsbury on July 5th, the Steam Dreams brochure is also showing a run from Horsham to Ely on 11th December and a run from Southend to Chichester on 14th December.

 

Thanks,I didnt think of that route. East Putney seemed very unlikely with 4th rail ect.!

 

I think Clan Line has ran that way, could be wrong. Still its rare for steam, have to find a good spot in the Leatherhead area.

 

I recall returning from Chichester via Dorking, Epsom and Wimbledon in (I think) 2002, behind 73096.

 

Shalford - Leatherhead - Epsom - Wimbledon? That is unusual. That means taking the Oxshot line north-east from Guildford, and turning right at Effingham Junction, doesn't it? I've seen steam heading south on the Leatherhead - Horsham line before (a couple of Christmas Cathedrals Expresses went that way to Chichester around 2003/5, I think), and I once saw S15 828 pounding up the hill from Oxshot at Effingham Junction back in the mid 1990s, but I don't recall one that used the Effingham J - Leatherhead line. I may be wrong, of course. It also implies an early morning ECS move via Croydon and Reigate. I know a couple of people who will welcome the chance of a daybreak shot from Ranmore Common.

 

Would be great but I bet its diesel hauled London back to Shalford, think that is how it has run before when tours have started there.

 

Steam used to run via Epsom at least once a year, but hasn't since about 2008 or so. This is remarkable in the way it threads through Surrey and the suburbs in the morning peak 'shoulder' and calls at some busy stations en route (Wimbledon especially so). The route via East Putney would also be a first to my knowledge (but I may have missed a working), which would involve crossing the whole of the Windsor line route to gain the KO line. If routed via Haydons Road, then that ties up the whole of the SW main line to get from the Epsom route across to platform 9 at Wimbledon, but avoids the intensively-used District line and the flat junctions at East Putney. Of course, the most fun would be straight up the main line through Earlsfield then via platform 7 at CJ, across the yard throat and onto the Olympia line, but those crossovers are presumably not passed for passenger running.

I hope for an ECS run along the Dorking - Guildford line, but it may be diesel-hauled via Guildford and reverse at Shalford. If coming from the Redhill direction, I would have thought a pick-up at Dorking Deepdene would have been included.

Realistically though, the dreaded 'update' seems likely on UKSteam, changing the route to something more mundane. As an ex-resident of Epsom, now near Betchworth, I have interests in both areas!

 

The Lincoln trip of the 4th April has now been postponed to a Sunday in September due to 4464 Bittern being unavailable as she is still undergoing maintenance work. The planned replacement loco 70000 is also unavailable due to ongoing repair work after her incident at the North Norfolk railway. And the third choice loco 60163 is also unavailable due to Maintenance work. Very disappointing news as I was looking forward to a run behind the A4.

 

The trip on the 18th April seems to have disappeared from the Steam Dreams web site, but no mention has been made here yet of the background to this (unless I've overlooked it). The Railway Herald site simply says 'Postponed' but there's no more information on why. RH also has it behind 'Tornado', whereas UKSteam says 'Britannia' and doesn't say it's postponed. Does anyone have any further information, or the thread here that has it, please?
Thanks.

 

Yep postponed. DBS could guarantee a crew for the day. The tour will now be incorporated within the Cardiff trip in September

Andrew

 

21st May trip Banbury to Kingswear now showing as Bittern instead of Tornado. Steam Dreams - operators of The Cathedrals Express steam train trips