Great Western Express railtour – a great day out! ….
Our railtour yesterday to Oxford, Bath & Bristol, with an optional add on to the East Somerset Railway ran very well (apart from dull, cold weather!)
We left Piccadilly just before 6.30am behind Wrexham & Shropshire-liveried 67010 – it having substitued at the last minute for 67025 which had failed – with 67021 on the rear.
67010 about to leave Piccadilly - (c) Alan Lewis
67010 had failed itself on 21 April near Bescot on Wrexham & Shropshire duties, so we were a little nervous seeing it!
Picking up at Stockport and most Mid-Cheshire Line stations, we changed direction at Chester with 67021 leading. We left Crewe around 4 minutes late with just under 490 passengers on board, passing the failed 67025 dumped in Riviera’s depot in Crewe. The hot bacon butties from our caterers, Rolling Riot, were going down a treat, selling well over 100.
Following a good run, we arrived at Oxford 4 minutes early. After leaving, we passed the Great Western Society’s Didcot Railway Centre where their GW175 celebration was in full swing, taking Didcot West Curve and heading to Bath, then Bristol, with on time arrivals at both.
At Bristol, a seagull was doing its impression of Rolls Royce’s Silver Lady on passing trains.
This is First Great Western’s Taunton to Cardiff service being operated with 150281, one of the 4 class 150/2s they currently hire on a rolling basis from Arriva Trains Wales. They will not be needing these shortly as from July they are receiving all 8 of London Overground’s 1980′s class 150/1s, these being replaced in London with brand new trains.
For the return it was 67010′s turn to be on the front.
67010 ready to leave Temple Meads - (c) David Miller
A good run back, arrival into Crewe and Chester was slightly early, and into Piccadilly 16 minutes early.
Many thanks are due to Riviera Trains, DB Schenker, Rolling Riot and their staff, Chester Model Railway Club for lending us their headboard, many MCRUA members both on and off the committee who put in a lot of effort to make this happen, and most of all to our fellow travellers without whom this wouldn’t have happened. We even made a bit of a surplus to swell MCRUA’s funds to continue our efforts to promote the Mid-Cheshire Line, as well as providing a donation to The Railway Children.
A great day out!
6 comments 
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May 9th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Excellent day out; shame it was freezing cold!
Looking forward to the next trip.
May 9th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
A fantastic trip.
Credit to all the officials of MCRUA.
I will certainly be on the next tour as one of my prizes in the raffle was two tickets for the next trip. [ I won three prizes altogether!]
Praise for the gentleman who spent all day pushing his catering trolley up and down at our end off the train.
Well done.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Thanks for a great trip, very well organised and punctual into the bargain – its getting to be a habit!
My party all said they enjoyed it.
Looking forward to the next one.
May 14th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
First of all, may I congratulate you all on a successful day on Saturday on your trip to Bath. The organisation of these excursions must be a nightmare, but you all pull it off as always very well, a credit to all involved.
You asked on the train for any suggestions. May I put in a word for my idea of “Tenby” in South Wales, incorporating other stops along the way. Also, Weymouth is another idea.
I hope you find my suggestions helpful.
I also wonder why you only have one trip a year, instead of two as previously.
Many thanks and congratulations again.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Very well organised as usual and we enjoyed the time spent in Oxford. Our thanks to all who were involved in making the day. As to possible future places to visit may I suggest perhaps either Bournemouth or Brighton.
Once again many thanks on behalf of our group of six.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Edinburgh, Newcastle, Lincoln, Canterbury (via Sheffield and Midland Main Line) but any with add on preserved lines would do. Once again a great day out!