Class 50s on the ECML?

[Clint]

Hi all,

I'm sure I read in Rail that there was meant to be a double-headed 50 tour on the ECML, but the magazine and the internet were at odds with one saying it was last Saturday and the other saying it is tomorrow.

Can anyone enlighten me, or should I start cutting down on the beer?

 

[matt]

It was originally planned for last Saturday but it now on Saturday July 30th returning on the Sunday http://www.ptg.co.uk/tours/UKEdinburgh.htm

 

[craig87034]

It got redated a few times due to the 50's not being ready. At the moment if the tour runs its on the 30th and 31st July.

http://www.ptg.co.uk/tours/UKEdinburgh.pdf

 

[Clint]

Ah, thank you both very much. For a while there I thought I was going mad!

 

[Steamhawk216]

Hello Clint and all others,
I was also not familiar with this tour company when it was mentioned to me by a fellow passenger on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway two days ago, when we were being hauled by 50042 'Triumph'. I eventually found their website and when reading their itinery for the 'Edinburgh Hopscotch' was amused by the underlined section below;

Saturday 30 July We board our special charter train at the famous London Terminus of King's
Cross. The departure of our train, formed by recently refurbished quality Mark 3 carriages
hauled by two superbly restored Class 50 locomotives, is estimated 08.10. You have a choice
of Standard Class seat, First Class seat or Premier Dining. Leaving King's Cross we head north
along the East Coast mainline - the route of the ledgendary Flying Scotsman. Our train will also
pick up at Potters Bar (08.33), Stevenage (08.57), Peterborough (09.37), Grantham (10.20) and
York (11.22). For premier dining passengers (joining south of York) a Full British Breakfast will
be served at your seat of outdoor reared Suffolk sweet cured bacon, outdoor reared
Cumberland sausage, free range egg, potato rosti and tomato served with toasted bread
(other menu options available).

I have just got to visit Cumbria to see the fields with sausages wriggling & squirmming about in. Should be quite a sight.

 

[4SRKT]

Anyone know which vacs will be on Spitfire's Edinburgh Explorer II on 13th August? I've booked on this and am getting very excited already!

 

[Chester025]

50044 & 50049, the only ones registered for the mainline.

 

[4SRKT]

Thx. Is 44 still in that ridiculous livery?

 

[Chester025]

Thx. Is 44 still in that ridiculous livery?

Do keep up! http://neilmorgan.zenfolio.com/p195234375/h3763d6d

 

[4SRKT]

Good. I don't really follow the preserved diesel scene closely, as you can probably tell.

 

[Chester025]

Good. I don't really follow the preserved diesel scene closely, as you can probably tell.

No worries! Fingers crossed '49 will be ready in time.

 

[4SRKT]

No worries! Fingers crossed '49 will be ready in time.

What if it isn't?

 

[Chester025]

It was originally planned for last Saturday but it now on Saturday July 30th returning on the Sunday http://www.ptg.co.uk/tours/UKEdinburgh.htm

This is caped now due to 50049s unavailability, dunno if this will affect the Spitfire tour.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

That's the problem with organising tours while loco's - and especially heritage locos - are undergoing overhaul. Even more so when knowing that there is no alternative should there be a delay at the depot.

It's very risky, and a bit cheeky as there's a lot to lose on the customers side. Just an opinion.

 

[The Snap]

That's the problem with organising tours while loco's - and especially heritage locos - are undergoing overhaul. Even more so when knowing that there is no alternative should there be a delay at the depot.

It's very risky, and a bit cheeky as there's a lot to lose on the customers side. Just an opinion.

Totally agree with you.

 

[37113]

That's the problem with organising tours while loco's - and especially heritage locos - are undergoing overhaul. Even more so when knowing that there is no alternative should there be a delay at the depot.

It's very risky, and a bit cheeky as there's a lot to lose on the customers side. Just an opinion.

PTG's owner has an awful lot do with the repairs on the 50's, so is probably in the best position to have known to have pitched his tour originally for June. But as with major projects, deadlines slip, other faults are found.
I am told the new TM has been fitted to 049 two days ago and it's now ready for action, so our trip on 13th August should be fine.

Obviously when or if we hear of anything to the contrary we will update the website and advise customers booked.