60019 Bittern to Chester 22 November

The National Rail website is confusing. The "Future engineering work" page for today makes no mention of services to/from Euston. But it does have an entry for the Watford Junction to St Albans service "Buses replace trains between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey from 21:15 on Saturday 22 until 10:00 on Sunday 23 November 2014". Expanding that to show the "Description" we then read "Engineering work is taking place between North Wembley and Cheddington, closing all lines." One is left to guess what replacement bus service(s) will run, between which stations, for Virgin, LM, Overground and railtour passengers.
Oh, and RTT still shows the railtour returning to Euston.

 

It will be a diesel bus...

 

Have been through but never to Chester by steam so no idea how other terminating tours have been worked. Presume the stock is shunted into sidings during the layover.

 

Bittern slipped and slid its way out of rugby in a cacophony whistles and horns, 46233 arrived right on queue behind a freight liner 66 which obligingly moved on to allow a glimpse of both side to side (though some way apart), better pics and vid to follow but here's a quick one on the iPhone (it got much better than this), nice departure and whistle exchanges

 

I've liked it for the shot of the Duchess at Rugby where it should be seen.

To avoid seeing the interloper I had to hold a book over the right hand side of my PC screen, (Winkworth's Bulleid's Pacifics as it happened).

 

I know you post tongue-in-cheek but isnt this "dining at the front" thing becoming a little bit tedious? At the end of the day its a 50/50 chance(upon departure) and you can't get fairer than that. Having travelled in dining occasionally (not often,because apart from the expense,the meal times interfere with window-hanging!) I can assure you there are plenty of enthusiasts in dining who will appreciate being near the front. I do agree that turning the train at a destination like Chester,where it has not normally been done before,is unfortunate, but most of the people on this forum will know where,and where not,trains are likely to be turned and can take that into account when deciding to book.

 

46233's dep was a little sedate from Rugby, I am On the 1056 now to Milton Keynes to see it at speed.

 

Turning at Chester on the triangle I thought was routine, this day last year with 70013 and the fives ? Was the same I recall ?

 

The whole train did not get turned at Chester last year. Standard at front from Euston and at the rear on the return.

 

Just to confuse matters, in 2009 I did two trips to Carlisle. The first trip only the loco and support coach were turned but on the second the whole train was turned.

 

Agreed,that is weird. I have to say,until your post I had put Carlisle in the "will not be turned" category,based on my own,maybe 6 trips there in the last 10 years,where it has never happened. Just shows you can't really be sure about anything.

 

Slightly confused. Is this a debate about a train or about Thatcher?



But at least there is main line steam today. Three trips. And touching wood, all 3 seem to be doing ok so far.

Looking forward to more photos and some video too. Please.

 

Was it the trip hauled by 6233 when standard was on the front all day?

 

6233 from Crewe to Carlisle and back via Shap in both directions was the one that got turned. Same day as the Carlisle beer festival.

 

Video from rugby is coming, just seen duchess at MK about to overtake it on my pendo To euston ! it's gonna be tight to catch the arrival ! days not over yet, but it ain't turned out bad..

 

Haha you got me in that pic!

Not a great photo, but got them both in as Bittern departed.


East meets West by David likes trains, on Flickr