The Cambrian Coast Express - 5th & 8th June

I was quite excited about this one earlier in the year as UK steam lists it as 60103 coming up the Chiltern through Leamington. However Steam Dreams' site says Scotsman is only doing Crewe-Paddington on the return journey, and the outward leg from Paddington to Shrewsbury will be hauled by another locomotive. Not that I'm complaining, great to see any mainline steam locally.

 

I'm also waiting with baited breath to learn what's hauling through High Wycombe on Day 1, hope it's 34052...

 

According to the letter sent to passengers that arrived on Saturday the first leg will have either a Jubilee or 46115. The final day should be 45690 from Holyhead to Crewe and 60103 from Crewe along the Marches etc. There is a little cover all line saying all steam locos have an FTR 24 hours before the trip so may not be available. My money is on a diesel hauled outbound and at best a diesel pushed return.

Hope this helps.

Andrew

 

My money would be on steam from Bristol - Shrewsbury on the outward and steam from Crewe to Bristol on the return. 46115 is a very optimistic shout !

 

That sounds good to me. Bring it on.

<BJ> ..... living not too far from Bristol.

 

Steam Dreams page says the loco change will be at Chester with 60103 taking the tour forward via Wrexham.
https://www.steamdreams.co.uk/executables/GT410WebContent.exe?ActionCode=MultidayTours

 

The booking page on the SD website states Crewe.

 

That was the original plan however likely gauging and pathing issues meant that they changed the loco swap to Crewe and therefore the route to Shrewsbury some months ago.

Andrew

 

The cynic in me says that we're seeing a rerun of the Scottish debacle here with routes proposed that the loco isn't gauged for.
Chester to Wrexham has been the subject of recent re-doubling between Saltney and Rossett, which isn't yet open, so it isn't surprising to see a change of route to Crewe - Shrewsbury.

 

The Steam Dreams brochure clearly states "On day 1, Sunday 5 June, we set out from Brunel’s historic terminus and head off towards Birmingham in the capable hands of either 46115 Scots Guardsman or a Jubilee Class locomotive" and RTT now has timings via High Wycombe and Banbury http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54527/2016/06/05/advanced . Will this be the last steam working past the semaphore signals at Banbury?

 

Further update. Sunday is now booked as 45699 Paddington to Shrewsbury. Wednesday's return is, again, booked as 46115 Holyhead to Crewe with 60103 forward from there.

We will see

Andrew

 

Times for Sunday are up: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54527/2016/06/05/advanced

Going via Princes Risborough, Coventry, Bham International and Aston.

 

UK Steam now shows 45690 doing the Holyhead to Crewe section on Wednesday.

 

I suspect that was based on post 3 above , but post 11 ( from the same poster) states it will be 46115.

 

Could be - however, UK Steam has now been updated again to show 45699/TBA!

 

Between West Wycombe and Saunderton

 

Another view from a gloomy Saunderton:

 

We'll have to see what turns up, Uksteam shows a path for 45699 back to Carnforth from Shrewsbury this afternoon so who knows.
On a positive note the sun is coming out in Shropshire in time for the downhill run into Shrewsbury.

 

The Noisy Assault on Saunderton