UK Steam info web site 2011 rail tours

I hope that 2011 is a better year for tours than 2010 in terms of cancellations. That said, some stirling work has been done by operators and owners in finding alternative loco's for many tours. That has significantly reduced the cancellations from what could have been an eyewatering proportion. It just seems to have been one of those years for multiple loco failures. Fingers crossed for next year. Looking forward to the calendar filling up and enjoying some great tours.

 

48151 Gets through some mainline work for a loco limited to 50mph. with a half empty tender it could probably do the Cambrians ( ?) as well.
Is there room for another fast freight loco in the mainline stable ?

 

Are any tank engines mainline registered? Some shorter branch activity similar to the Poole Branch Line in the summer could work. Multiple trips between major town and seaside/country ie Preston to Blackpool, Lancaster to Windermere. tanks wouldn't need turning. Could draw crowds if marketed properly.

 

Whilst a great way of recreating the atmosphere of steam in the countryside, it is probably harder to organise branchline steam than mainline steam. The Looe Branch operation had the benefit of something akin to a line possession, which from one point of view deprived the provision of a public service (how many locals would have paid £25 to use the service?). In consequence, several considerations need to be satisfied, such as the extent to which the special would disrupt everyday services when things go wrong (on a mainline, there is the opprtunity to re-route), and what would happen once the novelty value wore off? The latter seems to favour a one-off operation, but even then, things cannot be taken for granted, as the route has to be within relatively easy reach of a major population centre to have a chance of maximising custom. At the moment, I believe there are two mainline registered tanks: 9466 and 9600.

 

Getting 50 mph paths around London commuter routes could be "challenging". There are still some service enhancements 'South of the Thames" to be included into the public timetables over the next year or two as part of TOC franchise agreements. (Like ELL services to Clapham Jn by 2012.)

Regards, Neil

 

It's a pity we don't have any Standard Tanks on the mainline any more. The Panniers are fine for local trips, but their water capacity and 45 mph maximum speed can be a bit restrictive. 80098, by contrast, was passed to run at 75 mph both chminey-first and bunker-first (although this facility was never really used). I think part of the reason for their withdrawal from the mainline was the percieved difficulty in fitting TPWS (it was before the days of OTMR), but if it can be fitted to a Pannier, then surely it could also be fitted to a Standard Tank. 80080 is on the verge of returning to traffic, but I don't think their are any plans to return it to the mainline, which is a shame.

 

Perhaps if we had Standard Tanks fit to run on the mainline, some of these "branch line" options could be considered as a one off. They would attract local and regional attention fuelling the interest of Joe Public in particular who may then go on to buy a proper mainline tour. I guess we need to keep growing the Joe Public market as some will be one shot wonders whilst other may become addicted.

Brings to mind the criticism of Beeching - cutting off the branches had a big impact on the mainline. How about a heritage reverse? Tempt with the branch and draw business for the main.

 

I found this on Youtube a while ago, seems appropriate to put a link here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBcSW8TQf80

 

Bedford to Bletchley line would be a good one to consider .Pity it still doesnt go to Oxford and Cambridge

 

Steams Dreams will be doing a new three day trip to Cornwall – the Atlantic Coast Express 4th - 6th September
Waterloo - Newquay(or Padstow via Bodmin Railway & Coach) plus the bonus of the line to Oakhampton on the return.The planned locomotives are Sir Lamiel, Braunton and Tangmere.


No mention of loco on the Bodmin line - hope it is the T9.

 

There arent many london commuter routes above 50mph... at least not that I see..

Though my absolute favourite request would be using the panniers to do the Greenford loop line from Paddington... there's still GWR semaphores and GWR box at Greenford, plus stations like Hanwell really look the part... maybe a Paddington - Greenford - Hanwell - Southall - Ealing - Paddington Shuttle top and tailed and could use the slow line... could even chuck in a run up the Brentford line too ? (ok I know it needs a path to cross the mainline at Southall to get into WCRC)

 

The East Grinstead Line only sees 2 up and 2 down trains a hour so plenty of Paths there and then there is only an hourly service on a Sunday.

 

Plus an hourly service from London to Uckfield ( Except Sundays). Should be 1 path an hour for Steam( as long as rush hour is avoided - 19 up trains pass through Hurst Green between 6.00am & 9.21am M - F all but one goes to London.Platforms at 4 Stations being extended to take 12 car units)

 

I do like that idea, although I think getting in and out of Paddington even on a Sunday would be a headache.

 

Pity the parcels platform no longer has track.

 

Oh yes, I'd move heaven and earth to be on that, you didn't mention 'Castlebar Park Halt' shame the next stop over the viaduct over the river Brent is gone, can't remember it's name, memories, putting pennies etc on the track, found a ten bob note in the hedge there, 62ish, back then, a common joke in the playground was about Southall having an independence day, and two of my mates were Indian, one from Hyderabad.
yep, a brilliant Idea, come on tour organisers, get it sorted!

 

From Rail News : -

Tornado will make its public debut in brunswick green on 26th February when it hauls a King’s Cross to Leeds (return) railtour.

Other tour dates for 60163 in 2011 are:

Saturday 26th February – ‘The White Rose’ – London King’s Cross to Leeds and return – promoted by A1SLT (booking agent Steam Dreams)

Tuesday 1st March – London Victoria to Carmarthen and return – promoted by Steam Dreams

Saturday 5th March – London Euston to Shrewsbury and return – promoted by UK Railtours

Saturday 16th April – London Euston to Chester and return – promoted by Steam Dreams

Thursday 21st to Tuesday 26th April (Easter) – Severn Valley Railway

Friday 6th May – ‘The Cathedrals Explorer’ – London Victoria to York (One Way) – promoted by Steam Dreams

Saturday 7th to Sunday 8th May – North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering

Tuesday 17th May – Sheffield (Tornado from/to York) to Edinburgh and return promoted by Pathfinder

Saturday 21st May – Gloucester, Carlisle to Crewe (One Way) – promoted by Pathfinder

Tuesday 24th May – Liverpool South Parkway to London Euston and return – promoted by HF Railtours

Thursday 26th May – London – Bath & Bristol – promoted by Steam Dreams

Saturday 4th June – ‘The Cathedrals Express’ – London King’s Cross to York and return – promoted by Steam Dreams

Saturday 11th June – London – Shrewsbury and return – promoted by Steam Dreams

Saturday 18th June – London to Canterbury and return – promoted by Pathfinder

Thursday 7th July – London to Plymouth and return – promoted by Steam Dreams

Thursday 4th August – Cambridge to Bath & Bristol and return- promoted by Steam Dreams

Saturday 6th August – London to Nuneaton & Worcester and return – promoted by Steam Dreams

Saturday 24th September – Settle & Carlisle line – promoted by A1SLT (booking agent Steam Dreams)

Saturday 1st October – London to TBA and return – promoted by UK Railtours

 

I see some "clashes" are beginning to appear. For example, Steam Dreams say that 70000 will haul their trip to Stratford on 23rd April (St George's Day), the same day that RTC say she'll double-head The Great Britain IV from Bristol to Penzance with Ollie.

 

just been on uksteam and noticed on the saturday 6th august. steam dreams are running a tour from london euston to worcester via nuneaton. 60163 both ways.

i presume the train will go via bromsgrove down the lickey incline and then climb the lickey incline?

can some please clarify this please?