The Varsity Explorer - 25/10/25

Never mind all this exciting Railway 200 and north east stuff, what about Eddystone? I see that 34028 is supposed to be doing a one way to Chester later this month. Pickups at Milton Keynes and Rugby, but not Northampton. Surely West Coast hasn't found a path via Weedon for the first time for ages.

Does anyone know?

 

Really looking forward to having a run behind Eddystone that's rather more than at 20 mph even if it's only one-way to Chester.

I'm pretty certain that @5944 is correct in saying that there will be a servicing stop between Bicester and Winslow. Claydon Down/Up Loop is at Steeple Claydon and is long enough to take a charter comfortably. The trackside access also looks pretty good. Can't think of anywhere else where Eddystone will be able to take on coal either as it's a long way from Southall to Chester and 5 tons without a top up en route might otherwise make for an interesting journey.

 

On board with Eddystone and 'enjoying' the unnecessary shovage to get us away from Reading and, later, Oxford Parkway. Unnecessary because we were on time off Reading and found ourselves five early at Didcot. It's as if Bill Monteith doesn't know how to time the train and has to have help.

Anyway, we were 8 early through Oxford so maybe that was the plan. Nice running throughout though and great to have Eddystone at speed for a change. Here's hoping the diesel driver goes to sleep.

Currently taking water just beyond the long loop at Claydon.

 

Lovely run up the WCML. Nicely managed by signallers. We kept going at 70 ish. Early at Crewe for our final water stop.

 

Perhaps you should go and talk to Bill and offer him your advice on driving to a time schedule.

 

Completely misunderstood. It's as if you do it deliberately.

I was just saying that because we had a massive shove out of Reading and until we were motoring, we gained time on the schedule. My point was that the booked time would accommodate a conventional run with load 13 equivalent.