17th May 2008

Railway Touring Company
The
Devonian

Train cancelled by Network Rail as would not permit single steam loco to haul the train (was originally booked for two).

Route:

Advertised Loco(s) Advertised Route
Diesel Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street - Stourbridge Junction - Kidderminster - Worcester Shrub Hill - Cheltenham Spa - Stoke Gifford
steam: 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' Stoke Gifford - Bristol Temple Meads - (via Weston Super Mare avoiding line) - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - Totnes - Plymouth
steam: 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' Plymouth - (reverse of outward route) - Bristol Temple Meads
Diesel Bristol Temple Meads - (reverse of outward route) - Birmingham International

Notes :
(1) Letter to passengers booked on this trip from Railway Touring Company stated: We are sorry to inform you that this tour has been cancelled by Network Rail. When we applied to run this train four months ago our bid stipulated that the train would be hauled by two steam locomotives, 71000 and 6024. When it became clear that 6024 would not now be available we sent an amendment to use 71000 on its own. Network Rail has rejected it because one locomotive on its own would require an additional water stop and there is no guarantee that this can be accommodated.

Source : John Clifford

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