Railtours and Excursions on the Midland Main Line

[NIR111Class]

Does anyone know if any railtours or excursions are planned on the Midland Mainline, particularly on the Thameslink section?

 

[Mike395]

Not as far as I'm aware - part of the reason is that I believe steam and diesel traction can't operate through the Core (the area of the Thameslink route through Central London) and St Pancras Platforms 1-4 (the MML-facing ones) have very little spare capacity.

You do see them happen occasionally, but not very often sadly.

 

[John Webb]

There have been a few excursions through St Albans in the past couple of years and the same number cancelled or moved to other routes. This is due to the considerable and ongoing work at weekends regarding the various Thameslink improvements. In particular the cross-London connection is usually closed at weekends and a modified service runs from St Pancras.

Those excursions that have passed St Albans have usually come via or are heading for Cricklewood and the Acton branch.

 

[philjo]

UK Railtours have a few planned later this year.
There is one on 30 July starting at Victoria via clapham Junction & I assume coming via Acton as it also picks up at St albans & Bedford.
There are also 2 tours formed of EMT HSTs starting from St Pancras (one to Skegness & one to Lincoln Christmas Market)

 

[mallard]

I heard that there is a gauging issue that prevents steam being used through Leicester. Diesel tours should still be possible, but the platform limitations at St. Pancras, Thameslink engineering works, etc, make it difficult.

 

[NIR111Class]

Would any of them be passing Luton and Leagrave by any chance? A few relatives of mine live in Luton so I was hoping of informing them about a couple of heritage steam or diesel excursions passing by there.

 

[John Webb]

Would any of them be passing Luton and Leagrave by any chance? A few relatives of mine live in Luton so I was hoping of informing them about a couple of heritage steam or diesel excursions passing by there.

Yes - if it passes St Albans it will pass Luton and Leagrave as well since there are no branches they can take in between! The steam excursions usually run on the slow lines, but I can't be 100% certain of that.

 

[yorksrob]

HDL are planning a tour along that section to Butterley in September:

http://www.hastingsdiesels.co.uk/railtours/

 

[NIR111Class]

The Hastings Thumper's one of my favourite multiple units so this is kind of a coincidence. XD

If that's the case I wish I'd be going to Luton myself in September.

 

[John Webb]

The Hastings Thumper's one of my favourite multiple units so this is kind of a coincidence. XD

If that's the case I wish I'd be going to Luton myself in September.

Ah! Have a look at http://www.tlr.ltd.uk/sigbox/news/news_2011.eb for a view of the preserved Hastings unit from St Albans South signal box on February 19th this year.

 

[yorksrob]

The Hastings Thumper's one of my favourite multiple units so this is kind of a coincidence. XD

If that's the case I wish I'd be going to Luton myself in September.

If you're going all that way, you might as well be on it

 

[AlterEgo]

HDL are planning a tour along that section to Butterley in September:

http://www.hastingsdiesels.co.uk/railtours/

Am I being thick? I can't see a timetable for that tour?

 

[yorksrob]

Am I being thick? I can't see a timetable for that tour?

They usually release a booking form with rough timings on the website after the preceeding tour (in this case Swanage this weekend) has taken place