RTC 2025

I think it moves to Southall next week. I'm told it will do a test run to Didcot at night.

 

It was in steam yesterday afternoon, but no idea if that means any more testing is imminent.

 

Eddystone out today seen in the rain at Corfe Castle

 

Just looked it up on the SLL website it said wcrc had issue with electric equipment that had been lent from the Swanage Railway.

 

34028 seemingly has a path to Southall on 3 September: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63478/2025-09-03/detailed

 

Being hauled in (light?) steam by D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN I don't know if any of 34028's running-in turns at Swanage have been made with their [3 or 4?] dual braked Mk1 coaches - to check the 'new' air pump is working satisfactorily.

Eddystone's somewhat hurried change of plans is, as mentioned above, to fill an apparent lack of operational air-braked steam locos at WCRC's West London base.

After leaving 34028 with WCRC's team at Southall, D6515 returns home light engine later the same day: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...3/detailed

At the moment I cannot trace on RTT when Eddystone's loaded test train will run nor the route it will take although a night run to/from Didcot was also mentioned earlier. SLL believe that, all being well, it has been pencilled in for the Swanage Belle on Wednesday 10th September! Here's hoping for a faultless tow to Southall and a faultless loaded test train workout.

Ex-LU BSK No. 35011 is, presumably, still undergoing necessary conversion work at Herston prior to taking up it's new main line support coach role. Perhaps another D6515 trip will be necessary to take it to Southall?

 

Excuse my ignorance but what's stopping them just running Eddystone to Southall as a test run with the 33 behind the loco in case of failure.

I was under the impression usually locos go out with their support coach and a diesel first and the second phase was the loaded test runs. I thought that was what happened with Nunney Castle and Blue Peter, Blue Peter even left SVR under it's own power after the initial running-in.

Just confused to why it's just being dragged.

 

I was told, by a normally reliable source, that it was being towed.
I have no idea of the reasoning but wonder if the lack of a support coach limited the number of support crew able to travel with it.
Or, is it that due to the somewhat rushed nature of this move, the initial paperwork is available for it to be towed [in light steam?] but not the full paperwork to run under it's own steam hauling the 'insurance' diesel?
I have no idea, so possibly other forumites might know the reason.

 

Just looked at RTT and they have a NRW - YRK WRC working on Saturday. No mention of SOA.
Confused.

 

And no mention of steam either on Railway Herald. Northern Belle with class 57s.

 

I think you'll find that it is mentioned in Railway Herald. <BJ>

The Stratford Flyer (Railway Touring Company)

• Carnforth Steam Pool Norwich (pu) - Thetford (pu) - March (pu) - Peterborough (pu) - Leicester - Nuneaton - Stratford-upon-Avon
• Carnforth Steam Pool Stratford-upon-Avon (pu) - Leicester
• WCRC Class 47/57 Leicester - Peterborough (sd) - March (sd) - Thetford (sd) - Norwich

 

Apologies. Definition of old fogey= can't scroll down.

 

I have no idea, but this is not exactly the Hellifield circuit that has a 2 hourly service. 4 up trains follow it from Bournemouth in the next 30 minutes.
It is a mainly two track mainline (allegedly) with little four track until you reach Worting Junction (Redbridge to Soton Central, around St. Denys and Eastleigh). It also has very few places where there is somewhere to put a loco with an issue for much of it. Even after Worting the local stations have no mainline platforms any longer so even an issue on the slow lines will cause a major disruption. Something SWR and NR are very capable of doing on their own without outside assistance it appears.
To me it would seem the least risk option.

 

That's very understandable. Thanks for explaining. Definitely not wise to test an locomotive for the first time on a busy route!

 

And I'm now going to be the first dinosaur to qualify as a rivet counter by saying you missed out the 4 track very long loops section between Wallers Ash and Weston - where the signal boxes used to be when dinosaurs still roamed freely and used the SR steam hauled trains back in the 1960s.

Bryan

 

Yes I thought the mention of Wallers Ash would mean also mentioning P1 or the yard at Brockenhurst, the yard at Poole where LSL dumped their naughty coach for about 3 weeks, Totton yard etc. Some being easier to access than others.
But suitably chastised.