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Atlantic Coast Express UKRT/MNLPS 23/09/17

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Where's Mazeppa?, Sep 14, 2017.

  1. Where's Mazeppa?

    Where's Mazeppa? Member

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    Some fast footwork seems to have pulled a jumbo-sized rabbit out of the hat as reported over on the Border Raider thread, and it now seems that more of the same has been going on in Clan Line country; an hour ago I received this from UK Railtours

    "Dear Customer,

    I am writing to let you know that we have had to accept some changes to the London end of the itinerary, caused by the current situation with the remodelling of Waterloo station, complicated by the franchise change.

    The itinerary will now be as follows. These timings should be correct to within five minutes or so:

    London Victoria depart 07.00
    Clapham Junction depart 07.15 (additional pick-up stop for better connections)
    Staines depart 07.40 (new pick-up, to give easy connections via the M25)

    then via Byfleet and Woking to:

    Basingstoke depart 08.40

    then onward as advertised, with timings looking as follows:

    Salisbury 30 minute water and leg-stretching stop

    via Templecombe, Yeovil Junction, Honiton Bank to:

    Exeter Central arrive 13.25
    Exeter St David’s arrive 13.35

    On the way home:

    Exeter St David’s depart 16.30

    via Taunton, Frome, Westbury, Melksham, Swindon (via Newbury still out of gauge to steam)

    Reading arrive 20.15
    Staines arrive 20.55 (new set-down stop to correspond with the morning pick-up)
    Clapham Junction arrive 21.30
    London Victoria arrive 21.50

    If we do not hear from you we will post your tickets by First Class post on Monday.

    If you are now unable to reach the tour please let us know straight away by email. Provided we hear from you by Saturday evening (16th) we will waive our usual terms and refund your card less a 10% charge.

    We imagine that some passengers will now find it easier to travel by car and park at Staines. If you are a dining customer wishing to change your joining station please let us know. This will assist us when we finalise the seating plan.

    This plan will change only if clearance is given for Clan Line to travel via Tooting. It is presently ‘out of gauge’ on this line so this is considered pretty unlikely.

    I hope you will be joining us on the Atlantic Coast Express and I am sorry that the first part of the tour has had to be changed. It’s all part of the crazy world of main line steam – but a journey with Clan Line is always worth it!

    Yours sincerely,

    John Farrow

    The new itinerary might diminish slightly the authenticity of the original concept, but considering the magnitude of the issues involved, this looks to me like a decent compromise that will certainly work better logistically for some (myself included) but probably not all.
     
  2. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Providing I can get around any issues raised by Southern at Streatham Common, the changes generally suit me down to the ground. Melksham is the last through route (ie. not a terminating branch line) I need to cover by steam in the West Country. Then it's a case of hoping someone decides to do Barnstaple, Newquay, Falmouth etc., as I have yet to do those. I suspect I'll have a long wait!
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2017
  3. BR 73082

    BR 73082 Member

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    I had feared a change to the starting point in London when I looked in Trust earlier this week and noticed that we (I work in SWR Train Planning) are running via the Windsor lines with our Mainline services on that day. Having not had any role in alterations for engineering works that weekend I had somewhat overlooked what might be going on and the affect this would have to a tour I'm booked on!

    A shame there is probably not enough time to gauge it via Tooting but in fairness I don't think it's been that way since a VSOE run to Soton Docks in Jan 09? Happy to stand corrected though.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2017
  4. 73082

    73082 Member

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    Braunton ran via Wimbledon - Streatham - Tulse Hill - Brixton in December 2013, but that was a short term decision made to divert it round a fallen tree on the Addlestone Loop.
     
  5. BR 73082

    BR 73082 Member

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    Ah yes, I should have remembered that one given I was on that too! That was a quite a journey back from Salisbury that day with the stormy conditions.
     
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    So NR just doesn't want steam in Waterloo that weekend despite the fact that they are running the Salisbury and Exeter services down the main line as normal. I guess that it's all a matter of logistics and capacity.

    So we are back to the same old problem of known engineering work and a known charter combined with late attempts to path the train resulting in all the attendant difficulties. That said, I guess that it's possible the Waterloo work has thrown up unexpected issues for which a non standard train movement was exactly not what was needed and the rule of 'too difficult' had to apply.

    All very sad and unappealing now. If the info from UKRT is correct it seems that there isn't even a Woking pick up and we have a stop at Basingstoke as well. Plus, I'm guessing that there will also be a water stop en route to Salisbury.
     
  7. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Based on when I lived in West London I am surprised that Staines Upon Thames (to give it its posh name) is recommended for parking. Station only has 32 spaces and loads of double yellows on surrounding roads. The shopping centre car parks 400-500 yards away are about £12.25 a day. Still I suppose it is an early departure so at least there will be spaces and maybe cheaper than a journey into Victoria.
     
  8. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    I think it has always been the plan to have a Basingstoke pick up (with Reading set down) like Tornado'a trip last year, rather than Woking.
     
  9. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Can't get nearer than Basingstoke on the outward now. Shame but will stick with the train for Templecombe and Honiton and another pseudo 'Torbay Express' type attack on Whiteball, Somerton and Brewham. Probably have to bail at Reading on the return. Such is life. Hopefully we'll get a chance of an ACE next year.
     
  10. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Tempted to bail out at Clapham on the return as I could have a pint or two in the Falcon at a sensible time. At the end of the day, those of us who did the Waterloo Sunset got Waterloo done on the day that counted. For me, the ACE is about what happens west of Salisbury.
     
  11. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I was on both The Waterloo Sunset and The Bournemouth Belle a few days before. I was considering adding this one as well, for the sake of further west, but I don't find it appealing enough to justify the early start from London.
     
  12. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Naturally, everyone has their reasons for doing/not doing a trip. From my perspective, having booked it in March and already made the logistical arrangements, the promise of new track through Melksham and a fairly rare opportunity to do the GWML link with the Southern at Reading makes it palatable. Also, an unassisted climb of Honiton is nothing to be sniffed at- the last time I did it was with a Class 57 screaming at the back.
     
  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Imagine we were offered a trip to Exeter with Clan Line starting at Basingstoke and returning to Reading. In itself it has some merit. Ok the 'add-on' from and to London is a 90+ mile trundle that takes forever but the trip still offers something worthwhile, It's not the ACE that was promised with a decent schedule to Salisbury but I think I'll be staying with this one.
     
  14. Had the option to take the spare ticket a friend has but unassisted no diesel on the rear doesn't interest me tbh.
     
  15. gricerdon

    gricerdon Guest

    Having looked at the Nat Rail website for my journey options to London a while back I guessed immediately that there would be a problem. The ACE ran from Waterloo with a decent path down the main line which this doesn't so I have cancelled. Would have been better to have postponed it again in my view. The SVR will now benefit.
     
  16. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Latest times from UKRT

    Victoria 0713 2148
    CJ 0734 2131
    Staines 0803 2055
    Basing 0859
    Salis 0943/1020
    Exeter C 1324
    Exeter SD 1335/1631
    Reading 2006

    Slightly disappointed not to have a run past my old stamping ground down the main from Waterloo to Woking but in the great scheme of things this is 95% of what I was hoping for and I'll be happy if this all now happens as replanned.
     
  17. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Let me get this right, you're not interested in a box free unassisted run with steam? :confused:
     
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  18. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    :eek::eek: A member of this forum who LIKES diesel assistance??? Heard it all now!:)
     
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  19. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Personally, I quite like steam assistance on diesel trips. Ahem...
     
  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Troll post of the day.
     

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