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Vintage Trains Oxford Circular 15/06/19

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by gricerdon, Jun 5, 2019.

  1. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Anybody have any info on this? Nothing on RTT yet and reluctant to book in case it doesn't run. If it does will it be DL free? Would be good to hear from you Ben.
     
  2. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    I know some people who are booked on it - a party in Dining. They've not heard anything about it not running, and it was listed on the publicity blurb handed out on the last 2 VT trips. We think the DL will haul the ECS from Oxford City to Oxford Parkway stations then wait in the sidings at Parkway. However, you'd be best off calling VT to be sure
     
  3. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    I am booked on this and, as far as I am aware, it is still running. It had better be, as I've already bought the return train ticket from Worcester to Oxford. It's still listed on their website and is being advertised on the GWR175 website so it would be a bit embarrassing for VT if they had to cancel.

    Update: Just minutes after creating this post I checked my email and VT have sent an email this afternoon advertising their forthcoming tours. This trip is still listed there, along with the Solihull to Oxford accompanying trip, so must still be running!
     
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  4. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I am one of that party: Oxford University Railway Society (OURS) reunion dinner.
     
  5. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Delay in timings appears to be related to the DL
     
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Having said that the DL will be with the train to Oxford I hope that VT is not having any problems with the movements at Oxford that necessitates it remaining attached on the Circular. They said not but things can change.
     
  7. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Yes that is the problem I believe so my guess is either the DL will stay with the train or the whole train will start at Oxford
     
  8. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I was planning to use Chiltern to Oxford Parkway and then come back from Oxford via Didcot. I will now await the final times.
     
  9. Nick Gough

    Nick Gough Well-Known Member

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  10. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    There is also this:
    http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55472/2019/06/15/advanced

    Looks like the 47 is indeed being left behind, and will be spending most of the day in Banbury Road Sidings. After the tour has returned to Oxford it then travels light engine down to Kennington Goods Loop and re-attaches to the ECS there.
     
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  11. Nick Gough

    Nick Gough Well-Known Member

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    And there shouldn't be any 'fire risk' issue!
     
  12. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    Been looking at the timings of the Flying Scotsman trip as well. 60103 leaves Oxford at 1819 heading to Paddington, 7029 arrives Oxford at 1827 for the pickup back to Solihull, so the two of them will be passing each other just south of Oxford.
     
  13. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Good that its going to run DL free but relief line all the way from Didcot to Slough so I am not going to book on it. Well done to NR for finding a path at all though and to Vintage for sticking to their plan.
     
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The relief line path is hardly surprising though. Good that a solution re the diesel was found.
     
  15. Where's Mazeppa?

    Where's Mazeppa? Member

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    The groundswell of interest in the appearance of Clun Castle on the GWML and the disappointment that a path could not have been found to provide the prospect of a memorable performance without the more usual (these days) presence of a chaperon is totally understandable. But it’s worth remembering that there is another significant anniversary (as well as Didcot-Oxford 175) that gets something more than a nod from the Clun’s itinerary on the Lunchtime Circular, and it shifts attention to the “what-happens- after-West Ealing” bit.

    It’s now 54 years this weekend since Clun’s final appearance on that most idiosyncratic of passenger services out of Paddington – the 4.15pm to Banbury. A service that was at one time host to the UK’s last slip coach (from Bicester North onwards), it was also highly unusual in that it was the sole longer distance “slow” service on what was otherwise an almost entirely Intercity route dominated by expresses along the GW& GC Joint / Bicester Cut-off. And as such, on 11th June 1965, it became the host for Clun’s haulage of the last regular timetabled/ steam- diagrammed passenger service out of Paddington.

    The distant echo of this event is certainly there to see in the very similar WTT schedule that has been set (according to RTT) for the return leg of Saturday’s circular outing back from Greenford to Oxford, compared with that provided for the 4.15 pm in 1964/5. “Relaxed” might be an appropriate term here. This weekend’s running time allowances (excluding dwells at South Ruislip and Princes Risborough) tot up to 65 minutes over the 44.4 miles between Greenford (pass) and Bicester South Junction (pass). This compares with a Greenford-Bicester North cumulative running time allowance of 68 minutes for the venerable 4.15pm in 1964/5 (excluding dwells at High Wycombe and Princes Risborough, but including pauses at Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield and Saunderton).

    Just for good measure and to round off the story, Clun’s 11th June final run on the 4.15pm achieved actual running times of just under 61 minutes between Greenford and Bicester, with maxima of 82/83 mph in the Blackthorn/ Brill area south of Bicester. And for further perspective, a Castle-hauled non-stop express service, loaded to 350 tons, would have been allowed 49 minutes in the working timetable over this same section – had steam not been supplanted on express services some three years earlier.

    I doubt if this particular anniversary will have loomed large in the considerations of those participating or contemplating joining the Lunchtime Circular. An authentic commemoration of the 4.15pm isn’t, at face value, going to demand particularly hard work of the locomotive, but there’s always going to be the interest of the climb up the Chilterns to Saunderton/ MP33. And the dash from Princes Risborough northwards across what was once described as the “Green Desert” to the turn-off at Bicester South. Most steam rail-tours inevitably feature some element of mundane trundle, as in this case with the GWML, but it’s the high spots that are always the draw. Which in this case I would cite as the return of Great Western motive power to the Birmingham line and the potential for bursts of performance that recall the glory days.

    And after all, apart from 9466 last year, it feels like a long time since we last saw a Great Western locomotive presence on this route; probably not since the Earl’s ill-fated Marylebone Flyer outing in April 2013 that culminated in an unfortunate lineside fire incident.

    So, good reasons aplenty to savour what the Lunchtime Circular has to offer. And all the more disappointing that, in my case, I just can’t be there this Saturday to enjoy it. I just hope that we get lots of decent feed-back from those fortunate enough to participate.
     
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  16. Leviathan

    Leviathan New Member

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    My ticket arrived today, in coach H which will be at the rear of the train. From the accompanying letter it seems to be a shortish formation - coaches A, B & C are Premier Dining (Club Class also in C), with coaches G and H for Standard Class. So I guess if you add the support coach and a brake vehicle that makes load 7, although REG may additionally be in the consist.
    Very much looking forward to unassisted steam over Saunderton!
    Nick
     
  17. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Agree on that over the Saturday Circular. The leisurely timing, relief line working and pathing stops are the inevitable consequence of trying to slot something in on the GWML with the Chilterns route. Far more important is the fact that a Castle is on two ex GW lines and as for Saunderton, this will be the first GW loco I've had up it.

    Maybe one day Vintage Trains will be able to pull off the ultimate short trip on this line and replicate the 5.30 pm Oxford to Paddington that was timed non stop with a Castle in 60 minutes for the 63.5 miles. @Ben Vintage-Trains - are you reading this! :)
     
  18. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    Premier Dining at the front, Standard at the rear. I'll be in coach H seat 17B if anyone wants to say hello
     
  19. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    You'll find me in H as well at the low number end but on the other hand maybe Mods should be in the GUV!
     
  20. Nick Gough

    Nick Gough Well-Known Member

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    My second trip over Saunderton with Clun - only 30 years since the first!
    I shall be introducing my grandson to GWR mainline steam and what his VT shares are for.
    Coach H for us as well.
     

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