The Cathedrals Explorer - 2012

The leaflet came through my door this morning

Day1- London Victoria -Durham
Day2- Durham - Perth 60009 UOSA, Perth- Inverness 34067 + 61994
Day3- optional excursion - Kyle of Lochalsh 61994
Day4- optional excursion - Strathspey Railway + Cairngorm Funicular Railways (TBC)
Day5- Inverness - Edinburgh
Day6- optional excursion - Evening tour of Forth Bridge, Fife and Stirling
Day7- Edinburgh - Bronte County - 60009 UOSA
Day8 Bronte Country - London

Locos are all provisional etc...

 

Nothing in the south or west of England then? (apart from London).

 

Not so much an explorer as an out and back to Inverness & Kyle really.

 

According to the A1 Steam Trust website ( updated yesterday) Tornado is on the following days of this tour: -

Friday 18th May - London to Durham (one way) - promoted by Steam Dreams

Saturday 19th May - Perth to Inverness (one way) - promoted by Steam Dreams

Wednesday 23rd May - Inverness to Edinburgh (one way) - promoted by Steam Dreams

 

so according to that info, 60163 is taking over from 4472 on the London - Durham leg, 61994&34067 on the Perth - inverness leg and 34067 on the Inverness - Edinburugh leg.
Does this mean that the a1slt and wcr have sorted out there differences? And that dream that everybody had of seeing spamcan in scotland seems to have been blown away by tornado.
Matt

 

I'm assuming it means that the tour will be operated by DB Schenker, which probably also rules out 61994 for the Kyle trip as well.

 

Why does that rule out 61994?

Sorry if thats a dumb question.

 

Not a dumb question. IIRC, The Great Marquess is vacuum-brake only, and DBS crews are not familliar with vac. brakes. They only drive air-brake fitted locos.

 

Not necessarily dbs, still no idea whats doing the first kent circular yet, 60009 is down for the second day still and Rileys 5's are on the penultimate leg between Leeds and Victoria. But still early days.

 

Durham to Perth and Edinburgh to Preston light engine moves for 60163. Ouch!

 

34067 is shown on uk steam info as booked for both this tour between Perth and Inverness (together with 61994), and the Golden Arrow Statesman from Birmingham to Canterbury - points towards the A1 trust site being correct. I had been looking forward to 61994 between Inverness and Kyle, but Tornado going up Druimachdar should be good.

 

Now looks to be completely DBS now as Rileys fives have been replace and it seems that it's one major Hosking train! (with a bit of cameron and a1 thrown in )
Matt

 

I get the feeling one of Riley's 5's will make it back in play for the Inverness - Kyle section. Now being a DBS job, it requires Air Braked engines of which 61994 does not fall in to. What engines that are air braked are suitable to go along that line? 45407 and 44871 are the only ones that spring to mind.

 

It all depends on whether Riley will allow DBS to run them. I think he only allows WCRC to drive them.
Matt

 

It's ashame really that Steam Dreams have decided to go with DBS for this tour. As much as the idea of an A1 on familiar lines, Aberdeen to Edinburgh, the thought of Tangmere finally reaching Scotland was a lot sweeter!

So maybe the board will start guessing now what loco will reach Kyle. My money is on 61994 being fitted with air brakes during her current stay at Crewe, with a snowplough being fitted for the photographers Where are those rumor mill chaps....

 

The A1 is a sparkling loco, but the West Country to Inverness was the clincher. Hope the weather's good for photography.

 

No, that is a circular route.