The last time I was on a train knowing that a steam train would pss us at some point was in 2019 when Flying Scotsman went all the way to Penzance. I was on a train heading to Paddington and I heard that FS had left Plymouth at a certain time. I looked at RTT and guessed that it would pass sometime between Par and Camborne. Looking at the crowds building on the down side at Camborne and Redruth it was obvious that that it was expected soon. I checked on RTT and it looked like it would pass us between Redruth and St Austell, which it did indeed. I think I was one of the few on board who knew it was coming so I had a good look through the vestibule droplight, (we were on an HST).
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I'm moving this to the Railtours & Preservation section as that's the best place to discuss this 
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This is how I realised that duchess of Sutherland was about to pass through Dawlish Warren earlier this year. It sparked my mind to jump to RTT to see when it was returning. This resulted in seeing the loco pass through at 80mph!A good indication that is special is due is that you may see more photographers than usual at the line side.
The 'UKSteam' web site was superb, but the owner sadly died and there has been no real replacement. 'Railway Herald' can be used as a rough guide but be aware that their updates are nowhere near as comprehensive as UKS used to be. Use it as a guide and then check RTT for details near the date. A case in point was today, when the 'Belmond Pullman' was scheduled to be hauled by 34067 'Tangmere' but the loco, despite coming down to Southall OK, for some reason did not haul the train after all. Even as late as yesterday, this trip was shown on 'Railway Herald' as going via 'TBC', even though the new route via Didcot had been known for several days previously. Another useful source of information is the 'National Preservation' web site where there is a 'What's Going On' section that deals with main line steam in detail. BTW, if you look at RTT for steam workings, they will not be listed as such in the indiviudal trains' timings - they will be referred to as 'Diesel locomotive hauling xxx tons'.
We don't like people like you - far too lazy. Only joking, of course! That's a fine shot, BTW.A good indication that is special is due is that you may see more photographers than usual at the line side.
On September 10 I drove down to Devon in the early hours at the start of a week's holiday.
I was already armed with a 3 in 7 day Cornwall and Devon Rover.
Parked up at Okehampton and started my first day's wandering.
Changing at Exeter St Davids to a Paignton bound train I became aware of more than usual number of line siders. I had a quick check of Real Time Trains and noted that 70000 BRITANNIA was hauling the English Riviera Express and was the train behind mine!
All I did was step off the train at Paignton and walk to the end of the platform and waited a few minutes. - Completely unplanned encounter!
I mean even yesterday it was saying on the Belmond pullman website and on Herald that it wanted to go via North Kent with Tangmere as it was intended to pass Gillingham at one point. It did say that Tangmere was supposed to haul the tour regardless days before on there but i had no idea it pulled out on the new diverted railtour, it happened to me last week at Chartham when it was announced as a 67 last minute as the haul south was cancelled the day before, so i do understand the frustration.
