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Borders Railways Steam Specials SEP/OCT 2015.

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ARoo21

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60 009 "Union of South Africa" is due to haul special steam trains on the opening of the Borders Railway for 6 weeks, starting from 10th September.


Her Majesty the Queen is due to be hauled on a Special service on 9th September as she formally opens the Borders Railway.


Full information can be found here on timings https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotland-by-rail/steam-trains-update

Please note further tickets are available.
 
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45rpm

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Tickets are NOT sold out! There is a problem with the online booking system on Steam Dreams website. Booking can be made by telephone;I did so earlier today.
 

alexl92

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What's the contingency plan if UoSA fails, and where will 60009 be maintained during the 6 weeks?
 

ARoo21

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Tickets are NOT sold out! There is a problem with the online booking system on Steam Dreams website. Booking can be made by telephone;I did so earlier today.

I was following what was stated on ScotRail's website so sorry for any confusion!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
What's the contingency plan if UoSA fails, and where will 60009 be maintained during the 6 weeks?

UoSA is all fixed up and currently at Bristol Barton Hill. She's due to move to Crewe and then up to what I presume will be Craigentinny or Motherwell depots to be maintained.

Unsure on contingency plan though.
 

Karl

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I hope this is not a daft question but how is the return working from Tweedbank going to operate? Will UoSA 'push' the stock back to Edinburgh?
 

theblackwatch

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I hope this is not a daft question but how is the return working from Tweedbank going to operate? Will UoSA 'push' the stock back to Edinburgh?

No, it'll be the same as last week, 67026 (or another 67) will be doing the honours.
 

Karl

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No, it'll be the same as last week, 67026 (or another 67) will be doing the honours.

Thanks. I knew there'd be a simple answer. I wasn't aware of the steam special being top and tailed despite enjoying reading the updates on the other Borders Railway thread. I must pay more attention! :oops:
 
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This will probably seem like a daft "newbie" question to many of you, but... is there any risk of damage to the infrastructure from running steam locos on the main network? I'm thinking, for example, they must be much heavier than modern trains?
 

sprinterguy

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This will probably seem like a daft "newbie" question to many of you, but... is there any risk of damage to the infrastructure from running steam locos on the main network? I'm thinking, for example, they must be much heavier than modern trains?
Naturally, it depends on the loco in question, but A4s such as "Union of South Africa", with their 22 tonne max axle weight, are right up their at the top end of what is permitted, with a route availability of 9 (on a scale of 1 to 10). In fact, the other locomotive currently being employed on Borders Railway specials, "Tornado", is also an RA9 loco, so the new infrastructure is being thoroughly run in! ;)

I wouldn't suggest that this necessarily results in damage to the infrastructure, but it will put additional stresses and strains on track, joints and underline bridges. With steam locos you also have the effects of hammer blow to take into account as a result of the unbalanced effects of reciprocating pistons and coupling rods, though in general these effects should be lessened with a three or four cylinder locomotive compared to a simple two cylinder arrangement.
 
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snakeeyes

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I am booked on this next week :) does anyone know if taxi's will be waiting? at Tweedbank as I want to go to Melrose for lunch, cheers.
 

45rpm

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I did this trip yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyable. I didn`t see any taxis at Tweedbank but there is a half-hourly bus service to Melrose from a stop right outside Tweedbank station.
 
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