Cheltenham Festival 'Gold Cup' day generates a lot of extra business for GWR in the Worcester area, a number of additional service trains ran between Bristol Temple Meads and Worcester Foregate Street comprising 9 coach IETs. Sadly the scheduled trains between Great Malvern, Worcester, Bristol and further South (Westbury, Brighton or Weymouth) ran with two or three car DMUs which were inundated with standing passengers, meaning that Ashchurch patrons had no chance of travelling South for many hours!
The West Coast Northern Belle train ran from Paddington to Evesham where I assume a fleet of coaches took the well-heeled passengers (reportedly £590 each for the privilege) to Broadway for a steam hauled journey on the Gloucester and Warwick Railway to their terminus at Cheltenham Racecourse. The train of Pullman style dining coaches in chocolate and cream was 'top and tailed' by Class 57 locomotives in West Coast maroon livery and ran to Worcester for stabling on the depot until required for the return trip in the evening.
57313 was built as Brush Class 4 D1890 in 07/65, renumbered 47371 in 12/73 and reclassified 57313 in 10/04 after extensive re-engineering with refurbished American Electro Motive 2,750 BHP V12 two-stroke diesel engine, reconditioned Class 56 traction motors and main alternator.
Sister 57314 was built as Brush type 4 D1891 in 08/65, renumbered 47372 in 12/73 and reclassified 57314 in 10/04 after rebuilding to same standard as 57313. Both locomotive operated as Virgin 'Thunderbird' WCML rescue engines until acquired by West Coast for Charter work.
158950 a three car DMU is seen approaching Platform 1A at 11-10 a.m. with the Great Malvern to Brighton train about to pick up a a crowd of Cheltenham racegoers, and then leaving a few minutes later;
165107 a three car DMU is seen departing Platform 2A at 11-27 a.m. with the Great Malvern to Paddington train via North Cotswold line.
This shot taken at Bredicot through the windscreen of my car shows 66108 at 12-33 p.m. working a Burton-on-Trent to Cardiff Tidal train of graffiti covered vans.
Gold Cup charter at Shrub Hill Friday 15 March 2019.
Re: Gold Cup charter at Shrub Hill Friday 15 March 2019.
Nice pictures. Good that the charter operators and Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway have the initiative to rise to the occasion to meet the demand and make some money out of it.
As usual, though, the big players either can't be bothered or haven't the business sense to do the same. Perhaps the rail regulator or Mr Grayling should remind them that they should be providing a service and are not there just to make the easy money. Maybe Stagecoach could be engaged to show them how to do it!
As usual, though, the big players either can't be bothered or haven't the business sense to do the same. Perhaps the rail regulator or Mr Grayling should remind them that they should be providing a service and are not there just to make the easy money. Maybe Stagecoach could be engaged to show them how to do it!
Re: Gold Cup charter at Shrub Hill Friday 15 March 2019.
Great to see Tim. I still can't get used to this top and tail malarkey though, it just looks wrong! Damn the simplification of track layouts.
Re: Gold Cup charter at Shrub Hill Friday 15 March 2019.
Perhaps it should be classified Northern Belle LST (Low Speed Train). In fairness only the front locomotive is working and the system does eliminate a lot of shuttling/shunting to move a locomotive from one end of train to the other.
The recent Vintage Trains 'Evening Dining Trains' from Moor Street to Worcester ran with 7029 'Clun Castle' in charge to Shrub Hill with diesel 47773 at the rear. The Class 47 then took the train to Henwick crossover where the Castle took over and headed the train back to Moor Street via the other side of the 'Tunnel triangle.
Attached is a very pixellated night shot of 'Clun Castle' in Worcester Shrub Hill on Thursday 7 March 2019.
Re: Gold Cup charter at Shrub Hill Friday 15 March 2019.
I was on the first of the Clun Castle trains. A very good run by one of my favourite engines but it did struggle on a greasy Old Hill bank on the return journey and, although I can't be certain, I suspect that the diesel did take on the role of banker to give a helping hand although I appreciate it was there to facilitate the reversal at Henwick.
Having been stuck on a charter last year for almost three hours when the diesel gave up the ghost at almost exactly the same spot, having an insurance policy at the rear was a sensible option...... just in case.
Having been stuck on a charter last year for almost three hours when the diesel gave up the ghost at almost exactly the same spot, having an insurance policy at the rear was a sensible option...... just in case.
Re: Gold Cup charter at Shrub Hill Friday 15 March 2019.
Thanks for the updated list Tim, I'm looking forward to seeing Clun Castle this year.
Re: Gold Cup charter at Shrub Hill Friday 15 March 2019.
My photo doesn't do the restoration justice; in true Tyseley fashion the finish is superb.
I hope to take some daylight shots in a few weeks time when 'Clun Castle' makes another visit to Worcester!
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