LU Sarah Siddons loco and 4TC heritage unit

[Invincible]

From a previous thread a post from bluegoblin7
"I think “planned” was somewhat optimistic wording - “hoped” would be more appropriate.

That hope is still there, but Sarah needs to undergo shakedown runs on the Met , which have yet to happen.

It is worth noting that no finalised timetable for the runs has been issued internally yet also, although there will be a draft to enable bookings to be taken.

The link, for those so-interested: https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on...ings/heritage-train-journeys-amersham-special

Four Amersham-Watford trips each day, and then a one-way single journey from Amersham to Wembley Park, almost certainly via the Local Line due to ongoing challenges with running over the Main Lines during the Summer"

So far no railtours announced for 2025, not even the annual 4TC trip to Swanage diesel gala?
Has the refurbished Sarah Siddons loco done any more testing on the Met line?

For modeling Bachmann has now released a LU maroon liveried 4TC OO gauge model, presumably the Sarah Siddons model is still available.

 

[JonathanH]

So far no railtours announced for 2025, not even the annual 4TC trip to Swanage diesel gala?

The 4TC is going to Merseyside for the Late Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

 

[AY1975]

The link, for those so-interested: https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on...ings/heritage-train-journeys-amersham-special

That link doesn't seem to work.

The 4TC is going to Merseyside for the Late Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Is that a railtour? Whose tour is it?

 

[JonathanH]

Is that a railtour? Whose tour is it?

Yes, a Branch Line Society / Hanson & Hall railtour - Saturday 24 May to Monday 26 May - the 4TC with a Class 50 on each end

Saturday - The Hyde Hoover
Kidderminster (PU 08.00) - Rowley Regis Up Goods - Birmingham New Street (PU 08.35) - Duddeston - Tame Bridge Parkway (PU 08.50) - Walsall - Rugeley Trent Valley - Sideway DPL - Stoke-on-Trent (PU 10.00) - Cliffe Vale Dn Goods - Crewe (PU 10.30) - Sandbach - Dn Styal Loop - Manchester Airport (RM) - Manchester Piccadilly (RM) - Guide Bridge - Up and Dn Hyde Loop - Glossop (RM / photo stop) - Hadfield (RM / photo stop) - Manchester Victoria - Ordsall Chord - Manchester Piccadilly - Hyde Central - Woodley P1 - Romiley - Rose Hill Marple (RM) - Ryder Brow - Manchester Piccadilly (RM) - Styal - Wilmslow - Wilmslow Dn Styal Reversing Siding (RM) - Stockport Dn Goods - Manchester Piccadilly (RM) - Stockport - Northwich Dn and Up Goods - Chester (SD 20.00)

Sunday - Track, Vac and Shack
Chester (PU 10.00) - Hooton - Rock Ferry (RM) - Hooton - Ellesmere Port Up and Dn Goods - Helsby - Warrington Bank Quay Dn Slow - Earlestown Dn and Up Loop - Liverpool Lime Street (RM / photo stop) - Lowton Jn - Bamfurlong Dn Goods - Wigan Wallgate - Southport P3 (RM) - Sandhills Reverser (RM) - Ormskirk (RM / photo stop) - Kirkdale EMU Depot - Sandhills Reverser (RM) - Southport (RM) - Bootle - Bootle Branch - Liverpool Lime Street (RM) - Ditton Reception Sidings - Runcorn - Chester (SD 20.00)

Monday - The Bank Holiday Bonus
Chester (PU 09.00) - Wrexham Croes Newydd Up Goods (RM) - Bidston - Birkenhead North EMU Depot (RM) - New Brighton (RM / photo stop) - Bidston East (RM) - West Kirkby (RM / photo stop) - Bidston East (RM) - Wrexham Croes Newydd Up Goods (RM) - Chester - Altrincham - Stockport Dn Main - Manchester Piccadilly - Glazebrook DPL - Warrington Central - Liverpool Lime Street (RM) - Halewood Reception - Runcorn - Crewe Independent Lines - Stafford (SD 20.30) - Up Penkridge Slow - Tame Bridge Parkway (SD 21.10) - Soho North Jn - Dn Soho Goods - Smethwick Jn - Rowley Regis - Stourbridge Jn - Kidderminster (SD 21.55)

See https://branchline.uk/current-fixtures.php

 

[Invincible]

That link doesn't seem to work.

The link from the post from bluegoblin7 got truncated however the full original link https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/user/log...ings/heritage-train-journeys-amersham-special went to a login page which does not work for me,maybe bluegoblin7 might have some news later in 2025?
The Sarah Siddon loco is now 101 years old, so guess needs a bit of careful testing on the Met line, but will look good.
Found https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/heritage-vehicle-outings which worked and so far does not list any outings, so was good to hear the 60ish year old 4TC unit is in use and going to Merseyside.

Did also find the new 4TC model on sale on the LU museum website https://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/mode...ains/bachmann-class-438-4tc-4-car-trailer-set
"Resplendent in London Transport lined maroon livery, the 4-TC is a familiar sight on railtours in ‘Metro-land’, and further afield from Devon to Norfolk, and Hampshire to Worcestershire."

 

[AY1975]

Yes, a Branch Line Society / Hanson & Hall railtour - Saturday 24 May to Monday 26 May - the 4TC with a Class 50 on each end


See https://branchline.uk/current-fixtures.php

The BLS website doesn't seem to mention that it'll be a 4-TC, in fact it says there'll be an on-board real ale bar, and the 4-TCs don't have buffet cars. I suppose it might mean a refreshment trolley serving real ales or a bar set up in the guard's compartment or one of the passenger compartments, though.

It also mentions the Merseyrail alcohol ban. I presumed that only applied to normal service trains, not to charter trains.

 

[JonathanH]

The BLS website doesn't seem to mention that it'll be a 4-TC, in fact it says there'll be an on-board real ale bar, and the 4-TCs don't have buffet cars. I suppose it might mean a refreshment trolley serving real ales or a bar set up in the guard's compartment or one of the passenger compartments, though.

The use of the 4-TC was confirmed on the wnxx forum, but is apparent from it being Mark 1 stock, the starting point (Eastleigh) for the positioning moves, the lack of tables for two in first class, and to some extent, the cost. The real ale bar would appear to be set up in the guards compartment.

 

[WAO]

The idea of SR express stock touring Merseyrail has made this year for me!

Evidently Mark 1 stock has no clearance problems with the system.

Now, a 4CIG, or Gordon Pettit, (given CDL) shuttling between Southport and Sandhills, at least, would really tempt me back North.

WAO

 

[Invincible]

Sarah Siddons will be at the Derby Rail 200 event in August.

London Underground locomotive set for Greatest Gathering appearance

The latest announcement for The Greatest Gathering is No. 12 'Sarah Siddons'

www.railadvent.co.uk

 

[yorksrob]

The idea of SR express stock touring Merseyrail has made this year for me!

Evidently Mark 1 stock has no clearance problems with the system.

Now, a 4CIG, or Gordon Pettit, (given CDL) shuttling between Southport and Sandhills, at least, would really tempt me back North.

WAO

If they were shuttling up and down on the Southern somewhere they would tempt me back South !

 

[Invincible]

The 4-VEP No. 3417 will be at the May Swanage gala, then the Derby 200 gathering in August along with Sarah Siddons, but not the LU 4-TC (so far)?

 

[4SubAsociation]

The 4-VEP No. 3417 will be at the May Swanage gala, then the Derby 200 gathering in August along with Sarah Siddons, but not the LU 4-TC (so far)?

4-TC was just announced tonight (13/03/2025)

 

[D365]

Sarah Siddons will be at the Derby Rail 200 event in August.

London Underground locomotive set for Greatest Gathering appearance

The latest announcement for The Greatest Gathering is No. 12 'Sarah Siddons'

www.railadvent.co.uk

The 4-VEP No. 3417 will be at the May Swanage gala, then the Derby 200 gathering in August along with Sarah Siddons, but not the LU 4-TC (so far)?

4-TC was just announced tonight (13/03/2025)

Indeed. The Greatest Gathering announcements were staggered as per the norm.

 

[Invincible]

From Facebook Sarah Siddons locomotive moved from Ruislip to Ealing Common Thursday

 

[bluegoblin7]

Specifically to Acton (LTM) for display at the Open Weekend.

Should move back to Ruislip in the not too distant future.

 

[pitdiver]

Talking of Amersham to Wembley Park. When I worked at the LT Museum I had the dubious pleasure of travelling on Sarah from Amersham to Neasden Depot. Quite an experience.

 

[trebor79]

Talking of Amersham to Wembley Park. When I worked at the LT Museum I had the dubious pleasure of travelling on Sarah from Amersham to Neasden Depot. Quite an experience.

Dubious pleasure? Do tell more!

 

[bluegoblin7]

Talking of Amersham to Wembley Park. When I worked at the LT Museum I had the dubious pleasure of travelling on Sarah from Amersham to Neasden Depot. Quite an experience.

Back in 2014, just before I started with LU, I was able to get a ride in Sarah from
Moorgate through to Northfields. An exhilarating, unique experience that will always stay with me! The sounds of the locomotive hard at work are quite something.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Dubious pleasure? Do tell more!

I can hazard a guess, having visited the cab of it... and seen where some of the exposed electrics are located...

...but I'll let @pitdiver explain; I suspect he may even have pictures?

 

[Harpo]

Pedantically, given their open plan layout inside, can the Met Bo-Bos be described as having a cab?

When I had the chance to look around inside I was amazed, considering its age, that it had four separate power packs.

 

[UP13]

Went to Acton Depot yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to see her. Managed to cab both her and L50.

Her freshly repainted livery looked really good in the sun.

The volunteers on board were excellent and am looking forward to trying to get tickets for her run in September.

 

[pitdiver]

I can hazard a guess, having visited the cab of it... and seen where some of the exposed electrics are located...

...but I'll let @pitdiver explain; I suspect he may even have pictures?

The pleasure was dubious. A frightening experience. More like a scene from a Frankenstein film. Going full tilt down fro Amersham was quite an experience

 

[Egg Centric]

The pleasure was dubious. A frightening experience. More like a scene from a Frankenstein film. Going full tilt down fro Amersham was quite an experience

Frightening how? Noise, vibration, sparks, something else...?

 

[trebor79]

Frightening how? Noise, vibration, sparks, something else...?

I'm guessing exposed live electrical stuff in the cab (though I'm sure they could be shielded with perspex) and a rough ride.

 

[pitdiver]

It was the fact there was a lot of exposed switchgear? The fact it was actually live was the worrying thing. But taking everything into consideration it was quite an experience. Never to be repeated though as I have now retired.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It was the fact there was a lot of exposed switchgear? The fact it was actually live was the worrying thing. But taking everything into consideration it was quite an experience. Never to be repeated though as I have now retired.

Not just exposed and live, but it's quite close to where the crew would be standing isn't it - and directly behind them...?

 

[bluegoblin7]

Nowadays all of the live electrical gear is either encased or covered with Perspex, as per the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

It is still an incredibly loud environment to be in, though!

 

[Rail Ranger]

If you haven't heard, the Branch Line Society's three days of trips around the North West over the late May bank holiday weekend with class 50s and the 4-TC, the "16 CSVT Explorer" have for a variety of reasons been postponed until next year.

 

[Invincible]

The 4TC unit will be at the MHR diesel gala before it goes to Deby Greatest Gathering