Ruby Rover Tour - May 23rd 2010

[HSTChris]

The Southern Electric Group (SEG) have announced recently that they will be operating a railtour with 2 Gatwick Express class 442 units.

The route will be (subject to change):

London Victoria (Eastern Departure Approximately 10:00), Battersea Reversible Line To Stewarts Lane, Pouparts Junction, Balham, Selhurst, Through Selhurst Depot To Norwood Junction, London Bridge (Reverse And Pick up Approximately 11:15), Quarry Line, Three Bridges, Crawley (Reverse), Redhill (Reverse), Tonbridge (Reverse), Redhill, Lewes, Eastbourne (Lunch Break & Reverse), Lewes, Brighton (Reverse), Preston Park (Reverse), Hove Yard (Reverse TO BE CONFIRMED), Then Non Stop Via Quarry Line Back To London Victoria (Arrival Approximately 19:00).

I don't know about everyone else, but I can't really see the point in this tour? You can go on a Gatwick Express train much cheaper, and you can even get one to Eastbourne if you want to once a weekday!

But what do you guys think?

 

[MCR247]

£22 isn't that expensive :?

 

[HSTChris]

£22 isn't that expensive :?

I apreciate that, but you can still go on a 442 plenty cheaper.

I think they've missed an oppotunity here for a farewell to the slammers railtour - That would have been excellent on this route.

 

[MCR247]

I apreciate that, but you can still go on a 442 plenty cheaper.

I think they've missed an oppotunity here for a farewell to the slammers railtour - That would have been excellent on this route.

Opposed to a £23.00 Gatwick Express day return v £22 for a tour from 12-7pm.

 

[HSTChris]

You can do a class 442 on a Travelcard much cheaper :P

 

[37401]

I agree, slammers would be the better choice

 

[33056]

There are a couple of interesting little bits in that tour and it gives you a chance to get a 442 to some unusual places, you have to look beyond merely having a ride on a "Piggie".

BTW, I would consider going on the tour even though I can do them on the Gatwick route for free if that way inclined (not into unit bashing, personally)

 

[theblackwatch]

There are a couple of interesting little bits in that tour and it gives you a chance to get a 442 to some unusual places, you have to look beyond merely having a ride on a "Piggie".

BTW, I would consider going on the tour even though I can do them on the Gatwick route for free if that way inclined (not into unit bashing, personally)

I agree with 33056, there is some pretty big track on that trip, and for a railtour it represents good value in my opinion.

 

[yorksrob]

I agree, it looks like some decently unusual routes for a reasonable price

Obviously I'd pay double for a slammer, but the SEG is there for third rail travel of all era's and I'd definately be interested in this one. (particularly as on an earlier SEG tour in around 1990 (Ithink) I was on the first ever 442 to do the Brighton main line) Sorry - couldn't help showing off lol

 

[MCR247]

You can do a class 442 on a Travelcard much cheaper :P

If its non stop to Gatwick, how can you go on them using a travelcard :?

 

[HSTChris]

If its non stop to Gatwick, how can you go on them using a travelcard :?

The 18.23 Southern service from London Bridge to Eastbourne is formed of a class 442, and it calls at East Croydon (And wieardly, doesn't stop at Gatwick Airport at all!)

 

[westcoaster]

Three places on there of interest, I would say a 442 down to tonbridge and crawley is pretty rare, plus selhurst a & d lines plus hove yard one for track bashers me thinks.

 

[yorksrob]

I can't find any reference to this tour on the SEG's website. Does anyone know where the info is?

 

[HSTChris]

http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/tours/442rubyrover.html

 

[MCR247]

The 18.23 Southern service from London Bridge to Eastbourne is formed of a class 442, and it calls at East Croydon (And wieardly, doesn't stop at Gatwick Airport at all!)

Oh right

 

[yorksrob]

http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/tours/442rubyrover.html

Thanks

 

[d1015fan]

hopefully gonna do this tour for the route as well as a scratch in the book for the 442's.

 

[Techniquest]

Got my booking form printed at the library earlier for a 442 nutter friend and I to do this one. Also booked tickets to/from London for it. Nice bit of track to scoop for the Quail and a different day out

£22 is a damn good fare and at sociable times too

 

[Techniquest]

Hi all,

Thought I'd let you know that I finally got my tickets and accompanying letter yesterday afternoon. Sadly, the full times only get distributed during the day, but some key details from the letter:

Depart Victoria Eastern at 1000 (probably from platform 7)

Depart London Bridge at 1120 (from the terminal platforms)

Photo stops at Crawley and Tonbridge are listed at 1105 and 1207 respectively, but must be typos as we'd have to go back in time to manage that!

Coach A is booked at the front, coach K at the rear, out of Victoria, obviously the other way around after departure from Bridge.

Due to return to Victoria at 1849

My 442 nutter friend and I are allocated coach C (for a tour, it seems odd they didn't reserve individuals seats, but merr). Maybe we'll see some of you on board!

EDIT: Their website confirms Hove Yard, one of the biggest points of interest on this for me. The letter states "The route is as shown on the booking form", which is also on their website.

 

[ChampsRacing]

Got my tickets through yesterday in coach E really looking forward to this

 

[Techniquest]

Same here, been looking forward to it since I got my booking sent off over a month ago

Let's hope it all goes to plan, with enough time at Crawley and Tonbridge for a decent photo stop! We've also got about 2 hours between the tour and getting to Paddington, all being well the Tube won't bowl us out now!

 

[acg5324]

2413 and 2406 are the nominated units for this....

5Z40
08+25 Hove Yard to Victoria arr 0937

1Z40
87201 VICTORIA 10:00
87637 SELHURST 10:19 10:20
87639 SELT+RSMD 10:35 10:36
87643 NORWOODJN 10:41 10:42
87601 LONDONBDG 10:54 11:20
87920 THREEBGES 11:53 11:54
87931 CRAWLEY 11:56

1Z41
87931 CRAWLEY 12:05
87920 THREEBGES 12:08 12:08
87722 REDHILL 12:18 12:34
89363 TONBRIDGE 12:52 13:07
87722 REDHILL 13:25 13:37
88221 LEWES 14:18 14:36
88254 EASTBOURN 15:01

1Z42
88254 EASTBOURN 16:05
87980 BRIGHTON 16:44 16:54
87975 PRESTONPK 16:57 17:09
88101 HOVE YARD 17:14 17:24
87975 PRESTONPK 17:29 17:39
88103 HOVE 17:42 17:58
87201 VICTORIA 18:48

5Z42
19+09 Victoria to Hove Yard arr 2025.

Should be platform 7 at Victoria and 8 at London Bridge.

 

[d.collins26]

Got my tickets through yesterday in coach E really looking forward to this

Hi mate, Im going on this. Ill be with my dad and a mate of mine (both 18). We are in coach E too.

 

[acg5324]

Should be platform 7 at Victoria and 8 at London Bridge.

To access the departure road at Selhurst Depot train crossed north end of Selhurst station and used the up line to gain the route into Selhurst Depot.

Actually used platform 13 at London Bridge. Platform workings incorrectly showed platform 8 which is only an 8 car platform anyway!!

 

[ChampsRacing]

Hi mate, Im going on this. Ill be with my dad and a mate of mine (both 18). We are in coach E too.

Cool i was sat by the drivers cab of coach E next to the young woman (my other half) was a very interesting trip i must say

 

[Techniquest]

Very much enjoyed the tour, fantastic weather all weekend. Got a bit of video and a fair few phots.

Copped a ton of track for the Quail and needed both 442s. Now gotten 7 of them bashed.

Great tour and will happily do another SEG tour with 442s!