The Bristol Railway Archive

From "Virgin's Finest" on SWRG:

On Monday there will be a loco going from Bristol TM - Severn Beach and back on route learning trip!

At the moment it is going to be a Network Rail 31 but could change no
timings yet so keep an eye on trust!!!!!!

Basic times posted by Virgin's Finest:

"The times I have got is 0810 ex RTC then 1144 ex BTM 1256 ex Severn Beach
It might also do a trip on Henbury line as well running as 0Z31
Booked for class 31"

Going out for pics Pete? I'd like to go to Severn Beach and phot it there...hopefully he'll post more detailed timings soon.

You hardly get any trains to SB let alone loco's these days.

Slightly more detailed timings from Lizardgen:

19/12/05
0Z31
0810 Derby RTC to Derby RTC via
BTM 1144/54,
SVB 1231/56,
BTM 1344/46
route learner

From Lizardgen:

"0Z31 0810 Derby RTC to Derby RTC showing as caped"

Grrrrr...I was looking forward to that.

That's a shame, a 31 at Severn beach would have been nice.

Anyway, how much would it cost to run a 31 from Derby to Derby via Severn Beach do you think? Doesn't Network Rail charge in the region of 30k plus for loco hauled specials on the network?

And what's the point of route learning with a loco anyway? How many drivers would be signed to drive a 31? If they're learning the route by sitting next to a driver from Derby (who presumably doesn't know the SB route anyway) wouldn't it be far easier to learn the route by sitting alongside a driver in a 143 on a day-to-day service train?

I'll happily admit I know little (erm, nothing!) of the ins and and outs of these kind of workings, but nevertheless the whole exercise seems like a lovely way to extract extreme amounts of cash from the taxpayer.

madhattie wrote:I'll happily admit I know little (erm, nothing!) of the ins and and outs of these kind of workings, but nevertheless the whole exercise seems like a lovely way to extract extreme amounts of cash from the taxpayer.

Would have made some nice pics though, especially on a day like today!

Maybe they just wanted to play with real trains on an unusual route

Would definitely have been worth a trip! I'd been racking my brains for an excuse to get out and about for a few hours, and just as I'd thought of one, the thing gets cancelled! Typical!!

I was also planning to search for the missing gap in the Pilning loop that you have yet to fill...a short section of trackbed between Severn Road and the motorway which looks from aerial pictures to include a bridge over a stream.

Apparently it was cancelled due to a lack of driver

You'd probably need wellies to go wandering around those fields at the mo

The trackbed is visible from Severn Road, unfortunately, it's not a place I can easily park and get a shot, and I've yet to wander the footpath across the stream that you mention.

Oh well, I'll just have to settle with Virgin's hired Midland Mainline HST instead!

I think there's a couple of other route learners taking place today. The yellow 101 will be at Temple Meads on its way to Swansea, and there's a 67 going between St Blazey - Barton Hill - Exeter Riverside.

A skip or a bug...

It's not the same somehow