Railway 200 : 'Inspiration' touring train

[TFT YouTube]

So the "Inspiration" tour has three months of Railway 199!

:/

 

[Sun Chariot]

It's a bit of a shame that the tour's full intended itinerary isn't made available.
Whilst I recognise things can and might change, it would at least enable families to plan (and book) a tour visit around other "longer lead-time" commitments - such as booking a holiday (flights/hotel/cruise).

I'll hold fire on our booking; I hope the tour will locate closer to Hampshire's coast later in its itinerary. East Grinstead, for Bluebell Railway, will be a faff for us.
As to where capacity exists for it to lay up a couple of days? I can only think of Bognor Regis or Littlehampton. Portsmouth Harbour already makes use of all its platforms, I believe.

 

[trainmania100]

Anyone got photos of the actual stock yet or is this not yet painted ?

 

[43055]

Two rail 200 branded GBRf 66's passed through Derby station yesterday and went into the Railway Technical Centre. Presumably these will be the two locomotives used on the train.

 

[Tony2]

This working?

Realtime Trains | 0Z20 1000 Doncaster Robert Rds Shed to Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) | 25/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z20 1000 departure from Doncaster Robert Rds Shed to Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) on 25/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If so the locos are 66710 and 66719. I seem to remember a photo of 66710(?) on another thread showing it repainted in red, I commented at the time it could be hauling this train.

Edit: found the link

Eastleigh Works D9000 66710

D9000 (55022) newly painted, GBRf 66710 in new Rail 200 livery, 18014, 18015 and Belmond "The Britannic Explorer" carriages.

www.flickr.com

 

[43055]

This working?

Realtime Trains | 0Z20 1000 Doncaster Robert Rds Shed to Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) | 25/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z20 1000 departure from Doncaster Robert Rds Shed to Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) on 25/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If so the locos are 66710 and 66719. I seem to remember a photo of 66710(?) on another thread showing it repainted in red, I commented at the time it could be hauling this train.

Edit: found the link

Eastleigh Works D9000 66710

D9000 (55022) newly painted, GBRf 66710 in new Rail 200 livery, 18014, 18015 and Belmond "The Britannic Explorer" carriages.

www.flickr.com

Yes that looks to be the working.

 

[50002Superb]

There are also photos of the painted carriages on Flickr being hauled by the 66s

 

[DarloRich]

There are also photos of the painted carriages on Flickr being hauled by the 66s

there is a video here:

showing the full consist moving through Derby

 

[Class15]

This was 66710 with this train at Paddington slightly earlier.

Image shows Red painted 66710 at Paddington with the ‘Inspiration’ train.

 

[50002Superb]

Has it now started officially touring or just some PR exposure ahead of that?

 

[Forty29]

Opens officially for visitors tomorrow June 27th at the Severn Valley Railway l believe.

 

[Kath123]

Thinking of registering interest to visit the Inspiration Train at Southampton Central. I’m visually impaired though and wondering how accessible it will be for me eg Will any of the exhibitions have audio description? Does anyone know? I’ve tried finding out info on the Inspiration Train website re this but can’t.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Thinking of registering interest to visit the Inspiration Train at Southampton Central. I’m visually impaired though and wondering how accessible it will be for me eg Will any of the exhibitions have audio description? Does anyone know? I’ve tried finding out info on the Inspiration Train website re this but can’t.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

That's a really valid poinr. Have you tried asking via the social media channels showing on the Railway 200 Inspiration site?
Here's a screen shot with their channels.

 

[Kath123]

That's a really valid poinr. Have you tried asking via the social media channels showing on the Railway 200 Inspiration site?
Here's a screen shot with their channels.

Hi thanks for the reply. That’s a good idea - no I hadn’t tried (didn’t realise they are on social media). The only social media I am on is X (formerly Twitter) so I will try and find them on there.

 

[danshrimp]

Managed to get a shot of it arriving at Moor Street earlier (my phone's zoom did its best). Excited to check it out tomorrow!

 

[sad1e]

When Inspiration is at Derby for The Greatest Gathering will you need to book separate tickets to board it , or is it included in the TGG tickets ?

 

[E B]

I'm visiting Inspiration tomorrow at Moor Street

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2025 ==

When Inspiration is at Derby for The Greatest Gathering will you need to book separate tickets to board it , or is it included in the TGG tickets ?

Seperate tickets, when we booked our tickets the tickets for Inspiration were not included (but it was a couple of months ago when we booked so it may have changed)

 

[BenBracken]

So is the criteria for the stops somewhere that has a siding or platform with easy access that won’t interfere with mainline services or overnight stabling? I’m just trying to figure out where in south and west Wales fits that bill.

 

[StripeyNick]

So is the criteria for the stops somewhere that has a siding or platform with easy access that won’t interfere with mainline services or overnight stabling? I’m just trying to figure out where in south and west Wales fits that bill.

I don't believe it's coming down to our neck of the woods

 

[matt]

I don't believe it's coming down to our neck of the woods

They have not announced all of tbe dates yet

 

[E B]

Is there no space at some of the bigger stations like Cardiff/Swansea? (I live nowhere near there so I don’t know much about platform availability there)

 

[StripeyNick]

Is there no space at some of the bigger stations like Cardiff/Swansea? (I live nowhere near there so I don’t know much about platform availability there)

I very much doubt they'd be able to give up any platform space at Cardiff Central for it......I had wondered if a platform could be given up at Swansea for a few hours. That's the most likely option I could think of for somewhere to go

 

[Jan Mayen]

Perhaps just run it up and down the Central Wales Line as the 5th train? Think of all the stations it could stop at for ages without causing any problems.
Or anyone visiting...

 

[cduncan]

Clan Line will be on display at London Waterloo's platform 19 along with Network Rail's Railway 200 "Inspiration" exhibition train from 10:00 - 17:00 on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July. The event is for ticketed guests of the exhibition train only and it is understood that all tickets for the train at this location have now sold out.

The Society has requested that outside of these hours access to the locomotive, including the footplate, for the general public, passers by and rail users of Waterloo station as well as MNLPS members be allowed as far as is practicable, but they are unable to confirm this, at this stage.

A certain someone will be manning this platform tomorrow until around mid afternoon.

 

[UP13]

Clan Line will be on display at London Waterloo's platform 19 along with Network Rail's Railway 200 "Inspiration" exhibition train from 10:00 - 17:00 on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July. The event is for ticketed guests of the exhibition train only and it is understood that all tickets for the train at this location have now sold out.

The Society has requested that outside of these hours access to the locomotive, including the footplate, for the general public, passers by and rail users of Waterloo station as well as MNLPS members be allowed as far as is practicable, but they are unable to confirm this, at this stage.

A certain someone will be manning this platform tomorrow until around mid afternoon.

That's fantastic news. Might pop down and take a look.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

It's at London Waterloo now

 

[778]

Has anybody visitied this yet? How good is it?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Clan Line I've already visited umpteen times but sadly had to catch a train so missed the opportunity

 

[DarloRich]

Has anybody visitied this yet? How good is it?

Yes - it was very good but is clearly designed for children and families.

 

[danshrimp]

I definitely learnt some stuff in the "railway firsts" carriage. It's all interesting, and they're keen to get you involved in the interactive stuff even if you're not a kid! I'd say it's worth checking out if it's convenient but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.