Four Castles at Didcot - 4 March

On Saturday 4 March there's a Vintage Trains railtour to Didcot being hauled by 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and 7029 Clun Castle and they will be on show alongside 4079 Pendennis Castle which will be in steam and static 5051 Drysllwyn Castle.
Tickets are selling fast that online booking is now recommended as DRC also needs to accommodate the railtour passengers.

 

Sounds tasty!

 

Glad I bought my ticket a while ago

 

Any ideas of times yet for the 2 Castles to Didcot please?
i will be travelling down from Yorkshire by train for the event, what route will they take please?
Thanks in advance

 

Apparently Snow Hill about 08.15 and Widney Manor 08.30 - so Didcot around late morning

 

What loco will be on the demo line? The event page states 'A Diesel service will be running on our main demonstration line' but the loco roster page shows Pendennis Castle and 4144

 

It's 4144 as confirmed by a comment DRC put on Facebook, it's only running day at the centre this year

 

Will that be a surprise to the railway that were hiring it for the year, or was it their decision?

 

"It's only running day at the centre this year" was what I was intending to write. Apologies for the error (now edited)

 

I believe it actually also worked on the 1st and/or 2nd January, so still not quite true, but we know what you mean

 

VT e-mail

Departure and arrival times are:
Departing Birmingham Snow Hill at 08:18
Departing Widney Manor at 08:37
Arriving at Didcot Parkway at 10:10
Departing Didcot Parkway at 15:01
Arriving at Widney Manor at 17:17
Arriving at Birmingham Snow Hill at 17:42

 

Will the shutters be lifted for viewing of workshop progress? 1014 CofG for instance?

 

Correct it worked on 1/2 January but now it's been fully repainted and looking resplendent with GWR lettering. Online bookings have now closed.

 

I wonder what the break off point was for number of tickets sold?

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66120/2023-03-04/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...4/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=TY

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C02377/2023-03-04/detailed

Timings for the Castles

 

The issue is about managing the passengers off the charter into DRC along the narrow station subway entrance and dealing with ticket holders at the same time. With arrival at 10:10 plans are being made to open up a little bit earlier.

 

Will I be able to buy a ticket at the gate on March 4th (if I arrived around midday)?

 

Thanks, i dont get there till about 10:58, so hopefully all passengers from charter will have entered the site