30th June 2007 / 6th October 2007

Past Time Rail
The Red Dragon

Train was first "postponed due to unforeseen administration problems encountered by West Coast Railways" (according to the letter sent out to passengers who had booked) and re-dated to run on 6th October 2007. The re-run was however then postponed "to a date to be advised" after Network Rail found that 34067 failed gauging requirements due to insufficient clearance in Sugar Loaf Tunnel and traction was expected to have been 45407 instead of 34067.

Subsequently the re-run date was advised as 18th April 2008, but the steam loco to be used had changed to 48151, and the route revised also (see below).

Original Route (30/06/2007 & 06/10/2007):

Booked Traction Booked Route
diesel Worcester Shrub Hill - Birmingham New Street - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury
steam: 76079 + 34067 'Tangmere' Shrewsbury - Knighton - Llandrindod Wells - (via Swansea District line) - Port Talbot - Newport
diesel Newport - Worcester Foregate Street - Birmingham New Street - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury

Revised Route (for running 18/04/2008):

Booked Traction Booked Route
diesel Crewe - Shrewsbury
steam: 48151 Shrewsbury - Knighton - Llandrindod Wells - (via Swansea District line) - Port Talbot - Newport
diesel Newport - Hereford - Shrewsbury - Crewe

Source : John Clifford

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