Steam Dreams 2024

RTT said 17:06 but both the Steam Dreams website and the departure boards on the station said 17:15. So by that measure, only 4 minutes late on departure. But it looks like she was held at Marks Tey for quite a while though.

 

Just heard it through the back doors between Gospel Oak and Hampstead Heath, forgot all about it otherwise would have popped out.

 

I saw it at Diss on the outward and Newton Flotman on the return. I thought about giving up when I saw the late running and miserable weather in the morning but I'm glad I stuck it out as this was my first time seeing Britannia.





Here's some clips taken on my phone. Those offended by diesel shovage may want to skip the second shot:

 

A great sight to see the Brit back on its home turf, even if it faced problems the instant it landed on its home metals! Captured at Feltham, Manor Park where I, unintentionally, managed to capture the offending item that had landed on the cab roof being removed, Manningtree, Stowmarket, Manningtree again and Hackney Wick:

 

I like the second shot because I'm in it (looking out the window)!

Some serious diesel shoveage there but what do you expect when restarting a 12 coach load on a wet track and you're 90 minutes late. Judging by the noise from the Brit I would say it was doing a lot more of the work on the way back.

Now in 25 years of doing mainline steam I thought I'd heard every explanation / excuse for late running but plastic sheeting hanging over the wires is a new one on me. I'm glad it was that and not a problem with the loco but it did cut the time in Norwich short which was a shame. Other than that a pretty uneventful day. I booked this as a treat for my wife's birthday and she enjoyed it which was the main thing. The catering and service were excellent. It was the first time I had been on Steam Dreams since the takeover by LSL but to be honest it seems the same as Saphos with different branding.

I was surprised when a gentleman came up to me at Norwich and said he remembered me - it was Marcus Robertson no less. We had a bit of a chat and he told me about his new company, Belle Trains. It did make me a little nostalgic for the old days of Steam Dreams with the green train, 34016, 35005 or 73096 on the front and no diesel on the back

 

Very pleased with the outcome of yesterday, despite the uncertainty at the start of the day with the issues at Forest Gate

Similarly to my traveling companion for the day @TheModster, my upload includes the aforementioned Forest Gate near where it was stranded for 90 minutes, Manningtree nr the River Stour, Stowmarket level crossing, once again at Manningtree and Hackney Wick

 

Although I personally think it is BS I thought passengers (or even stewards for that matter) were no longer allowed to loiter in vestibule areas. So not sure I would be admitting this point.
I understand from elsewhere in the Paddington Birmingham Western tour the other week passengers were told to only leave their seats to visit the buffet or lavatory, not even to talk to others. It is unclear it seems if that is a GBRF "thing" or from some other authority.

 

I didn't say anything about loitering in vestibules. I was looking out of the window by my seat!!! No doubt the ORR will ban that next.

 

Sorry I thought you were saying you were the guy by the fully open droplight.
But you may well be right about the next ban.

 

A nice set of shots. Even on wet rails, I was surprised how sluggish the getaway from the Forest Gate stop was - with a 7MT leading and a class 47 'banking', I would have expected a very smart re-start. Surely the signals weren't adverse after 90 minutes...?! BTW, does anyone know if the OHLE was actually switched off (I had assumed it was), or was the removal done with a plastic pole?

 

Wasn’t a very quick departure as the train stopped in Forest Gate station to drop off the MOM, only stopped for a few seconds before rapidly getting away

 

A-ha - thanks!

 

Some photos of Britannia's return to East Anglia on Tuesday.


Approaching Marks Tey.


Ardleigh foot crossing, after the water stop at Colchester.


The return leg climbs Belstead bank just south of Ipswich.


Accelerating away from the water stop in Marks Tey up loop.

 

Christmas trips have just been released on the website, no locomotive allocations currently:

28th Nov: Kings Cross to York
30th Nov: London to Bath via Leatherhead (steam off at Salisbury on the return)
6th Dec: Southend to Bath (steam to and from Southall)
13th Dec: Colchester to Chester (steam from Peterborough to Chester only)

 

13th December is 60007.

 

Thursdays GOE and SSE runs now advertised as 46100 vice 70000

 

Thanks for that. I was rather hoping 34046 would be on the front if 70000 was not available.

But I am sure there will be many who are pleased that 46100 is taking those trains, and I hope all goes well on Thursday for both runs.

 

Steam legs do seem to be coming ever shorter. Maybe in the dark months it matters less to most

 

The English Riviera Express is a prime example. A quick dash from Taunton to Kingswear and back is nowhere near as good as the Pathfinder 'Torbay Express'. A train sadly missed by those of us in the Bath and Bristol area. <BJ>