STEAM DREAMS – AUGUST RESTART?

August is the aim for Steam Dreams to start running, says owner David Buck. “We’re awaiting further government guidance”, he told Down Main in mid-June, but added: “Other operators plan to run from mid-July. If they are able to run successfully, then there’s no reason to expect we couldn’t run in August.”

However, he said: “There’s also no doubt that were the social distancing rules to be relaxed – in terms of the distance – that would help us enormously.”

“I’m in regular contact with West Coast, and they’re as keen to start running our trains as we are.”

Could ‘Mayflower’ take a spin on the Great Western Main Line pretty soon? As of mid-June, the cab of David’s ‘B1’ No. 61306 was being refitted at Southall, following its latest maintenance period.

“You might see it out and about,” David says. “We want to be certain the engine is 100% and then it’ll do a run to Didcot to pick up the new support coach.”

That is the former Great Western Society Mk 1 No. 35453, now acquired for Steam Dreams (SR505).