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Winter CME's, February 2012.

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by belle1, Jan 4, 2012.

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  1. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Thanks Matt - the extra hour in bed will be a bonus! UK Steam has also been updated.

    Richard
     
    richards, Jan 16, 2012
    #21
  2. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    4 hours from Preston (18.29) to London (22.25) with 100mph electric loco and stock ?
    Virgins 19.01 from Preston arrives in London at 21.38.
     
    ADB968008, Jan 16, 2012
    #22
  3. campainr

    campainr Well-Known Member

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    CME runs via Northampton. Also only EPS trains can do the full line speed in certain places.
     
    campainr, Jan 17, 2012
    #23
  4. spindizzy

    spindizzy Member

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    So how does one get from Farnborough to catch this train using public transport?
     
    spindizzy, Jan 17, 2012
    #24
  5. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Transport Direct website is saying your earliest train wouldn't get you in to Euston until 6:34. I've got a similar problem from South London, as the tube won't have woken up by then. Apparently you'll have to wait until the "official" times appear and then try to persuade RTC to give you a refund if you can't actually get to the train.

    Richard
     
    richards, Jan 17, 2012
    #25
  6. malc

    malc Part of the furniture

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    Interestingly, RTC's timings are almost exactly one hour out for the entire outward journey. It looks as though, for some reason, they've had to go for basically the same path but an hour earlier.
     
    malc, Jan 17, 2012
    #26
  7. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I've seen the path and although theres a bit of fast line running south of Milton Keynes on the outward, it's mostly on the slows from there onwards and on the return.

    Even a 100MPH Leccy doesn't make a seemless fit on the fasts with the constant stream of Pendo's.
     
    david1984, Jan 17, 2012
    #27
  8. spindizzy

    spindizzy Member

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    It looks like they have advertised the path that Steam Dreams used for the same trip last year but have failed to get said path.
     
    spindizzy, Jan 17, 2012
    #28
  9. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    The path that Steam Dreams used last year gave insufficient time in Carlisle to turn and properly service the loco [Ollie] resulting in a poorish fire and performance on the southbound climb of Shap. I would advocate the earlier outward path has been belatedly requested to give the support crew more time in Carlisle to properly service the loco. To run outward in the originally advertised path and comeback an hour later would mean the journey over Shap would be done in darkness but if intending London passengers cannot now reach the train in the morning maybe the timings requires a rethink.
     
    6:05 special, Jan 17, 2012
    #29
  10. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    According to uksteam this years RTC trains are due back into London at 2225 not 2255. This is half an hour later than last Years Steam Dreams train which was back at 2155. On the return the Steam Dreams train ran direct beween Rugby and MK whereas this years RTC train is going via Northampton and due to set down there. Presumably this accounts for the additional 30 mins or so
     
    6:05 special, Jan 17, 2012
    #30
  11. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thanks for the correction! Don't know how I misread that - deleted my post.
     
    Sheff, Jan 17, 2012
    #31
  12. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Timings for this are a real disappointment. People will doubtless board up north for the steam bit but the whole point of starting from London was, I assume, to get some business from the London area. Perhaps next time someone could ask for a direct path - i.e. not via Northampton - as it's not as if MK isn't reasonably close for anyone from that part of the world. I expect someone will tell me that there are no paths through Kilsby in which case this mini-rant is pointless. But to have something quick on the front and then call all stations via the country route to Preston does seem to defeat the object of the whole thing. A good idea but not attractive.

    I hope that Steam Dreams has noted this issue and are able to pull their usual strings to get something more sensible for their trip in May.
     
    Big Al, Jan 17, 2012
    #32
  13. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    I'm one of those boarding in London, I'm not Keen at OMGo'clock, but won't stop me. I may consider a speed up using a service train... Maybe what may be better is railtour promotors getting together with virgin trains and offering combined ticketing, and dropping the slow boat to London ??. After all the tour starts in London, but the "ride" doesn't start until Preston.
     
    ADB968008, Jan 17, 2012
    #33
  14. 46223

    46223 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    SLOA used to do this in the 1980s.
     
    46223, Jan 17, 2012
    #34
  15. Guest

    Guest Part of the furniture Account Suspended

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    Who??
     
    Guest, Jan 18, 2012
    #35
  16. pjhliners

    pjhliners Member Friend

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    pjhliners, Jan 18, 2012
    #36
  17. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Yep - even went round to Bernard's house to get my tickets one time went I left it too late for the post - seem to remember we did FS and DoH - bloomin cold both times waiting for the runpasts. IIRC one trip had 5407 on the first leg to Hellifield and we all bailed out a Werrington? for a run past too. Great trips.
     
    Sheff, Jan 18, 2012
    #37
  18. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Oh run pasts... wasn't that one of them things rail tours used to do in the olden days, before yards and headhunts for water stops, so their passengers could take pictures ?
     
    ADB968008, Jan 18, 2012
    #38
  19. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    This is getting very nostalgic.

    When I were a lad in October 1981, I paid a total of 15 quid to ride on a service train from Abergavenny behind a 33 to Crewe, then electric on the SLOA special to Carnforth for a visit to the steam depot, then open to the public, then 850 Lord Nelson to Hellifield with a run past at Wennington (three times past lovely old signalbox), change locos for 46229 Duchess of Hamilton over the S&C. Stopped at Kirkby Stephen West to watch another steam train pass, then again at Appleby for another run past. Home via Shap behind the electric, then to Crewe and home behind another 33. Happy days!

    But still happy to grab a steam trip over the S&C, even at modern prices!
     
    nanstallon, Jan 18, 2012
    #39
  20. malc

    malc Part of the furniture

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    So let's compare...

    In 1981, 15 quid (50 quid at 2012 prices according to This is Money: Be your own financial adviser - predictions, advice & tips) you got...

    - 105 miles of steam haulage
    - 2 steam locos
    - 4 run pasts
    - 60 mph max speed
    - No steam over Shap
    - 444 miles of modern traction (218 on the tour, 216 on service trains)

    In 2012, 69 quid gives you...

    - 176 miles of steam haulage
    - 1 steam loco
    - No run pasts
    - 75 mph max speed (if it's 70013, 60 mph if it's 45305)
    - Steam over Shap
    - 450 miles of "modern" traction (a Class 86 is not exactly modern nowadays)

    So for an extra 19 quid (at 2012 prices) you get a lot more steam mileage, including the run over Shap,, albeit with only 1 loco and no runpasts. Swings and roundabouts, but things haven't changed as much as some would have us believe.
     
    malc, Jan 18, 2012
    #40
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