Steam Dreams 2025

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60532 passes through Durham on Thursday. Luckily ended up in Newcastle with work and had a day off.

 

Times are out for 71000's trip from Victoria to Bath and back. 71000 comes off the train at Salisbury on the return journey.

Outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U72583/2025-12-09/detailed

Return:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U72587/2025-12-09/detailed

I'm hoping to head out for this one but seeking a bit of advice. Would I be able to get any decent photos of the loco during its stop at Guildford or would it be off the platform and similarly for Hedge End as that's an option I'm looking at too?

I am also considering heading out earlier to Chertsey, having previously been there for Tornado's first tour in Blue.

 

There's a good chance of 71000 being off the end of the platform (assuming it uses p2 as booked), but p3 extends further so may give a good view - both platforms' starting signals are on the same bracket. The road overbridge might work too, but the signal bracket may (partly) block the shot.

 

Thanks, I'll be heading out by rail and was just trying to work out where I'd be able to get some pictures of the loco at a station so I might give Guildford a go.

 

There are three road bridges Tollbar Way, Burnetts Lane and Allington Lane between Hedge End and Eastleigh. All three are heavily overgrown looking along straight track and only give a head on shot. Twyford Road Bridge in Eastleigh offers a bit more angle but there is no pavement on the side facing the station. Archers Road footbridge in Eastleigh will be better for light and some angle.
Cheers, Neil

 

Unless it’s changed, not been for a while, you could walk at ground level by the carpark that occupies the former engine shed site at Guildford between station and tunnel…
https://flic.kr/p/5bKsua

 

Thanks. I'm mainly aiming to get plenty of pictures while the loco is stopped and probably a video of the loco departing. That's why I was looking at Chertsey, Guildford or Hedge End as best opportunities, because they're longer stops.

 

Has anyone booked on the Bath tour tomorrow heard about a change of motive power? 61306 seems to be the only other locomotive in Southall right now but it is out today on a private charter.

 

Well, for what it's worth, 'Railway Herald' did have 71000 down for this, but that has now changed to 'TBC'. So, perhaps 61306 will do it instead. It'd be noisier, anyway!

 

61306 seems the most likely candidate. Although I don't disagree on the noise, I have yet to see 71000 so a bit disappointed on that front!

 

There are images of the front wheel off the rail, this is what I would determine as derailed.
There was nothing about 'being the first to post it' in fact, it had been posted a bunch of times on the forums and moderators removed them all except for discussions following...

I can fully understand not wanting the images to be shared but I don't see an issue with people discussing the reality of the situation. It seems much more like the moderators were removing any mention of what had occurred.

 

All the wheels are on the rails. The problem is there's a gap in the rails between the leading and second wheelsets. So not a derailment, but a sod to try and recover.

 

You may be right but if there is a gap between the rails and part of the wheel is over said gap, I would count this as derailed personally.

Speaking of which. It is on the move on Traksy.

 

Steam Dreams website confirms tomorrow is rostered for Mayflower

 

A shame but definitely expected.

 

Hmm, an interesting incident. I shall not speculate about what happened, the investigation will do all that for us. As long as no damage or injury was caused that is the main thing.
Fair comment from our Moderator.

 

I wasn't "indignant"; I actually assumed I had failed to post properly! I also made it extremely clear that it was unconfirmed. I am the last to want to spread gossip, but posted what I did just to elicit any better-informed responses. No fault on the part of the group or its moderators entered my mind.