Tour No. 48 : The GW 175 with 6024
(UK Railtours)
Saturday 19th June 2010
1Z27 07.09 Paddington-Minehead
London Paddington-Slough-Reading-Westbury-Minehead
This was our first tour for UK Railtours, eight years after returning to the mainline and long over due. D1015 was required to work the outward leg of the tour to Minehead with Great Western Steam locomotive, 6024 King Edward I, working the return. The loco’s would work in tandem both ways over the West Somerset Railway.
The tour departed Paddington bang on time and made the now traditional sedate run to Reading, this time picking up additionally at Slough. However once we had departed Reading D1015 got into it’s stride and the trip down the Berks & Hants was a swift one. The crew change at Westbury was arrived at a good ten early and the opportunity was taken by some to get a few extra photographs.
The pace picked up even more on the next leg and Westbury-Taunton was achieved in a creditable 36 minutes for the 46 miles. The fast running resulted in an even earlier arrival at Taunton and a wait of over 20 minutes ensued. Once on the WSR, 6024 dropped on the front at Bishops Lydeard and formed what we think is probably the first pairing of these two loco types since 1962. By this time the sun had begun to show itself and the WSR looked its beautiful best. On arrival at Minehead the passengers had three and a half hours to enjoy the Somerset resort in perfect weather.
The return set off at 15.40 with the reverse pairing of the Thousand leading the King as far as Norton Fitzwarren, here D1015 came off and would follow the train all the way back to Paddington. The Great western King did a sterling job returning the tour to London and conclude a very successful first tour for D1015 with UK Railtours.
All Photos below : Paul Winter.
Below : Another shot of D1015 waiting to depart Paddington.
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Double headed with
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Another view from the bridge of
Below : Shot of the pair upon arrival at Minehead.
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