Railway Touring Company's 2017 Programme

Sad to see some of the Duchy's go, but full marks for giving plenty of advanced notice.

 

On the website - which as we know ain't always reliable - it says steam is only from Taunton on the outward but back to BTM on the return. One good thing is there aren't any clashes with the Westbury TBEs.

 

There is now a Tin Bath, hauled by 48151, on the 5th November.

 

Just the one loco on the 5th Nov Tin Bath, getting up the 1in50 from Barnsley will be interesting

 

Interesting or slow ? either way it will certainly do it (maybe with a little sand) !

 

Letter from RTC about the first one (23rd July) says "We currently have 46100 Royal Scot and 34046 Braunton boooked to haul this series of tours", but also says Taunton-Par-Taunton is steam and explicitly states that BTM-Taunton and Taunton-BTM are diesel hauled for the whole summer.

 

Suggests there's nowhere in Bristol to stable the engines. 90 steam miles gone but the banks are all still in play.

 

Presumably Barton Hill is increasingly off limits due to Arriva's anti-WCRC attitude. Has happened in Cardiff, so now happening in Bristol.

 

St Philips Marsh was used last year for Torbay Express engines and once for the Duchess. We were told Barton Hill was a no go site for steam. Wonder if there's an issue with SPM now too. Anyone heard anything??

 

Is the issue steam in general or WCRC specifically? If the former then it must impact on TBEs. If the latter, then it is a blow to RTC.

 

Missed something I think. Looking at the tours programme, 2 of the RDs, the first on 23rd July and the last on 3rd Sept clash with TBEs. It is possible that SPM will only facilitate one steam locomotive on depot at a time which I believe was the case last year. The Duchess came on at Taunton on her first RD in 2016 as that was a clashing weekend. Hopefully the middle 2 RDs might have a Bristol start unless one of LSL's engines or Tornado will be there for the season. Doubt that's the case this year are there are so few TBEs spread from 18th June to 10th September. There's also a clash on the 20th August with a TBE and Pembroke Coast Express.

 

Would they use the WSR if the steam comes on at taunton

 

Just a thought for RTC (and maybe other tour operators) about the discounting.

Late booking discounts on RTC have been offered on recent tours. This is good news for customers and can help to fill a tour or at least make it viable to run. However is could also be seen as a disincentive to book early. Low early bookings could scupper the tour and the benefit of discounting would be irrelevant.

Travelling on the Buxton Spa Express made me think. There was spare capacity in Premier Dining and First Class. So how about an incentive for early bookings. If you book First Class and there are free spaces in Premier, why not offer complimentary upgrades to the customers who booked first in First Class. Then offer complimentary upgrades to Standard Customers to First on the same basis. That element of "lottery" would encourage early bookings to secure the viability of the tour and last minute discounts could fill it further. We are not talking huge numbers and the marginal cost would be minimal.

 

Todays discount as follows :- Winter CCE -46115 conformed for both dates, 4th and 25th March, extra coaches added ! £15 discount all classes, quote HAO (extra coaches= extra diesel assistance ?)

 

When was it the Winter season ends for loadings? It isn't the 1st March is it? (That is a pure guess).

 

Well remembered, of course, it must be !

 

I will keep my powder dry for now...