UK Railtours - End of Southern Steam - 2017 Commemoratives

Only P19 isnt it? Also,of course in July they will just be working up to the major platform works and closures happening in August so that won't help.

 

Just booked on it. Can't miss this trip on the actual 50th Anniversary. Fingers crossed it's going to be a very good summer for SR ML Steam.

 

I arrived on Platform 16 with 45699 last July.

 

Dirty engine and without name plate with writing chalk on smokebox.

 

I know why you say that, but on this occasion, I suspect not. Clan Line, as always, will be in show-room condition when she sets out in the morning, so the worst (best?) you can expect is a faint patina of grime by the end of the day. The other loco (which most of us hope will be 35018) might be a little grubbier, having been away from home since Thursday, but I suspect the support crew will do their best to keep the loco smart and clean - especially knowing what the "competition" at Waterloo is likely to look like!

I remember the MHR's July 1997 (?) gala where several of the locos were in something like 1967 condition - externally, if not internally. The most poignant train was the green 33 diesel hauling 76017 sans con-rods with "COND" chalked on the smokebox, a couple of trucks and a brake-van. I recall very similar trains passing my house in West Moors, heading to Ward's scrapyard in Ringwood.

 

something like the 5 photos below?
mark

 

I, like one or two others am booked on this, very tempted to do the Saturday trip also and make a weekend of it, if others are interested, there are plenty of Hotel bargains around in London, so it need'nt break the bank, especially as most offer free cancellation.

 

With respect, this isn't likely to happen again in 10 years, or 25 years or 50 years time - this is almost certainly the last opportunity at a major anniversary for these runs. I completely fail to see the argument that they are more special if you were alive, or on the final trains in 1967 but if you believe that, surely that makes these trips more special and desirable than less. I having been banging on over the past few years that this is the last chance saloon for steam trips - the modern railway is less and less welcoming in all sorts of ways, despite the best efforts of people like the charter team.

I'm going on as many of these as I can and to hell with whether I can afford it - I'm not going to be sitting round in 5/10 years and saying if only. Thanks to the MNLPS for keeping simply the best engine in preservation out ahead of all the rest and setting the standard.

Best wishes

Mike

 

Now booked on both... and not broken the bank !

Significant Birthday present-to me- from me.

Thanks Andy

 

I've so far booked on one of them and I'm still considering whether to add any more. There's always the possibility of something going awry on one day, with the train or with personal circumstances.

 

Good luck with that one Al.

 

Still, two steamers at Britain's busiest station is no small occasion.

 

Here are a couple of books by NP's very own Gricerdon http://www.national-preservation.com/members/gricerdon.20534/ which will be essential reading for the End of Southern Steam Anniversary:



Book on far left out end of June, other book out end of February.

They are now available to order on Waterstones. Will Don be signing copies on the Anniversary trip?

 

Thanks for the plug. Yes I am on the UKR trip and will sign copies if folk wish me to. Not sure if I will be able to sell them on the day as I haven't broached this with UKR yet.

Also my booklet 'Southern Day Rail Rovers 1964' is available now self published by Amazon at £8.99 plus postage.

 

It wasn't all like that. Clan line on one of the two the Southern Region's official end of steam and the real 34052 at Basingstoke on the very last day. The two tours were almost as controversial as the 15 Guinea 1T57 being priced up at well over twice the normal return fare and run a couple of weeks before the end when you could travel on a steam hauled service train, no wonder that they were only 25% full but they were used as a reason for the steam ban BR insisting that there was no demand.

 

Memory plays tricks, but 34052 at Basingstoke seems to be on July 7. On July 9, it worked the 14,20 Weymouth-Westbury freight, then light to Weymouth. It worked the 19.06 Basingstoke-Eastleigh then, on to Bournemouth, on July 7. The shadow behind it indicates later in the day, which fits with a 19.06 departure. Info in Southern Steam Surrender by John H Bird.

Re 35018. How do Steam Dreams know it won't be available by July 8/9? It is shown as one of the roster for July 26 and the first Dorset Coast Express. Some kind of dispute perhaps?

 

You are right, memory does play tricks, the label on my slide says July 9 but the notebook entry is July 7. Thanks for pointing that out.