Steam Dreams 2025

Exciting News for those in the South!

Just looked on Steam Dreams website and the two Bath Christmas Market railtours have now been updated to show Duke of Gloucester as the motive power. So can only presume it's spending the Winter at Southall, potentially hauling the Saphos Bath trains as well.

 

Great! It'll be nice to see 71000 in my local area through Surrey and Hampshire!

 

Are steam dreams offering a extra pick up on the lake lander express on 9-12 sept at Crewe?
I thought crewe is where the loco is only changed on the northbound leg of this tour i was telephoned today by S.D. booking operating team letting me know this living only 50 miles away i did say i can get to London Victoria by coach the previous night.

 

The two trips on Thursday 21st August have been updated to show Mayflower as the rostered locomotive. Very pleased as it's only been on one tour so far this year!

 

However, the trips have yet to appear on RTT, which is very late. In any case, I will be very surprised if these are allowed to be steam-hauled, given the conditions.

 

On Steam Dreams website they've got confirmed timings for departures and arrivals so it's definitely still running in some form. Last time when it was Diesel hauled the timings went live on RTT the day of travel so that'll probably happen again.

 

And yet :- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U60314/2025-08-20/detailed Crewe - Southall tomorrow

 

Yes, I've noticed that a number of diesel tours seem to have RTT timings presented very late, whereas steam are generally well in advance. I can't think of a reason why that would be, so perhaps just coincidence. In any case, given the extremely dry conditions in London and southern England, I would be very surprised if it's allowed to be more than token steam, if not just diesel, sadly.

 

Timings are now live!

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...1/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=LS

 

1Z46 could be interesting between Gavray Jn and Bicester S Jn. I can't remember the gradient but it's rather steep, presumably lots of diesel pushing to get up there.

Cheers, Neil

 

So is the consensus that this will have steam at the front even if as a token presence? The conditions are tinder-dry (a windy last few days has worsened things further) so even if the official fire status allows steam, I think it's risky to say the least.

 

Saw Mayflower around a hour ago at Tilehurst gunning down the fast line putting on an excellent display. Almost was ruined by a late running service train blocking the view.

 

So good to see the B1 down south again. Captured on the fast lines at Burnham, Princess Risborough, Saunderton Bank and Maidenhead, with a visit to the Chinnor and Princess Risborough railway added to the mix:

 

Well filmed, as ever. Some of the scenes showed steam working harder than I would have thought prudent in the dry conditions. Literally playing with fire... Glad that, nevertheless, incidents seem to have been avoided this time.

 

unusually all the change over of locos on the 9th will be on P6 and not the usual P12
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...9/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=LS

Neil

 

Times for the Lakes Express on the 12/09 have appeared. ECS move from Carlisle Upperby to Barrow-in-Furness

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63633/2025-09-12/detailed

Then the onward journey to Chester.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U61868/2025-09-12/detailed

 

I am wondering why they have to run all the way to Lancaster to reverse rather than reversing in the yards south of Carnforth. Those don't all belong to WCRC do they?

 

Possibly helps with pathing, rather than trying to put them accross the points in to Carnforth loops, etc on the busy WCML at morning peak, etc