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Four ECML trains to travel side by side

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LesS

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I am sorry but this is NOT a world first.

Here in New South Wales we have done it twice; once in each of the last 2 years. It will be happening again in a few weeks at the annual Maitland Steamfest in the Hunter Valley about 100miles north of Sydney. On each occasion each train was hauled by steam with genuine parallel running. Yes, the crowds are large but no problems have been encountered with trespassing.
 
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theageofthetra

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I am sorry but this is NOT a world first.

Here in New South Wales we have done it twice; once in each of the last 2 years. It will be happening again in a few weeks at the annual Maitland Steamfest in the Hunter Valley about 100miles north of Sydney. On each occasion each train was hauled by steam with genuine parallel running. Yes, the crowds are large but no problems have been encountered with trespassing.

Looks a fantastic event that. How easy is it book tickets for it from the UK?
 

snowball

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Press release dated the 24th. Sorry if this has been posted before.

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...o-be-made-on-yorkshires-east-coast-main-line/

Four trains, four generations – history to be made on Yorkshire’s East Coast Mainline

A world first will take place in Yorkshire next month to celebrate the heritage and future of one of the country’s most iconic railway lines.

Four trains spanning four generations will travel side by side in the same direction along the East Coast Mainline on Sunday 23 April 2017 for several miles north of York to showcase the past, present and future of rail travel.

It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see world-famous Flying Scotsman travel alongside two trains from Virgin Trains’ revitalised fleet – an HST (Class 43), an InterCity 225 (Class 91) – and the rail operator’s brand new train, the Virgin Azuma (Class 800), which is being built by Hitachi in the North East and will come into service in 2018.

The historic journey, organised by Virgin Trains, Welcome to Yorkshire, Network Rail and the National Railway Museum, will begin near the village of Tollerton.

The public will be able to witness something never seen before on the East Coast Mainline, but those hoping to catch a glimpse are being urged to stay safe behind boundary fences and keep off the tracks and private land. Trespassers will cause the trains to stop and put at risk the completion of both this event and any future plans to showcase the route and its iconic locos.
 

J-2739

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Aw, so much hate for the 800s, I think they'd look like a cute contrast to the ancient other units... :cry:

But yeah, freedom of Speech, yo.
 

danpick

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Anyone from Newcastle has to hope its not before 9:50 which is when the coach from Darlington arrives....

Sent from my Bush Spira B2 5 Smartphone using Tapatalk
 

D365

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Aw, so much hate for the 800s, I think they'd look like a cute contrast to the ancient other units... :cry:

But yeah, freedom of Speech, yo.

Why does freedom of speech come into this?
 

TimboM

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They have a strange idea of "generations"!

1920s, 1970s, 1990s, 2010s ...

I guess it's more a case of steam, diesel, electric and bi-mode/EMU/whatever it is/fancy new train generations.

(And let's face it, most of the Flying Scotsman is probably newer than the HSTs and 225s! ;) )
 
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DarloRich

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Aw, so much hate for the 800s, I think they'd look like a cute contrast to the ancient other units... :cry:

But yeah, freedom of Speech, yo.

because many of us who have had the opportunity to travel on real trains expect the Azuma to be, frankly, a cruddy voyager knock off.

We will see in due course.............
 

J-2739

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Why does freedom of speech come into this?

Do I even need to explain at this point?

because many of us who have had the opportunity to travel on real trains expect the Azuma to be, frankly, a cruddy voyager knock off.

We will see in due course.............

I recon the Azuma's to be more comfortable than a Voyager, though I supposed that you can't beat the cosiness of a Real Train! ;)
 

rebmcr

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MonsooN

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When the people at VTEC (and Stagecoach) and NW planned this, I doubt they had a few hundred pedantic and picky rail forum types in mind.

This seems very much a publicity stunt aimed at the general public who don't really know or think much about the railways. They'll just look at it on the news and say "Oh a new type of train!" It will make people think that investment is being made in the railways and might make a few people consider travelling by rail to see what the new trains are like. It might also stir up some long forgotten childhood feelings about train travel and the excitement of trains that they'd forgotten about.

I also think this is a great idea and if they can do it without causing major disruption on the lines (Which it appears they can) then good luck to them.

I might even make the trip myself to see them. Can anyone recommend a good spot to watch them from?
 

Rhydgaled

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Shame there are no operational A4s with a current main-line cert. If there were, it would be great to see four steam locos (including a A4 in LNER garter blue and Flying Soctsman in apple green with the famous 4472 number and no smoke deflectors) running parallel, followed by a Deltic, IC125 and IC225 running parallel a safe distance (one signal block?) behind.

On a more-serious note, has there been any suggestion of a heritage livery on the IC125 (borrow 43002 from GWR?) or IC225 (would love to see a Swallow 91 'in the flesh') for this event or will BR's finest be represented in VTEC's over-red livery?
 

gavin

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Times announced

"Further details about the once in a lifetime event taking place on Yorkshire’s railways later this month have been confirmed, with the historic occasion to begin at 06.00 on Sunday 23 April near the North Yorkshire village of Tollerton.

With the eyes of the world watching, four trains spanning four generations will travel side by side, in the same direction, to celebrate the past, present and future of one of the country’s most iconic pieces of railway, the East Coast Main Line, before arriving into York at around 08.00 for a special celebration that will last until around 09.00"

https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/abou...nt-on-yorkshires-east-coast-main-line-1912317
 

Cowley

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Times announced

"Further details about the once in a lifetime event taking place on Yorkshire’s railways later this month have been confirmed, with the historic occasion to begin at 06.00 on Sunday 23 April near the North Yorkshire village of Tollerton.

With the eyes of the world watching, four trains spanning four generations will travel side by side, in the same direction, to celebrate the past, present and future of one of the country’s most iconic pieces of railway, the East Coast Main Line, before arriving into York at around 08.00 for a special celebration that will last until around 09.00"

https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/abou...nt-on-yorkshires-east-coast-main-line-1912317

The eyes of the world watching?
That may be a slight exaggeration. I've got a friend in New Zealand who probably won't be.
 

AlterEgo

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The Azuma really is a vile train. Spartan and plastic, inside and out, with few redeeming features. This event will only highlight how little we care about aesthetics in the modern age.
 

danpick

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The eyes of the world watching?
That may be a slight exaggeration. I've got a friend in New Zealand who probably won't be.
I live in Newcastle and I won't because of the stupidly early times...

Sent from my Bush Spira B2 5 Smartphone using Tapatalk
 

DarloRich

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The eyes of the world watching?
That may be a slight exaggeration. I've got a friend in New Zealand who probably won't be.

I live in Newcastle and I won't because of the stupidly early times...

Sent from my Bush Spira B2 5 Smartphone using Tapatalk

It is a PR puff - don't get your knickers in a twist about it being literal. :roll:
 

alexl92

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The Azuma really is a vile train. Spartan and plastic, inside and out, with few redeeming features. This event will only highlight how little we care about aesthetics in the modern age.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks they're pretty awful looking.
 
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