If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Great Britain XV: 15 - 23/4/23

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Sam 60103, Aug 16, 2022.

  1. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    926
    Likes Received:
    342
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-great-britain-xv---april-2023
    A number of locations visited for the first time. No loco allocations so far.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2022
    6960 Raveningham Hall likes this.
  2. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,078
    Likes Received:
    4,892
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  3. blink bonny

    blink bonny Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2012
    Messages:
    687
    Likes Received:
    3,233
    Location:
    northumberland
    Back to giving the North East ECML a swerve.
     
  4. 46223

    46223 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2011
    Messages:
    6,376
    Likes Received:
    5,750
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Lancs
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Clitherow! :rolleyes:
     
    26D_M likes this.
  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not yet in tune with the list of locations that the RTC has not visited before...

    More to the point Pembrokeshire has been avoided once again. It must be impossible to go anywhere near Fishguard or Pembroke nowadays.
     
  6. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    926
    Likes Received:
    342
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I like looking through the archived UK steam info site from time to time mainly to tot up how many tours big Pacific’s do each year (roughly about 20) and I was recently reading about King Edward I and it used to go to Carmarthen quite a bit (once a year) but I’m sure it’s a good 10 years since steam went to Carmarthen. I also think it’s a long time since steam went to Aberystwyth possibly 10 years although I’m not sure. The demise of the Cambrian Coast in 2010 due to the ertms signalling system was disappointing and I hope that the ertms trials are a success as that may enable a return of steam to the Cambrian Coast.
     
  7. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,922
    Likes Received:
    3,827
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    Saturday 15th April

    Steam hauled from London to Bristol

    Your Great Britain XV tour leaves the London Paddington Terminus of the former Great Western Railway (GWR) and makes its way towards Reading, passing through the West London suburbs. Engineered by Brunel, the GWR main line crosses the Wharncliffe Viaduct and the impressive Maidenhead brick arch viaduct across the Thames. After Reading, you take the Berks & Hants line through Newbury, following the Kennet and Avon Canal over Savernake Summit and through the picturesque Vale of Pewsey, en route to Westbury.

    The Great Britain travels through Somerset to Taunton before taking on the long climb up to Whiteball Summit and entering Devon. A long descent follows through the Culm Valley to Exeter, and a service break. Leaving Exeter, you follow the Exe estuary through the delightful village of Starcross before you glimpse the ocean at Dawlish. With wonderful views of the coast from the comfort of your carriage you follow the famous Dawlish sea wall through Dawlish and several tunnels to Teignmouth. Heading inland past Newton Abbot the Great Britain tackles the extremely steep climb up to Dainton Tunnel, followed by the equally arduous ascent of Rattery Bank beyond Totnes. Running along the southern edge of Dartmoor National Park, you descend sharply to Plymouth and a break for the afternoon. There’ll be time to visit the historic city of Plymouth, with its famous shopping centres, the iconic Hoe and the ancient Barbican.

    After your locomotive has been turned and serviced, you return to Exeter steam hauled, climbing the 1 in 40 gradients of Hemerdon Bank from Plymouth, ascending Dainton Bank once more. After one more glimpse of the sea wall at Dawlish, you arrive at Exeter for a water stop. Climbing Whiteball bank once again you head for Taunton, continuing across the Somerset Levels through Bridgwater before arriving at Bristol Temple Meads. You transfer to a hotel in Bristol for the evening.



    Sunday 16th April

    Travel onwards to Wales; North Wales Coast to Llandudno

    This morning, your train leaves Bristol Temple Meads station and climbs up to Filton station. Here it joins the South Wales main line and passes through the Severn Tunnel towards Newport. You then join the Welsh Marches route at Maindee Junction and head northwards through Abergavenny in the shadow of the Black Mountain, climbing hard through Pontypool Road and beyond Abergavenny to Llanvihangel Summit. This scenic line crosses frequently between Wales and England as you follow the border on the way to Hereford, and a water stop.

    Leaving Hereford, you continue northwards to Leominster, Ludlow, with its castle and racecourse, and climb to the summit of the line at Church Stretton, overlooked by the Long Mynd plateau. Descending through the Shropshire hills, you reach Shrewsbury, a major junction for a number of routes. Enclosed by the river Severn, the town boasts over 500 listed buildings. From Shrewsbury you ascend the steep incline of Coton Hill Bank and pass through Gobowen and Chirk before reaching Wrexham. At Saltney Junction, you enter England once again to cross the river Dee and enter Chester.

    After a reversal at Chester, you now make your way westwards along the North Wales Coast line, passing through Rhyl before reaching Llandudno Junction. After a pause for water, you’ll cross the Conwy Estuary on Stephenson’s tubular bridge, with Conwy Castle overlooking the station. From your carriage window you enjoy fabulous coastal views towards Puffin Island and the Isle of Angelsey as you follow the edge of Snowdonia. Reaching Bangor you cross the Menai Straights on the Britannia Bridge, with scenic views of Telford’s historic suspension bridge. On Anglesey, you cut across the centre of the island and pass through the Valley region before arriving at Holyhead. This marks the end of your steam haulage for the day. You then return to Llandudno Junction diesel hauled and transfer to your nearby hotel for two nights.



    Monday 17th April

    Free Time in Llandudno

    Today is a day of leisure for you to enjoy Llandudno, a coastal town in north Wales.
    It’s known for North Shore Beach and the 19th-century Llandudno Pier. Northwest of the town, the cliffs of Great Orme headland jut into the sea.



    Tuesday 18th April

    Farewell to Wales, head north to Edinburgh

    After your mini break in the Llandudno area, you depart Llandudno Junction steam hauled for a lengthy journey northward, travelling through Wales, England and Scotland. You first follow the coastal route back to Chester, and branch off via Frodsham to join the West Coast Main Line at Warrington. Running via Preston and Lancaster, your locomotive pauses at Carnforth to be replaced by a fresh one to take you north to Carlisle and Edinburgh.

    Leaving Carnforth, with its Brief Encounter film celebrity status, you battle the gradients almost immediately and head for Oxenholme. With views of the approaching Lake District hills from your window, you head through the Lune Gorge and race along towards Tebay. At maximum speed, your locomotive starts the challenging climb of the 1 in 75 gradients across Shap Fells to Shap Summit, 916 feet above sea level. Once over the summit, lesser gradients descend through Penrith as your locomotive runs at speed towards Carlisle, and another deserved service break.

    Continuing northwards from Carlisle, you cross the border at Gretna and enter Scotland. Once through Beattock, the long climb to Beattock Summit, 1015 feet above sea level, begins. The fast express trains of the golden age of steam would often stop at Beattock for a banking locomotive to be added to the rear for extra traction. Once clear of the summit, descending gradients guide you through the sweeping wide valley of the Upper Clyde towards Carstairs. Here you branch off and head for Edinburgh. Arriving early evening, you transfer to your hotel for an evening of Scottish hospitality in this vibrant Scottish Capital.



    Wednesday 19th April

    Optional trip to Aberdeen; Forth Bridge crossing; time in the ‘Granite City’

    Your optional journey today follows the route of the trains that once connected Scotland’s east coast city of Aberdeen with Glasgow and Edinburgh. These expresses had names to reflect the status of their journeys, including, from Glasgow to Aberdeen, The Granite City, The Bon Accord and The Saint Mungo, with The Aberdonian running from King’s Cross to Aberdeen.

    You leave Edinburgh Waverley and make your way through Princes Street Gardens to Haymarket, following the former North British route to the Forth Bridge. The Forth Rail Bridge was opened in 1890 and is 2467 metres long (1½ miles), still the longest steel cantilever bridge in the world. Take in the spectacular views as you cross the Firth of Forth and enter Fife before following the coastline through Burntisland and Kirkcaldy to Ladybank. Here you take the direct link to the ‘Fair City’ of Perth as immortalised by Sir Walter Scott.

    From Perth, you follow the Caledonian Railway’s line along the north bank of the Firth of Tay, through a fertile area known as the Carse of Gowrie, towards Dundee. The Tay railway bridge and road bridge connect Fife to Dundee across the Tay. Captain Scott’s Antarctic expedition ship RRS Discovery now rests there. Attractive coastal running takes the line to Arbroath, famous for its haddock Smokies. You next climb hard against the gradient through Lunan Bay and catch more glimpses of the North Sea on the approach to Montrose via its sweeping causeway across the river South Esk.

    From Montrose, you follow the Caledonian route inland to Stonehaven, with rising gradients most of the way. Coastal views appear again at Stonehaven and your journey to Aberdeen closely follows the cliff tops, offering tantalising views of the ocean. At Aberdeen, there’ll be time for a break in the Granite City, to browse and explore its busy shops and broad streets. After Aberdeen, you return to Dundee and Perth by the same route and follow the Caledonian line to Stirling. This includes the long climb up to the summit at Gleneagles. After Stirling, your route will be via Larbert and Falkirk Grahamstown as you make your way eastwards through Linlithgow to Edinburgh Waverley for an overnight stay.



    Thursday 20th April

    South into England to Blackpool

    Leaving Edinburgh, you head southwards back to England via Carstairs and again through Beattock. A highlight of the journey will be the run up the Clyde Valley to Beattock Summit, the opposite direction to your journey two days before. You get up to speed once clear of Beattock and run to Lockerbie, and a water stop. Crossing the border at Gretna, you make your way to Carlisle for a short break while your steam locomotive is serviced.

    Leaving Carlisle, you take the Midland Railway’s Settle and Carlisle route over the Pennines. This impressive 71-mile line travels over the roof of England at Ais Gill Summit, which is 1169 feet above sea level. With its many viaducts and tunnels, this is a real spectacle that includes varied scenery and very long climbs to thrill both newcomers and enthusiasts alike. You pause at Appleby to take water from the working water column located there. After the vastness of Dent Dale, the Ribblehead viaduct is the line’s iconic structure and its lofty position affords excellent views of the three peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen y Ghent. After Settle, there’s a water stop at Hellifield before you continue along the lush Ribble Valley through Clitherow and over Whalley Viaduct. Your steam locomotive works hard to climb the long gradient of Whalley bank before passing through Blackburn en route to Preston. It’s now just a short journey across the Fylde to Blackpool North where you’ll stay the evening in this popular resort, famous for its three piers, vast promenade, tower and seafront trams.



    Friday 21st April

    Blackpool to Scarborough via the Calder Valley

    Leaving Blackpool, you return across the Fylde to Preston and retrace your previous steps back to Blackburn, to take the Calder Valley route to Yorkshire. You’ll pass through a number of mill towns on the way from Blackburn, including Accrington and Burnley. The Leeds and Liverpool canal also follows the railway as it skirts these iconic industrial locations. At Burnley, you join the Calder Valley line that runs via the 749 feet Copy Pit Summit, a very steep climb all the way from Burnley, graded at 1 in 65. In active steam days, banking locomotives would again be attached to freight trains going over the summit. Nearby Rose Grove shed provided much of the motive power for this line and its bankers before being taken out of service in 1968.

    Descending towards Hall Royd Junction, you join the line from Manchester via Rochdale and follow the steep-sided Calder Valley line through Hebden Bridge and Brighouse towards York. The route passes through many former coalfields and has an air of industrialisation from the days of the Yorkshire mining industry.

    After York, famous for the National Railway Museum and the historic city centre, you take the Scarborough line and follow the river Derwent on its meandering course to the east coast. The line twists and turns through the Derwent Valley at Kirkham Abbey, noted for its Cistercian Abbey. Also nearby is the historic Castle Howard house, once served by its own station. You pass through the large market town of Malton and continue eastwards with the Yorkshire Wolds visible in the distance to Scarborough, your destination this evening. One of Yorkshire’s top seaside resorts, it has two bays and a castle, plus two beaches and a number of working cliff lift railways.



    Saturday 22nd April

    Scarborough to the heart of the fens, Spalding, then to Norfolk

    Leaving the seaside resort of Scarborough in the morning, you retrace the previous day’s route back through Malton to York. Here you follow the East Coast main line as far as Doncaster where it branches off to take the Great Eastern and Great Northern Joint line towards Gainsborough. Leaving South Yorkshire, you enter Lincolnshire and run via Saxilby to Lincoln, whose lofty cathedral can be seen for miles around. From Lincoln, you follow the Joint line through the rural Lincolnshire countryside to Sleaford and on through vast agricultural landscapes to Spalding. Known as the Heart of the Fens, Spalding is famous for its tulips and agricultural produce.

    From Spalding, you join the Great Northern line to Peterborough and take the East Coast Main Line at Werrington Junction. Entering Peterborough, the great cathedral overlooks the city as you cross the river Nene and head across the Fens towards March. The flat terrain stretches eastwards, with striking views of Ely cathedral on the horizon. Skirting Ely you join the Norwich line, with flat agricultural countryside again on all sides through to Thetford, in Norfolk. You continue eastwards through Wymondham and approach Norwich via the Trowse swing bridge. You’ll spend your last night in the historic city of Norwich, noted for its preserved castle, fine cathedral and market.



    Sunday 23rd April

    Norwich to Lowestoft; Steam on the East Suffolk Line

    Departing Norwich this morning, you will head for Lowestoft, the most easterly station on the British mainland. The route passes through the Norfolk Broads with much birdlife in evidence and is known as the Wherry Line. From Reedham, you cross the river Yare on a swing bridge, followed by several crossings of the river Waveney as you head for Lowestoft. After views of Oulton Broad, your train approaches the Lowestoft terminus, on the Suffolk coast. Lowestoft is a popular seaside town these days but was once a major fishing centre.

    Your tour highlight today is a steam trip on the rarely frequented East Suffolk line. You first leave Lowestoft and head for Beccles, before heading southwards along the Great Eastern Railway’s meandering cross-country route to Ipswich. The delightful Suffolk countryside is a real treat as you steam gently through the many quaint villages along the route. It’s a single line as far as Halesworth, formerly the junction station for the long-closed Southwold Railway. The Southwold Railway Trust hopes to restore the historic narrow-gauge line between these two towns. Freight services visit Sizewell power station where there is a junction at Saxmundham. Single track resumes here and continues to Woodbridge, a port on the River Deben eight miles from the sea. The Woodbridge Tide Mill is a rare example of a working tide mill that still grinds flour.

    You now run westwards towards Ipswich before taking the line known as the Bacon Factory Curve, constructed to avoid Ipswich. You’ll pass through Stowmarket and take the Great Eastern route via Newmarket to Cambridge. It is then homeward bound via Hitchin and the East Coast Main Line to London King’s Cross. You arrive by early evening to mark the end of your exciting and contrasting nine-day tour around fabulous Great Britain.
     
    Waterbuck likes this.
  8. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2013
    Messages:
    2,836
    Likes Received:
    2,677
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Relaxingly retired
    Location:
    Deep in the country
    Last Steam Hauled Pembroke Coast Express was on 14th July 2019 with 60163 from BTM. Pathfinder ran it. We went into Carmarthen for a short break for a Class 66 to drop on and tow us down to Tenby. Return via Cockett and interestingly The Vale of Glamorgan line. Great day out. We miss West Wales.
     
    Gareth likes this.
  9. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    926
    Likes Received:
    342
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    April 19 hints at Tornado due to the fact it doesn’t cross the Tay Bridge in either direction. AFAIK with the exception of possibly BIL and Tangmere all members of the Carnforth pool are able to cross the Tay Bridge so wouldn’t be surprised to see Tornado on that leg.
     
  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A trip like the GB is definitely the art of the possible and I'm sure that West Coast would have had a view of the earlier drafts in that context. Clearly you can only really go where you've been before at some time and if you know it works. And of course, for it to be a GB it has to visit England, Scotland and Wales.

    A day in Llandudno makes a change although why bother to go to Holyhead? It's not as if North Wales isn't bashed regularly by RTC trips. South west Wales - that is far more beautiful - less so. I'm also surprised that the trip doesn't have any 'nod' to the heritage system. If you are at Scarborough then a day at leisure there gives you the option of visiting the NYMR. Or offer a coach to Whitby for a ride on the line to Pickering and a transfer to Malton to pick up the tour again.

    But the GB trips have never been about touring the country and also taking in heritage lines that people from the starting point - i.e. London - may not have been to. The KWVR is another line that GBs pass by.

    That said, full marks to all for coming up with another GB tour. It will suit some; it won't suit others.
     
    Gareth likes this.
  11. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,922
    Likes Received:
    3,827
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    With regard South Wales it was usually Ray Churchill, is anyone currently passed for West of Cardiff ?
    The Scenery to/from and at Holyhead from the Tornado Trip in 2013. Note I will need to have another go with the raw files. IMG_3640 (2017_10_12 12_35_18 UTC).jpg IMG_3604 (1024x683) (2018_07_02 21_54_54 UTC).jpg IMG_3642a (2017_10_12 12_35_18 UTC).jpg
     
  12. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2007
    Messages:
    3,618
    Likes Received:
    1,636
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired SPM
    Location:
    Close to Spike Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer

    There are severe restrictions on what can or cannot cross the Tay Bridge.
    Locomotives up to and including RA8 are permitted and some specified freight vehicles up to RA8.
    ( Just for info 60163 is RA9 as was 60009. )
    Any failed loco hauled train must have 60 foot / 20 metre reach wagon to separate the assisting loco from the train. ( This doesn't apply to HST's.)
    Double heading is forbidden except for class 73's and classes 73 & 66 coupled together.
    From memory I think there is a local instruction that loco hauled and HST trains should not pass in the high level girders.
    If instructions are this specific, I would suspect the structures engineers have taken the hammer blow effect into account when assessing permission ( or not) for steam locos to pass over the Tay Bridge.

    Cheers, Neil
     
    Big Al likes this.
  13. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    926
    Likes Received:
    342
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I know about all that you’ve just said. Interestingly enough there was double headed 37s on the Bridge back in April with the Easter Highlander. There is also the possibility of double headed 37s in October on an SRPS tour.
     
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I consider myself lucky that I was on the Cathedrals Explorer in 2012 - a Steam Dreams/DBC version of a GB - that had any number of superlative moments such as Tornado being banked out of Victoria by Britannia, 71 over Stoke, 49 over Drumochter and the coastal route from Inverness to Aberdeen via Elgin. I realise now that the Tay Bridge crossing was especially rare.
    0512 141A.jpg
     
    3ABescot likes this.
  15. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,922
    Likes Received:
    3,827
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    Nr 9 crossing the Tay Bridge in 2008 on the North Briton
    The North Briton 2008-01.jpeg
     
    3ABescot, Mick45305 and jsm8b like this.
  16. jsm8b

    jsm8b Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2014
    Messages:
    2,895
    Likes Received:
    6,172
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Escapee from the corporate bear-pit
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    'A day in Llandudno makes a change although why bother to go to Holyhead? It's not as if North Wales isn't bashed regularly by RTC trips.'

    If my diary is correct the last steam to reach Holyhead was 45690 on 18/7/21, and 45231 on 31/5/21. Prior to that it would have been 45231 on 1/2/20.
    The only 2022 run fell foul of this years hot weather. Hardly regular !
    Holyhead does allow the turning of a steam loco at Valley.
     
  17. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Annually, from a steam point of view is regular to my mind! But I take your point and sending everyone there so the loco can be turned wasn't lost on me. And as I've already said, nowadays it is the art of the possible so anything unusual will be unlikely as is the case for 2023. But I am disappointed that at first glance there is nothing on offer for which someone might say "I must go on this trip to do 'X'". That was what I was looking for. Let's hope the programme is attractive for those with a few thousand to spare in inflationary times.
     
    jsm8b and 26D_M like this.
  18. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,283
    Likes Received:
    2,650
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Rolls-Royce engineer
    Location:
    Bath Green Park / Mangotsfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks for taking the time to pass that on Neil. Very interesting. <BJ>
     
  19. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2010
    Messages:
    1,992
    Likes Received:
    232
    Location:
    Fort Worth, Texas
    Glad to see the Calder Valley Line as Well as the climb of Copy Pit included with most of the major gradients in the Pennines and Beattock.
     
    John Merry and YorkyLad like this.
  20. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
    And then The Sugar Loaf Mountaineer (second attempt) with 45231 on 7-9-2019.
     

Share This Page