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Great Britain XVIII: 18/4 -25/4/26

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Waterbuck, Nov 18, 2025.

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  1. NathanP

    NathanP Well-Known Member

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    What did you do before the internet and RTT came along?
     
    NathanP, Apr 15, 2026 at 1:16 PM
    #81
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  2. Rander

    Rander Member

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    Surely the only people who really need decent advance notice of the schedule are the people involved in the train's operation, or those travelling on it.

    If it's two days out from departure and the passengers didn't know, fair enough. As it seems they do... this does strike me as a "first world problem".
     
    Rander, Apr 15, 2026 at 3:07 PM
    #82
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  3. Fireboxchaserphotography

    Fireboxchaserphotography New Member

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    We used to have a phone number to call to get timings.
     
    Fireboxchaserphotography, Apr 15, 2026 at 3:09 PM
    #83
  4. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    "Hello, and thank you for calling the Mainline Steam Locomotive Operators Association railtour information line..."
     
    5944, Apr 15, 2026 at 3:22 PM
    #84
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  5. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    I used to cycle down to my local station, go to the ticket office and then ask them to look in the special traffic notice
     
    Sidmouth, Apr 15, 2026 at 4:45 PM
    #85
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  6. William Fletcher

    William Fletcher Member

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    My Dad would either make or get a call. Someone he knew would know. Don't think we ever missed one
     
    William Fletcher, Apr 15, 2026 at 4:52 PM
    #86
  7. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    The times for the first two days of the GB appeared on SWRGen this morning. Thanks to JTC. Please don't shoot the messenger if they are incorrect. <BJ>

    Sat 18/04/26 - The Great Britain XVIII

    34028 Eddystone top tail WCRC Type 4

    5Z10
    06:05 Southall WCR
    06:37 Paddington

    1Z10
    07:01 Paddington
    07:49 07:53 Reading
    08:16 08:46 Newbury
    09:35 Fairwood Jn
    10:26 10:28 Taunton
    11:43 Exeter St Davids

    5Z11
    12:00 Exeter St Davids
    12:03 Exeter Riverside

    5Z12
    13:12 Exeter Riverside
    13:16 Exeter St Davids

    1Z12
    13:26 Exeter St Davids
    13:48 Newton Abbot
    14:31 15:01 Plymouth
    15:27 Liskeard
    16:19 Truro
    16:56 Penzance

    WCRC Type 4 top tail 34028

    5Z14
    17:25 Penzance Slopers Siding
    18:35 Truro
    19:17 St Blazey

    5Z15
    20:33 St Blazey
    21:22 Truro
    21:59 Penzance

    Sun 19/04/26 The Great Britain XVIII

    34028 Eddystone top tail WCRC Type 4

    1Z10
    09:20 Penzance
    09:55 Truro
    10:13 St Austell
    10:46 Liskeard
    11:08 11:38 Plymouth
    12:07 Totnes
    12:17 Newton Abbot
    12:54 Exeter St Davids
    13:31 15:09 Taunton
    15:39 Worle Jn
    15:59 16:01 Bristol TM
    16:30 Severn Tunnel Jn
    17:56 Abergavenny
    18:27 20:20 Hereford
    21:06 Shrewsbury
    22:05 Chester
     
    free2grice, Apr 15, 2026 at 9:06 PM
    #87
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  8. Rander

    Rander Member

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    GB ECS as set out from Carnforth -

    5239, 5229, 1961, 3395, 1212, 3431, 3392, 9539

    First two vehicles are pressure-ventilated. Unless it's had a quick repaint, 1212 should be blue and grey.
     
    Rander, Apr 16, 2026 at 1:38 PM
    #88
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  9. RHDRfanatic

    RHDRfanatic New Member

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    Just watched the set on Railcam, all maroon!
     
    RHDRfanatic, Apr 16, 2026 at 2:53 PM
    #89
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  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    That's nice to know. It's a prestige trip for the RTC (and WCR) so I couldn't have imagined that WC would have turned out a 'rag, tag and bobtail' set of stock. Good for them.
     
    Big Al, Apr 16, 2026 at 3:43 PM
    #90
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  11. Gunslinger1948

    Gunslinger1948 New Member

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    Look freshly outshopped too. Those are TSOs, not stock one would have expected on this train. Perhaps being transferred to Southall for other workings?
     
    Gunslinger1948, Apr 16, 2026 at 3:52 PM
    #91
  12. Rander

    Rander Member

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    5229 and 5239 are "Second Opens" with 2+1 seating in 8 bays, and are used as Firsts.
     
    Rander, Apr 16, 2026 at 4:08 PM
    #92
  13. wcmlbls1846

    wcmlbls1846 Well-Known Member

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    wcmlbls1846, Apr 16, 2026 at 5:04 PM
    #93
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  14. Gunslinger1948

    Gunslinger1948 New Member

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    A bit tight on the legroom then, compared with the regular FOs? Looks like they are marshalled at the Premier Dining end, next to the kitchen (1961).
     
    Gunslinger1948, Apr 16, 2026 at 7:03 PM
    #94
  15. Rander

    Rander Member

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    I imagine the same layout as 5236, 5237, 5249 (other than being air braked rather than vacuum braked), which were used on the Cathedrals Express for many years.
     
    Rander, Apr 16, 2026 at 7:06 PM
    #95
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