Royal Windsor and Sunset Steam Express trips June-September 2021

Unexpected, but already planned, repairs - so not unexpected?

 

The RWEs have disappeared from RTT so I assume cancelled yet again?

 

All looks to be running

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=WR

Andrew

 

OK - that's good; perhaps a glitch with RTT. Thanks.

 

A friend of mine has just sent a picture of 61306 passing his work site.

 

My short video of the SSE on an unusually cool July evening. The low (12C) temperature was helpful in making the 'clean' exhaust visible.

 

For anyone interested, next week they are running a Windsor to London express via the Diesel at the rear, acting as one of the ECS moves:
https://www.royalwindsorsteamexpress.co.uk/tours.php?tourid=72537

 

No reports on here but 61306 was observed passing Chilworth tonight on the Sunset Steam Express with 47802 on the rear a few minutes early. Putting in a decent effort despite the heat.

Edit - I misread the website. Runs next week then nothing on the 3rd August. 3 dates in August after that.

 

7 early by Dorking yesterday. Last week it was about 15 early at Gomshall so shut off and coasted up the bank to about 10mph by the summit! This was yesterday at Brockham. It was strange last night not to be able to hear any whistles for the numerous crossings west of Dorking while I was waiting to photograph it, as it was a dead still evening and they are normally very clearly audible from here.

 

Running this coming Tuesday (27th July), then nothing on the 3rd (assuming Mayflower needs a rest before the SD excursion to Weymouth the following Saturday?) then every Tuesday after that till the 24th August.

4 more weeks left, and finishing 3 weeks earlier than planned (though there was never plans to run on the 7th Sept so only 2 weeks cancelled).
I wonder if this is as a result of low bookings? Not looking good if they plan to run for a 3rd year, with them removing the early morning run from the 3rd week onwards and a lot of cancelled weeks this year (one of which due a problem with mayflower which can't be helped)

 

This year has virtually no foreign tourists in London so can’t be used as an indicator. Hopefully we will be back to normal in 2022

 

Yes and with the USA having advised their citizens not to travel to the UK the "season" will end along with the end of school holidays. No surprise to me really.

 

Australia and NZ have decided not to send their Rugby teams here for the World Cup in October and I don’t blame them

 

But the players have complained that the decision is premature.

 

We can hope! It'd be a shame for this idea to have no more light. If they do drop back, I hope the sunset runs at least stay, as a weekly diner Surrey hills trip is still quite appealing.

 

It’s appealing, especially to anyone who can’t afford the Belmond. I’m sure they wouldn’t have to be restricted to the summer season

 

However, evening non-summer runs would have almost no daylight for the times already used, so unless a much earlier path could be found, it'd be done mostly in the dark.

 

I had assumed it could use the Belmond path

 

The mid-afternoon one? That would cut out most people who work during the day. Could work, but potentially far fewer customers. They'd have to re-name it too! I'd be all for it as someone who lives within sight of the line!

 

It’s available at weekends when the Belmond isn’t running.