Top and tail steam railtour?

[JoeGJ1984]

I've noticed that it's common on steam-hauled railtours to put a 47 on the back for shunting duties if there is ever a need to reverse the train. I don't know why they couldn't top and tail the train with two steam locomotives. And if a train goes into a terminus, it has to be turned to have the steam loco leading again on departure. Sticking a steam loco at both ends would do away the need for this manoeuvre, which must be tricky to do (have to find a triangle, have to find a time to get to the triangle, etc). and would allow the punters to get haulage from two different steam locos.

Has this been done? If not, why isn't it done? One tour that I think it could have been done with is a steam tour by Vintage Trains to London Paddington and back (would save having to turn the train at Paddington).

 

[Temple Meads]

My personal view is that it's better to have both steam and diesel haulage on a tour, however most punters would probably disagree as I'm in the minority of preferring neither it seems...

 

[CosherB]

There was a piece on this in one of the mags. A 47 adds the equivalent of about 3 coaches to the trailing load, so often it is used to 'partially power' the train, but only enough to 'offset its own weight and drag'. Nice trick if you can do it! In reality the diseasel will either be adding weight or more than compensating for its weight.

 

[Schnellzug]

This was done this summer with the Dorst Coast Express, which went down to Weymouth with one engine, then another came down from Yeovil to take it back, with the one that brought it in banking, now tender-first. There was ambitious talk of putting in a Turntable at Weymouth so that the engine thjat brought it in could turn and take it back, but now apparently they seem to have decided that there won't be paths available next summer anyway. We shall see, I suppose.

 

[SteamontheMet]

there were a couple over the summer in the London area that did that, one I can remember was a London Victoria - Kensington Olympia.

The morning railtour was operated by a Black 5, once it had arrived into Victoria 46201 Princess Elizabeth back onto the rear of the train (or shall I now say the front of the train) and the train departed for Kenny O with the Black 5 still on the Rear. When the train reached Kenny O the Black 5 was released and Lizzy continued on her way North.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX0vfBVFayE&feature=channel_video_title
go to 2.11


a few years ago for the Chiltern mainline 100 birthday top and tail steam tours where carried out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esRd2xRBUMs

 

[wensley]

A diesel may be needed to provide ETS/ETH to the train, punters not wanting to be left freezing on a winter trip!!

Steam locos are also expensive to run, crew and maintain and the cost of a charter may significantly increase as a result of adding another steam loco to the roster.

If it were to happen, it would likely not be for operational reasons (ie reversal) but to meet the requests of the tour operator, such as advertised haulage by steam traction throughout.