RTC 2025

https://www.flickr.com/photos/182835155@N03/54940671900/in/dateposted-public/

44871 accelerating away from Gobowen this afternoon.

 

Presumably relatives of Queen Victoria?

Bryan

 

44871 passing Rossett on its way into Chester this lunchtime...

 

44871 making a spirited departure from Chester with the return trip to Bristol. It is just about to pass under the site of the former Northgate station.

 

44871 heading away from Craven Arms & crossing Cefn Mawr viaduct as the mist clears.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/54940281486/in/datetaken-public/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/54940553695/in/datetaken-public/

Phil

 

Timings for the Bath and Bristol Steam Express from Three Bridges are live.

Interestingly Eddystone now comes off on the return journey at Salisbury and then heads light locomotive to the Swanage Railway, while a 47 I assume takes over to Three Bridges.

Also lots of pathing stops, even more than last year but knowing the route it's taking it's very understandable.

Outward (Three Bridges to Bristol)
- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U70367/2025-12-13/detailed

Return (Bristol to Three Bridges)
- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U70370/2025-12-13/detailed

 

The initial plan had steam to/from Salisbury only.

 

Last year that was the case, but this trip is still advertised as steam hauled both ways throughout.

 

Not sure I agree there are a lot of pathing stops, they just mainly appear to be at the logical pinch points.
Balcombe Tunnel Junc where it goes two track.
1 minute at Fareham
3 minutes at Eastleigh where you have to cross 4 lines
Westbury I agree is lengthy outbound, and on return follows 2O16
Bathampton Junc 7 minutes.
But on the day most of these will be determined by service train late running if the tour is on time, or how late the tour is running.

 

Also there is 17 minutes at Hove which is fairly lengthy for a passenger pick up point.

Certainly not saying it as a complaint, as a employee for Southern I am very aware of how busy these lines are so very understandable, it's a price worth paying to get steam down around the coast.

 

This will be far from the first return trip from Bristol be it to Three Bridges or London where steam has come off at Salisbury for operational reasons. It does not get back until 23:21 without the extra water stops that would be needed as it is. The ECS it seems can only go to Acton Lane and as there are no trains through Kenny O after 00:55 until morning maybe there are engineering works as well.

 

Doesn't look to be any timings in place yet for Thursdays Norwich-York trip behind 44871 apart from York station to North Yard and return to York station

 

Maybe could have left Hove ahead of both the Southampton and the Littlehampton service which seem to call at all shacks to Worthing, you would need to ask NR, but I suspect there is a conflict somewhere else.

 

The return is on RTT. Steam off at Newark on the return, then tour trundles round via Lincoln so the 47 doesn't have to run round.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U70092/2025-11-27/detailed

Still nothing on RTT for the outward.

 

Norwich to York timings on RTT for tomorrow

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U70088/2025-11-27/detailed

 

£30 off for the remaining tours for this year with the code BLK

 

With 44871 coming off at Newark Northgate I went looking for something different. 44871 passing the 1930 signal box at Bathley Lane, North Muskham north of Newark.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/

 

Today's Bath & Bristol tour with 34028

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U70913/2025-11-29/detailed

 

Happened to be at BTM when Eddystone rolled in, just a few mins late, earlier today. With 47812 on the rear.

Slightly later than planned (scheduled 1147) the train headed off to Bristol East Depot, ECS, with the class 47 leading.

My photo below. C - Paul Stanford

 

34028 Eddystone is seen working the Bath and Bristol Christmas Express at Twyford Swindon and Cholsey, enjoy