VT - Double Headed Hallage - TLW to Newport (via Gloucester)

Here is one that was already in the brochure, but we have included a Standard fare from Gloucester £60. And yes we are planning on the 2 Halls assaulting the Lickey on the return!

Double Headed Hallage featuring 4965 Rood Ashton Hall & 4936 Kinlet Hall - Sat 23 Mar 2013

SATURDAY 23RD MARCH
Double Headed Hallage

Two mainline Halls No’s. 4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" & 4936 "Kinlet Hall" are paired together for this journey to Newport along the Welsh side of the Severn Estuary.

Our outbound route takes us from Tyseley Warwick Road Station, through Birmingham’s Jewellery District, down Old Hill Bank, through Kidderminster and Worcester Shrub-Hill, before a water-stop at Gloucester. Unusually, we continue through Gloucester, crossing over the River Severn, then following the Welsh side of the Severn Estuary all the way through Chepstow and Caldicot to the City of Newport.

The origins of Casnewydd-ar-Wysg (New Castle on the Usk) can be traced back to the Bronze-age when fisherman settled around the fertile estuary of the River Usk. Newport obtained its first charter in 1314, and grew to a large market town protected by the first of several castles, completed in 1386. The industrial revolution saw a huge expansion in the nations appetite for coal; Newport again was well positioned to supply the needs of the surrounding areas, becoming Wales’ leading coal port by 1830.

After a luncheon break in Newport, we return to the Midlands along a similar route, pausing for water again at Gloucester and Worcester. However, here we turn back towards the Midland Mainline for a double-headed assault on the Lickey Incline!

Commencing at Tyseley Warwick Road platform, additional pickups at Birmingham Snow Hill, Worcester Shrub Hill and Gloucester.

Standard Class: £80 (From Gloucester: £60)

Club Class: £100
Includes light refreshments in both directions.

Premier Dining: £155
Includes a full English breakfast and a traditional 3-course roast dinner.
Tables for two in Premier Dining: £20 per table (£10 per person extra)

First Class Compartment of six seats: £500
Enthusiast Class: £95

 

Definitely the Lickey then?

Expect my group's booking asap. Just need to kick people into gear.

 

The spec was submitted with a return up the Lickey.....fingers crossed!

 

4 tickets now booked, accom sorted in Kidderminster for the Friday so we can do SVR as well. Now to twiddle thumbs and try to contain the excitement!

Guessing it will be DH up the Lickey, and then a runround at Landor St?

 

Will have to see about popping over to the Lickey for this seeing as we've got the weekend booked for the SVR. I know there aren't any official times yet but how early do you need to get there to get all parked up and where is the best place on the climb to park? Any info would be most appreciated.

 

When the Lizzie went up last year I was there at 4pm and think it went up about 5. There's a scout group at the top of the bank which you can park in the field.

 

Thanks for the info. Will probably spend the morning and first hour of the afternoon filming at the SVR then will head over. Thanks again.

 

I was at Vigo for the Lizzie and bankers and spent the whole day there from around 09:30 (and I still wasn't the first there). Lucky it was a nice day - quite a party atmosphere as more people turned up. Parking got progressivley more difficult until by 3 or 4 the road past the bridge was gridlocked at times due to people just dumping their vehicles and reducing the already narrow lane to single track

If you want a reasonable spot on the Lickey without hassle - go very early

STEVE

 

There's probably a bit more space for parking and viewing from the spot by Pikes Pool Lane a little further down the bank, Vigo's a decent view but that little area by the foot crossing can only hold so many people and usually resembles a rugby scrum an hour beforehand.

Main problem with the Lickey is most of the spots are looking straight into the sun in late afternoon.

 

Many thanks for the info David and Steve. It'll probably have to be by Pikes Pool Lane. It might be a on the day decision about whether I go to film the Halls anyway. But thanks for the help.

 

And when you all have your teriffic pictures and videos of two Halls thundering up the Lickey incline, please keep in the mind the locomotive works that are trying to raise funds to complete the boiler overhaul of 7029 "Clun Castle".

Charity Giving - 7029 Clun Castle Boiler Overhaul - Tube Appeal

All dontaions welcome!

 

Ben, I think it's been said before about donations when you put a tour up the Lickey but if your resources allow have you thought about putting a couple of volunteers out with collecting buckets at each of the well-populated locations to go round as people gather? I know the GCR do something similar on their Gala Days.
I sent a donation to the Clun Castle appeal after Lizzie up the Lickey last year and I know a few others did but what donations you received was in no way proportional to the number of people watching. Alan.

 

I donated to the Clun Castle appeal a couple of years ago and I fully intend to do so again. I've known a number of preserved lines to have a couple of volunteers go to the railway's most popular location(s) with collection buckets, Burrs on the East Lancs being an example. It's worth considering for the Lickey, seeing as huge numbers of photographers assemble there. Only of course if resources allow.

 

Good idea, but you'd need to discuss beforehand with the land-owner(s). On previous occassions, the Scouts have collected on their land, and the farmer who owns the fields north and east of Vigo Bridge has collected for a local hospice.

 

I wish I had a dozen or so volunteers who would walk up and down the Lickey with buckets collecting money!

Do they collect before the train goes past? Or do they wait until everyone leaves and try to catch them at the gate without getting run over?

Bottom line - it simply isn't practical!

 

Now returning via Old Hill due to "pathing issues". Shame. Double Headed Hallage featuring 4965 Rood Ashton Hall & 4936 Kinlet Hall - Sat 23 Mar 2013

 

That's surprising, Stoke Works Jcn - Kings Norton isn't that big a section to slot in at 60MPH, I wonder if it's running round/reversing at Saltley/Washwood Heath that's actually the problem ?.

 

Shame, but I've only done Old Hill downhill towards Kidderminster behind 6024. It will be interesting to do it from the other direction, as I don't recall many tours doing an out and back over this route; it being mostly used as part of a circular itinerary. However, it looks like I've been licked by the Lickey for this year! No matter, onward and upward.

 

It could well be the run round / reversal in the Saltley / Washwood Heth area which has led to the re-routing. If a path could be found up the LIckey for d/h Panniers I am sure one could be found for d/h Halls. It therefore must be beyond the LIckey where the problem exists. The Panniers did of course make history by going via Selly Oak and New Street but I guess the Halls will be out of guage that way. It is still a rare outing though to feature d/h Halls on the mainline.

 

Old Hill's a decent enough bank at 1 in 51, my main frustration with that route (even though I'm booked on two tours doing it either way in May & June) is you spend the vast majority of Snow Hill - Stourbridge (or vice versa) running around 30MPH on yellows due to the intensive stoppers on that section, can't really open up till heading towards Hagley.