Great Western Coffee Shop

Driving along the M4 the night before last the weather was not good, the drizzly snow making visability very poor. I found myself following a lorry thinking how much in the limited visability the back of a lorry looked like a HST power car. Finally overtaking the lorry I realised it was 43198 heading west.

Over the last couple of years I've seen Mk 3 coaches occasionally and an 08 Shunter (and even a Terrier loco).

Just interested to know is it cheaper ?? Are there circumstances where a loco/coach can't be taken by rail ??? Has anyone else seen anything else more interesting travelling by road ???

Unfortunately transporting rail vehicles and locos by road is a feature of the modern railway.

it is mainly due to to factors such as the demise of the pick up freight, the overall increase in the speed of freight trains and lack of paths for  light engine movements.

In the old days a defective vehicle or loco (possibly with rods remove d) could be stuck in a pick up freight and make its way to wherever. Now there are no wagonload freights you couldn't put say an 08 or small steam loco in a stone train, it would run hot after a few miles. With the lack of capacity/paths it would also be very difficult to schedule an 08 or small steam loco as a light engine it would take up too much time.  Also there is the lack of water supplies for extensive steam movements particulary for small tank engines.

Also many of the preserved lnes don't have mainline connections.
Slough Estates No 3 has recently travelled from  Swindon to Tamworth and back by road for these reasons.

It's a shame that rail vehicles have to travel by road but in many cases it's the only way of geting them from A to B.

am i right in thinking in the last 10 years 43198 has appeared in virgin, midland mainline and fgw livery
and was also used in the first ever 2+1 formation on the 11.30 Oxford-Didcot in feb 2007 from memory?