A4's on the mainline?

[Iskra]

With the recent overhaul of Sir Nigel Gresley now completed, is there any news on a mainline railtour that would be open to the public? If not are any other A4's likely to run on the mainline again in the future?

 

[Harvester]

With the recent overhaul of Sir Nigel Gresley now completed, is there any news on a mainline railtour that would be open to the public? If not are any other A4's likely to run on the mainline again in the future?

Nothing seems to be advertised yet for 60007 on the mainline. As for the other UK based A4s, only Bittern seems likely to run again, and that will be years away, as it needs a major overhaul.

 

[Maybach]

Yes, nothing advertised yet but according to the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust Ltd's website:

It will operate at the SVR's Spring Steam Gala between 21st and 24th of April before relocation to the Locomotive Services Group depot at Crewe where it will be prepared for main line trips from May onwards.

It's probably worth keeping an eye on their website for the latest news:

The 'Sir Nigel Gresley' Locomotive Trust Ltd

 

[Iskra]

Thanks I did check the above website but saw nothing relevant. Hopefully LSL act as booking agent through their website.

 

[APT618S]

For future railtours a good site to use is:

Railtour Info 2026 Tours

The Complete UK Railtour Pages

www.railtourinfo.co.uk

From this site it states there is the "possibility" of 60007 working the Settle and Carlisle Fellsman. There are 4 dates for this tour and 4 locos are stated as possibilities.

 

[Iskra]

For future railtours a good site to use is:

Railtour Info 2026 Tours

The Complete UK Railtour Pages

www.railtourinfo.co.uk

From this site it states there is the "possibility" of 60007 working the Settle and Carlisle Fellsman. There are 4 dates for this tour and 4 locos are stated as possibilities.

Thank you for that nugget of information Although I don't think I'll be booking one of those tours unless 60007 is definitively confirmed- it's not worth parting with a significant chunk of cash for a slim chance of the loco I desire.

 

[55002]

Doing a loaded test run next week. Source Rail Advent website

Realtime Trains | 547X 1118 Kidderminster S.V.R. to Crewe H.S. | 26/04/2022

Real-time train running information for 547X 1118 departure from Kidderminster S.V.R. to Crewe H.S. on 26/04/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Deepgreen]

4498 is booked to run light Crewe to Kidderminster on 26 April:

Realtime Trains | 008U 0721 Crewe H.S. to Kidderminster S.V.R. | 26/04/2022

Real-time train running information for 008U 0721 departure from Crewe H.S. to Kidderminster S.V.R. on 26/04/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Wyrleybart]

Would I be right in thinking that the loco Sir Nigel Gresley is being operated by LSL probably on a contract basis for it's owners. In which case it might not be working the "Fellsman" which I am thinking is a WCRC operation. Feel free to correct me.

Not sure what the steam queue is at LSL at Crewe. They have just finished Britannia and Royal Scot is in traffic. This leaves LSLs fleet of 60532 Blue Peter, 5029 ? Castle and 60019 Bittern possibly in that order as well as maybe 34046 Braunton. I believe Bittern is the most recently "out of traffic" LSL steam loco, but is it at the back of the queue ?

 

[coradiafan2000]

Would I be right in thinking that the loco Sir Nigel Gresley is being operated by LSL probably on a contract basis for it's owners. In which case it might not be working the "Fellsman" which I am thinking is a WCRC operation. Feel free to correct me.

Not sure what the steam queue is at LSL at Crewe. They have just finished Britannia and Royal Scot is in traffic. This leaves LSLs fleet of 60532 Blue Peter, 5029 ? Castle and 60019 Bittern possibly in that order as well as maybe 34046 Braunton. I believe Bittern is the most recently "out of traffic" LSL steam loco, but is it at the back of the queue ?

Braunton is already in traffic and working mainline tours. There's a chance it might be working the Welsh Marches Express on Wednesday. According to the Icons of Steam website Blue Peter's overhaul has begun and after that I think your order of Nunney Castle followed by Bittern is correct. Wikpedia at least says that 5029's overhaul is waiting to commence after Blue Peter's. I'm pretty sure Bittern would be next after that.

It's a pity that we'll likely have to wait several years before seeing Bittern back out in service. I remember it created such a buzz during it's 90mph runs in 2013. Plus it looked wonderful in the LNER Garter Blue livery. On a related note, is 4498 staying in that Wartime black livery for the foreseeable future? I'm usually all for resurrecting more obscure liveries but the black is just so plain.

 

[alexl92]

Braunton is already in traffic and working mainline tours. There's a chance it might be working the Welsh Marches Express on Wednesday. According to the Icons of Steam website Blue Peter's overhaul has begun and after that I think your order of Nunney Castle followed by Bittern is correct. Wikpedia at least says that 5029's overhaul is waiting to commence after Blue Peter's. I'm pretty sure Bittern would be next after that.

It's a pity that we'll likely have to wait several years before seeing Bittern back out in service. I remember it created such a buzz during it's 90mph runs in 2013. Plus it looked wonderful in the LNER Garter Blue livery. On a related note, is 4498 staying in that Wartime black livery for the foreseeable future? I'm usually all for resurrecting more obscure liveries but the black is just so plain.

Blue Peter is well on with the overhaul. They’re reassembling I think - back next year I believe? Bittern is possibly next off the line but it’s not definite. They’re considering putting Bittern in black for the start of its next ticket following the popularity of SNG.

4498 is not staying black, it’s due for a repaint into BR Blue as 60007 soon.

 

[Wyrleybart]

I rather liked the Black livery which "Flying Scotsman" was going to be outshopped in from Riley & Sons. I don't think that every ventured out in steam like that.

BR express passenger blue would be very nice on 60007 but equally "Bittern" would be most acceptable in black.

 

[alexl92]

FS was only painted in that livery I thimk for similar reasons to 4498 - it was out of service and needed sprucing up for a public appearance. I don’t believe it was ever intended to carry black in service post-overhaul.