A2 60532 Blue Peter

I just hope we don't get the same lineside problems as "Scotsman".

 

That announcement from yesterday has now been removed from all of LSG’s social media platforms, wonder if there’s a potential new date or anything else behind the scenes?

 

Now minus the rededication of 57311

 

Reposted with no mention of 57311 being rededicated any more. All other details remain the same.

 

I dont think 60532 has the same public awareness as 4472. Mention Blue Peter to most people and they will say "keeper being dragged through wet patch by baby elephant" or "Fake camp fire suddenly turning real in an uncontrolled manner"

 

No I do not see it either as far as the general public is concerned. It will be just another loco that has returned to steam on the mainline, unless some mainstream media outlet does some major article, most will not even know.
To the man in the street probably as relevant as say Bulleid 2 was. Yet to most of us that was a big deal, even if you were not that into Bulleid's

 

It depends how much publicity the media give it with the connection to the children's TV programme.

 

When the original announcement was made about the York run, I did wonder if it might be linked to a possible feature for the TV show.

 

I think in an era of multi-channel TV, and where many kids will watch more on their phones than TV in any case, I don’t think association with Blue Peter (the programme) is worth remotely what it was in the days of John Noakes.

We’re a forum of mostly middle aged men, and we’d do well to remember that the world has changed considerably since our own childhoods!

Tom

 

Speak for yourself Tom - I was middle-aged once but that was so long ago that I can hardly remember it.

Peter

 

Didn't they get one of the presenters down to Riley's in the recent past though? A rather nice young woman with some terrible jokes IIRC.

Having just seen the time the run will start, that will do me nicely: I have a midnight finish on Fri/Sat...

 

I'm quite happy for Tom to call me middle-aged, Peter.

 

As a Dad of an 11 year old daughter, I can assure you Blue Peter is still very popular! I was also very jealous when she earned her music badge, I never managed to get a Blue Peter badge when I was a kid..
Whether visiting a fossil fuel burning steam locomotive is compatible with earning a 'Green' badge is another matter..

 

It was LSL at Crewe they visited, on at least one occasion.

I'm apparently meant to be going to the wife's nan's care home next Saturday for their family fun day. Good job it's only 3 minutes drive to Arlesey station!

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U18717/2024-07-13/detailed

Times for next Saturday. Nothing in for moves to King's Cross or back from York yet.

 

Have found some variability in how well - often how soon - specials show on the various websites built upon the data from the UK signalling systems: i.e. worth trying the others.

Once the train is running any of the websites that show a live diagram of the line with the train as a rectangle bearing the four character identity code for it should show what you need.

These websites are not so many and variable, all and any of them have appreciable black holes where there are real signal boxes with somebody live inside them to pull levers and respond to bells etc.
That caveat stated, the two I would particularly mention are: traksy.uk and opentraintimes.com - go for "Map" or "MAPS' respectively.
Traksy simply covers everything available and switches readily from the diagram to the same format as Real Time Trains.
Open Train Times is not so universal but certainly covers practically all the obvious main lines (and the Swanage Railway as well) it also shows the colour light signal aspects and some other useful things.
I did at one time find open train times had the timings in advance for specials when real time trains had nothing, however, quite possibly only in one direction - there but not back or vice versa!

 

Living near the ECML I opt for OpenTrainTimes (very handy when you're stuck at the level crossing at Tallington and wondering if the barriers will ever raise ): I just wish it covered the Lincoln Loop.

 

That's kind of scuppered part of my plan, I was going to be heading into London anyway and originally was going to take some pictures at Kings Cross and then film it running through Finsbury Park, but seems to have a pathing stop there, so might watch it arrive and depart there after a stop over in Kings Cross.

 

5 hours King's Cross to York, oof. Well looks like I'll have plenty at Keighley before heading back to York.

Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U18743/2024-07-12/detailed#allox_id=0

Path activated and listed for 60532 with "1 car".