Worcester Christmas Express 13/12/23

Times for 60103's Cambridge to Worcester Tour on Wednesday.

Outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66426/2023-12-13/detailed
Return (Steam off at Leicester Humberstone Road): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66430/2023-12-13/detailed

 

No chance I’m going in that early for that, I’ll mention it early for those in charge of the CCTV and maybe they can remotely view it.

 

Up the Lickey then. Hopefully it does its fair share of work !

 

Well it’s a default given the nature of the grade… but that diesel will be in full power if you’re going to have any chance of getting up there.

 

As to be expected but it would be nice to see full power from front as well.

 

Why on earth would it not be? You don't go up a grade like that without both locos giving it all they've got.

Peter

 

Has FS ever gone up the lickey before and if so when was the last time it happened?

 

I just can't imagine Scotsman being worked to its limit. Its not something I've witnessed before since it returned.

 

If you look at the thread for the Waverley 2016, there were some very good runs up the ECML and the Tyne Valley line the year the S and C was closed at Eden Brows. OK maybe not worked to the limit but worked properly. I can remember Mick Kelly with smiles all over his face at Carlisle after a good run.

 

www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66426/2023-12-13/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66426/2023-12-13/detailed
/www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/flying-scotsman-birmingham-week-see-28274047

Could be busy around Brum !

 

All over the local press as usual, including links to RTT. Facebook is now full of comments from people who know nothing about railways saying things like (and I quote verbatim) "Why is an engineer being allowed to get on at Hinckley? Are they expecting a problem?" and "It's stopping at Droitwich for 7 minutes on the way back" etc

I'll be at work so will miss it, although I've no doubt the station will be busy. As alluded to above, Riley's contract with it expires end of this year and NRM are being cagey about whether they'll renew it or even put it out to tender, so its mainline days could be drawing to a close. We'll have to wait and see.

 

"The 'world's most famous steam train', The Flying Scotsman, will be chugging its way through a stunning Birmingham beauty spot"

I immediately stopped reading after this belter !

 

Due through our village in N Warks around 10.20. All over the local ipaper and SM.

They have no idea that steam passes around once a month on average.

I’ll miss it, being out on our workboat cutting back trees on the canal at the time.


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Posts on Facebook already about trespassers on the line. Here's one from Oakham, there are plenty of others.

 

Canal? being born in Warwickshire I've always known it as the cut...

 

If this was on Saturday with the schools off I would of avoided this like the plague. Currently nice and quiet on the outskirts of Droitwich. The calm before the storm !

 

Well now we know the extent of your canal knowledge….

 

I've just spotted that after dropping off passengers at Shrub Hill it's then going to Gloucester Yard for servicing and turning, roughly a 60 mile round trip.

Thinking about it, it avoids lots of extra shunting at Shrub Hill. Coming from Droitwich, the train will have to arrive at platform 2, yet the only access to the yard is from platform 1. So there would be a lot of "back and forth" to get into the yard.