Saphos 2024

See the trains now in Gloucester to keep out the way, so reverse with the 47 now leading to Hanwell? Could we get a rare scenario of a 40 going round Kent albeit on the back?

 

Fatality at Standish Jct. Tour reported to be returning to Worcester and then proceed via Oxford.

Presumably, passengers joining the tour at Kemble and Swindon to join the train at Didcot. <BJ>

 

Anyone any idea where the tour is now and what the plan is?

 

Just gone through Oxford

 

Hmm cant find it on RTT

 

It'll pick up again shortly when it arrives at Didcot Parkway. Currently about 2 hours late. Post on Facebook stating the 47 will remain on the front due to the late running.

 

Now at Didcot 2 hours late. We reversed back to Worcester and had a non stop run down the Cotswold Line. To make up time there will be no steam haulage. Class 40 all day. I'm not complaining as I'm right at the front, immediately behind the 40.

 

Thanks Nathan. Do you know which Class 40 it is hauling today?

 

Tour now at Didcot with D213 leading but running 130 mins late. <BJ>

Realtime Trains | 1Z46 0530 Kidderminster to Canterbury West | 13/03/2024

 

40013

 

Bit of 40 haulage around Kent? Your Top Man Status will have just gone up

 

Massive!

 

Doesn't look like it. It's gone into the loop at Hanwell presumably to take the 40 off and have the 47 on the rear take it from there?

 

40s not cleared for Kent it seems.

 

Plan has changed. 40 was just taken off at Hanwell and the 47 that was at the back is now taking us onwards to Canterbury.

 

View attachment 83065 Here's a picture of the 40 I took during the stop at Gloucester, while the crew were working out which way we would proceed.

 

That looks odd as I assume that WCR did not operate the Class 90 that apparently did the London - Carnforth legs.

TBH such epic days were the norm when I did lots of tour with my dad in the late 70's early/mid 80's. Very early start for service train Rugby-New Street (covered by tour ticket) then a big day out normally to Carlisle or Seascale, then back late to Rugby with my going to sleep on the back seat of the car on the way home, before boring my mum rigid about the day whilst refusing to go to bed when we finally got home!

My dad losing me at 7 years of age on Carlisle station being a particular highlight! We never did tell my mum about that one!

 

No steam all day. Plan is to depart Canterbury at 1630 with the 47, rather than the booked 1555. Been a wild morning. Boarded at Worcester at 0600 and 2 1/2 hours later I was back there again! Can't complain though. Got the unexpected bonus of a run along the Cotswold Line with a Class 40. Initially we were told we'd have the 40 all day, but turns out they're not cleared for Kent, so we had to swap it for the 47 at Hanwell.