Steam Dreams 2024

My film at Reigate yesterday.

 

I enjoyed watching the approach shot, and was just thinking it would be great to see a going away shot over the crossing when, bingo, that was done!

Very nice. A location I used in April 1962 and again recently with 34046. So nice to see the 1960s signal box is still there, possibly now just to control the crossing, but I'm not sure about that.

And, from your opening scene, a good location to grab an evening still shot - and cod and chips from the fish & chip shop next to the signal box!

Thanks for posting.

Bryan B

 

Reigate signal box dates from 1929, and controls the route from just outside Redhill nearly to Gomshall.

 

Thanks for your reply and correction. By 1960s I meant to have said, - from the first time I saw that signal box in the 1960s - or words to that effect.

Bryan B

 

It's just down the road from me. It's quite thought-provoking actually because I have two active local control signalboxes close by - Reigate and Dorking, on the Epsom route. There can't be many areas so close to London now that have this on two (intersecting) routes. Neither are slated for replacement in the foreseeable future. The evening was especially dismal, but in fine weather it is a view that offers good 'glint' potential. Shot in 8k, on a Canon R5 for the approach and Samsung S23U going away. As the level crossing is on the very busy A217 road, the crossing is only closed quite late, meaning the steam is checked on the climb to it, hence the working away from the yellow signal once it clears to green.

 

Just realised when adding this to my diary that there's the RTC ACE on the same day. Two steam tours through Exeter Central on the same day, bit of a treat. And VT's double-headed Castles to Plymouth on the Friday too. Great couple of days for steam in Devon. (and personally I'll nip over the border for some 50042 at the Bodmin diesel gala too on the Sunday but that's well off-topic for a Steam Dreams thread).

 

A record shot of Royal Scot passing by near Oddington, with today's run to Oxford.

Enjoy

 

Royal Scot climbing Saunderton bank on todays trip to Oxford:

 

Just a quick check - I had thought that the GoE and SSEs were running tomorrow (and RH has them as running, but that obviously isn't a guarantee), but the SD website shows the next ones to be 23 July. Is this simply because tomorrow's are full, or they are not running anyway?

 

Disappeared a while ago and nothing on RTT so would assume not running. Same thing has happened for the 30th July

 

From What Ive heard its been Cancelled, The next one is the 23rd July, Steam Dreams Website is Correct

 

Thanks both. Lack of bookings for both perhaps?

 

I have seen a few people saying they have received emails saying the July 25th London to Exeter tour is cancelled/postponed to the date in September. Strange that the tour is still on the SteamDreams website and RTT timings are available for it.

Can anyway else confirm this is definitely the case and they have heard the same?

 

Definitely cancelled on 25/07 running 28/09 with 61306

Andrew

 

If I'm reading the website correctly, now seems it's steam hauled from Taunton - Exeter and all the way back to Paddington, might have been moved as an excuse to bring 61306 back to Southall after it's Riviera duties.

 

The obvious answer is not very, although I suspect the pool of people doing both is small, it does mean anyone not yet booked has two to choose from.
Of course having the alternative date as a conflict could be a deliberate strategy if you have deep pockets.

 

More confusion from the RH site, which shows two SD runs to Exeter on 28 September and no RTC one! At the same time it also shows the 25 July run as happening. Incidentally the RTC blurb talks of the Waterloo to Exeter 28 September run as; "Departing from London Waterloo, we will thread our way steam hauled through the west London suburbs towards Woking", (my bold) whereas the 35 minute timing suggests a direct SWML run to me.

 

Plus of course it depends on your definition of West London. It may be true that many would regard say Wimbledon and Surbiton as South West London, and I suspect @Deepgreen is reading it as the Hounslow Loop or Richmond, although both of those could also be called South West London.
Based on (very often) SWR performance threading its way slowly to Woking may be a more accurate description I suspect.