Sunset Steam Express. Selected Tuesdays, July/August 2022 (Windsor trips cancelled)

Indeed - I was referring to the claim in post 138 that WCRC may use the paths, but they appear not to be.

 

Starting again on July 5th according to Steam Dreams. No morning run though, just the afternoon one.

 

45231 on her way South with the stock today:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64005/2022-06-27/detailed#allox_id=0

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So we still have no idea why tomorrow's daytime runs have been cancelled? With 45231 booked to return to Crewe on Wednesday it'll be interesting to see what appears on next week's runs, unless they, too, are cancelled of course.

 

45231 is doing next weeks runs as well according to the website. No confirmed loco after that. I don't think 45231 is going back on Wednesday if it's just got to be down again next week. The movement on Wednesday is also timed for 95mph, which means its probably just the coaching stock going back to base for other duties.

 

Phoned Steam Dreams this morning and they conformed that the website is correct and that says daytime trips available for booking from 5th July.

 

ECS on time through Cheddington. Mostly InterCity liveried Mk.3.

 

Did you come all the way over here to phot it? I didn’t bother and I only live up the road

 

OK - Railway Herald is wrong/out-of-date yet again then, as it says steam, ECS and 47 going back to Crewe. IC Mk3s behind a 'Black Five' are going to look very strange on the North Downs line!

 

It was either that or do housework.
I had been thinking about booking a Windsor trip but I won't bother if I've got to travel in an aircon coffin.

 

Purists look away now.
2022-06-27 45231 CHEDDINGTON by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

Hmm - it almost makes me not want to bother filming tomorrow evening, but the oddity value might be worth it. I think mk3s are heavier than mk1/2s, making quite a load, so I expect copious assistance from the 47. Nice shot, btw.

 

I think that it has been a terrific achievement by LSL to take over Steam Dreams and operate most of its planned programme for 2022 in such a short space of time. I guess the downside is that the rolling stock it has had to use is neither conducive for photography nor to those who wish to enjoy the sound of the engine working hard. It will be interesting to see what transpires with both the Windsor/Sunset trips on Tuesdays and also the main SD programme, which largely consists of Thursday trains. I guess that it's possible to move the Mk1/Mk 2 set used for the Saphos programme down to Southall on Wednesday nights, but that would mean long hours for some of the support staff. One would assume that the long term plan must be for two rakes of Mark 1 stock - one primarily Crewe based and the other at Southall.

An odd looking train indeed, but a Black Five on the WCML is still a superb sight! Hopefully the awful headboards used by SD in its previous incarnation will not make a reappearance. I'm not a great headboard fan, but at least Saphos headboards are small and fairly discreet.

 

Thanks. The going away shot avoided the modern stock.
2022-06-27 45231 CHEDDINGTON by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

Rather more dramatic lighting, too, with that dark cloud

 

As Saphos still do not have a complete Mk1 set, could be a while before they get a second.
I had thought about coming up to do a Windsor trip on the 50% offer, (which still appears to be there although I have not tried to book it) mainly for some track I wanted for steam. But for Mk3's not worth the petrol or a high priced SWR ticket.

 

It's interesting about the use of mk3s. Apart from the obviously peripheral exterior look of the train, it presumably doesn't present the passengers with anything remotely like steam-era accommodation, and I wonder how many are taken aback at the coaches if they are hoping for some atmosphere.

 

The SD website is advising would be passengers that they may end up being seated in a different type of carriage.

 

I would have thought it was now virtually a certainty, with all but one in the rake being mk3s!