Whistling Ghost V 17/06/17

Email from Ben to say that 46233 is out of gauge for Cheltenham Spa (both ways) so train now starts at Solihull and goes via Banbury and Oxford onto the Great Western Mainline through Swindon and Bristol Parkway. Cheltenham Spa has been a recurring problem recently as 5043 was deemed out of gauge for the up platform on the return leg of The Red Dragon earlier this year.

 

That's got to add a few hours to the journey time, surely ?

 

I have the revised plan and provisional times on the website. http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/whistling-ghost-v-saturday-17th-june/

This train was sold out, but with the revised station stops, we expect to lose some passengers. If you want to come with for a sprint along Brunel's Billiard Table, please go ahead and book.

Incidentally, the Duchess will be connected to the Water Carrier so only one water stop planned in each direction.

 

I think what might be interesting with this revised route is the possibility of meeting 60009 (or it's replacement) with RTC's The Cotswold Venturer on the outbound route. Looking at the provisional times for both trips there's a very real chance both locos will be meeting each other somewhere around Didcot / Oxford. Once the times for both trips are on RTT I guess we'll know for sure.

 

Tempting but are any seats available?

 

We do have seats availble. We expected a few passenger cancellations due to the new route. Please contact the VT booking office on 0121 708 4960 or www.VintageTrains.co.uk to book.

 

I have given in to temptation so will see you on the train

 

WSR have confirmed the loco rostered is No: 6960 'Ravingham Hall'.

 

Cotswold Venturer now looks to be postponed so they will not meet.

 

Both 46233 and 6960 are fantastic runners and so this is not to be missed.

 

No times yet on RTT. Hope NR can find the new path

 

Is a Hall different to a Manor? For haulage ability.

 

53808 would be up to the job ?

Jon

 

A manor slightly edges out a modified hall on tractive effort

 

Well they do have 7820 there

 

Nominal TE 1% different, which would be undetectable. Depending on how far the respective cylinders have been bored out and how far the tyres have been turned down the difference could be the other way, but still insignificant. The significant difference is the manor's smaller boiler, so less sustained power.

I might have booked on this trip except that I have a prior commitment for that day.

 

Yeah, that makes sense.

And I'd definitely have booked if I didn't have an exam on Saturday! I'll listen out for a whistle from inside the exam hall

 

Anybody got their ticket yet ?