Easter Weekend Mainline Steam around Bristol

[BristleGWR]

The Great Briton tour begins Good Friday (6th April), 71000 arrives in Bristol at around 15.22.
Full times here: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t07/t0406a.htm

6024 and 5051 return to Bristol from Penzance on Saturday (7th April) with the 2nd leg of the Great Briton tour at around 19.58.
Full times here: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t07/t0407a.htm

Then on Easter Sunday (8th April) 71000 leaves Bristol at around 12.15 on the 3rd leg of the Great Briton tour.
Full times here: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t07/t0408a.htm

On the Monday (9th April) 5051 is scheduled to leave Bristol to return light engine to Didcot on what is likely to be it's last run on the mainline.
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/lem07.htm#twk

[APW]

On the Monday (9th April) 5051 is scheduled to leave Bristol to return light engine to Didcot on what is likely to be it's last run on the mainline.

Last run ever?

[Rich_Eason]

I'm in need of a good excuse to get out of the mar-in-laws on Friday...

Being that I'm out that way was thinking of trying to get a pic of 71000 comming out of the Tunnel at Chipping Sodbury on its way to Westerleigh. What are
a. the chances of getting remotly near the tunnel mouth and is it relitivly accessable? and if not...
b. can someone recommend another good spot in the area?

[mow]

On the Monday (9th April) 5051 is scheduled to leave Bristol to return light engine to Didcot on what is likely to be it's last run on the mainline.

Last run ever?

Last mainline run on current boiler ticket, but who knows when it will run again, much depends on funds, state of the loco, availability of people to overhaul it.

Runs out from Bristol c. 10.20, reaches Bath c. 10.50.

[BristleGWR]

On the Monday (9th April) 5051 is scheduled to leave Bristol to return light engine to Didcot on what is likely to be it's last run on the mainline.

Last run ever?

It's 7 year cert expires next month and it's boiler cert also expires this year. From what's been said elsewhere it's likely to be many years before it gets overhauled. I'm sure others on here know more.

Time are now available.... http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t07/t0409p.htm

[madhattie]

a. the chances of getting remotly near the tunnel mouth and is it relitivly accessable?

There's a footpath that crosses the mainline just before the tunnel mouth. It would make a good location I should think.

http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/cotswoldway.php

Any of the others along that stretch would be good too.

http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/coltsgreen.php
http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/monarchsway.php
http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/kingsgrovelane.php

(all public footpaths with easy parking)

[madhattie]

All the timings are on the front page now. Easy viewing (for me mainly! )

[DAVE]

The problem with the overhaul of 5051 is that its base at Didcot is faced with completing several ongoing projects, i.e the Star "newbuild", 4079 etc.

Dave Nailsea

[Rich_Eason]

Having stood at Chipping Sodbury Tunnel mouth after an hour past its due time I gave up waiting for 71000 to appear. Does anyone know the reason for its delay/no show?

Hoping to catch it on Sunday....

[stopblock]

Last I heard while at filton was it had been stood in swindon platform due to insufficent water .The water tanker for the water stop at challow didnt have enough water on board.
west coast railways strike again !

[Rich_Eason]

Last I heard while at filton was it had been stood in swindon platform due to insufficent water .The water tanker for the water stop at challow didnt have enough water on board.
west coast railways strike again !

So how long had you been waiting? Did it actually make it to bristol?

[BristleGWR]

Yes it made it to Bristol, well certainly as far as Winterbourne!!

It was about 85 minutes down.

[Rich_Eason]

Gutted

Theres always Sunday

Lovely pics

[gtuwist76]

Lovely pics

They certainly are !

If I hadn't had to to Brum today I would've been pretty much at the same spot as BristleGWR. I think we were in adjacent fields for Lord Nelson last Saturday at Kelston.

Theres always Sunday

There certainly is! Possibly targetting Patchway.

[James]

Superb shots BristleGWR!