Steam Dreams 2023

Yes, astonishing that the SD Spirit of Christmas write-up does not even bother to say anything at all about the route this evening train will be taking. Surely a slip-up? Or do they really think their guests don’t care as it’s dark?

Gone right off SD nowadays, no longer my kind of trips.

 

45231 at Finsbury, St Neots and Doncaster, sharing tracks with her sister 44871:

 

I see from Steam Dreams' website that 45231 is now taking all the workings that were allocated to 61306 for December.

Andrew

 

Assume it's related to the work currently being done on it mentioned in the Saphos trains thread.

 

Have just noticed the Spirit of steam trip states 'the train makes its way out through Berkshire and Wiltshire before returning to Paddington.'
Not sure if it said this before but potentially could out out via Reading & Newbury and back via Salisbury & Basingstoke?

 

Here's my footage of 34046 Braunton heading to the Bath Christmas Market not once, but twice in four pretty chilly days. I filmed the first tour on Tuesday at Grateley and Bapton, and then the second tour today, I filmed her at Marsh Benham just west of Newbury. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

Managed a shot of today's Southend-Winchester tour on a lovely morning at Chalkwell, 45231 coasting towards its stop at Leigh on Sea. I had planned to overtake the tour on the service train following the charter, however this was not to be. I made it to Chalkwell in time to board, but the train did not move. The driver informed us all that we were being held up by a steam train which had stopped for water and was blocking the points ahead! We were delayed and the charter allowed out first, presumably to allow the stopping service train to actually access Leigh on Sea. Don't know if they always planned to take water at this stop. The ECS from Southall ran very late and went straight into Southend Central for an on time departure, instead of the planned path to go to Shoeburyness with a break there.

 

According to RTT, the train actually ran a few minutes early as far as Barking and only stopped at Leigh-on-Sea (passenger pick-up with possible water stop), as planned.

 

The passengers probably won't care, in the dark all the way.

 

True, as it was delaying a service behind I think they must have wanted to get it away from Leigh as soon as they could!

 

Not sure how/why it was delaying anything behind it as it ran a few early all the way to Barking. Perhaps the following train was late itself and should have been ahead of the steam anyway.

 

Has there been any confirmation of the the routeing for the Santa Steam Expresses this year? Nothing still on RTT.

 

Not as far as I am aware, I have been checking RTT regularly too.

 

This train, which I was on, was timetabled to overtake the steam at Leigh but got delayed as I said in my original post. My guess is it could not overtake the steam charter as because they had to stop short in the loop to take water, and so were 'blocking the points' as the driver said on the tannoy. I think the water stop was originally going to be at Shoeburyness as part of the ECS move, but because that ran late they must have sent the tanker to Leigh to get it there instead.

 

RTT schedules are up
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...5/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=LS

 

Not sure which way it's steam hauled, but last year it was steam hauled into Victoria so I'd hark a guess that it's the same.
Though personally, this seems like the perfect opportunity to have top and tailed steam locomotives, but I'm sure there's a reason for that not being the case.

 

I assume it's so the kids will see the steam locomotive when they arrive and when they get off, so I would guess there is no real benefit to having another steam loco rather than a diesel on the opposite end, it isn't for enthusiasts after all.

 

Routing for the spirit of Christmas trip also on RTT

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63615/2023-12-20/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63616/2023-12-20/detailed

 

Would make an interesting short tour say run as a morning and afternoon (or evening mid summer). Of course that assumes some sort of reduction over a full day tour.
This time of the year at night could be anywhere I guess

 

Interestingly this route doesn't even enter Wiltshire despite the website saying 'out through Berkshire and Wiltshire'! Maybe it was a last minute change of route.