VT - Whistling Ghost II to Minehead - 14 June

To all who are booked on this one - the tickets are going out via 1st Class Post tonight (Tuesday) so you should have them in time....

If the postal-person has not graced your doorstep with them by Friday morning, telephone the office on 0121-708-4960 and we will arrange for duplicates to be picked up on the day.

The departure times are as follows:

Tyseley Warwick Road: 07:55
Birmingham Moor St: 08:15
Stourbridge Junction: 08:46
Worcester Shrub Hill: 09:32
Bristol Temple Meads: 10:59/11:16

Cheers!

 

Ben, how much time will we get in Minehead ?

 

2 hrs 45 mins..... a bit better than last year!

 

That was the only fault with the 2013 edition, so hopefully if that's cracked you'll be onto a winning itinary, I felt Canterbury worked well too if you discount Braunton's hissyfit.

 

I see the times are on Realtime Trains. Does anyone have the times for Bishops Lydeard > Minehead > Bishops Lydeard, please?

 

The path back north doesn't show a stop at Worcester Shrub Hill, is that correct Ben?

 

That's gotta be an error, you never go through Worcester without pulling up at Shrub Hill and/or Tunnel Jcn.

 

Although it does not show it stopping at Worcester, there is 5 minutes in the allowances column for pathing see http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50697/2014/06/14/advanced

 

No not usually. I had your Class 40 tour at a stand on Saturday night waiting for 2C66 to clear Droitwich. I had 55 022 a stop at my Down Home one night too and then put an ECS from Foregate St on the depot right in front of it - the wonders of pathing!

 

Full times including the WSR leg are at www.uksteam.info/tours/t14/t0614b.htm

The train calls at Bishops Lydeard (platform 2) for the loco change (12:37-13:00), and then runs non-stop to Dunster (14:07) and Minehead arriving at 14:15
Return from Minehead is at 17:10, calling only at Dunster (17:17) and Bishops Lydeard (18:15-18:40). It is possible that the return train may be held briefly at the Blue Anchor up home just before the level crossing.
WSR service trains are passed at Williton and Blue Anchor outward, Blue Anchor on return.
The loco allocated for the charter on the WSR is S&D 2-8-0 53808 [88].
The WSR is running a modified timetable with 3 other engines in service selected from 3850,4160,4936,6960,7828. The DMU is also running.

I note that as last year 5043 has again been allocated a 60mph path on the mainline, so expect some early running !

 

That's great, thanks very much.

 

5043 1Z34 away from Tyseley on time. Dry and sunny weather forecast for the WSR area today. <BJ>

 

I heard it pass Droitwich Spa just after 9.

 

Saw it exit Cheltenham Spa just after 10

 

Looked great at Standish Junction. Storming along in the sunshine

 

Sounds magnificent from my attic as it leaves Worcester

 

Went out to video this .. full sun for most of the day...except the two shots on the main line!!!!
Cant complain too much though as last time I went out for 60009 it rained all day!!

 

Here’s my video of the tour, taken at Cogload Junction, out and back, and on the West Somerset Railway



Also, Whilst I was on the WSR I took a short clip of 7828 Norton Manor on Washford Bank.

 

My video, taken at Standish Junction, morning and evening and Gloucester Yard.

 

My footage of the tour, locations featured are Ashchurch, Yatton, Churchlands Bridge, near Leigh Bridge, Cogload Junction, and Haresfield.