Railway Touring Company's 2017 Programme

I think it was in fact the day after, in a great case of quick movement and co-operation by NR and the toc

edit - It was, it was the Cumbrian Coast Pullman. Supposed to be out via coast back via shap did coast both ways due to wcml blocked oxenholme to Carlisle.

 

So what’s on the CCE

 

Leander left carnforth with it.

 

Im guessing it’s definitely coming down the coast as it has left Carlisle

 

There was no diesel on the back at carnforth so assume so.

 

Clearly there's a bit of doubt about the return route of the Bognor trip, but when was the last time steam went through Ashtead?

 

Guessing it's still looking like 48151?

 

Tin Bath cancelled according to a post in the 35018 thread, and no longer listed on RTC website.

 

Yes we had a letter yesterday.

 

The two December RTC trains in the south are now to be hauled by 70013 rather than 45305 - Sherborne on 14th December and the Sussex Belle (London-Eastbourne-Hastings- London) two days earlier. No great surprise and no complaints either. The Sussex Belle is usually the only main line steam we get round here, so I'm happy enough whatever is on the front - providing it chuffs, that is!

 

I wonder if there'll be any problem gauging 70013 for the Hastings trip? Has she been that way before? When?

 

24th February 2010 with RTC's "Sussex Belle". This took the original route via Rye as this was in the days before weight restrictions were imposed on the bridge between Hastings and Ore. I remember the day - I debated asking for a day off work to see it but the forecast wasn't that good so I didn't bother. On the actual day, it was quite sunny and a very good picture of "Ollie" passing the landmark windmill at Rye appeared in one of the periodicals - in beautiful sunshine and with a good exhaust. I felt gutted!

I doubt if there will be any problems between London and Eastbourne. Lewes Station is on a rather tight curve but Tornado and Britannia have passed through with no problems.

 

70013 did the Saturday of the Seaford runs a few years ago, pretty much same route except that included Seaford branch and a run to Brighton.

 

70000 went to Hampden Park just outside Eastbourne in 2011. Although it was out of gauge at Newhaven Marine where the ecs was due to be stored hence the move there.

 

The failures of 46233 and 60009 have resulted in the following changes in the next week.

Saturday 18th November: London - (Crewe) - Holyhead now hauled by 45699.

Thursday 23rd November: Ealing Broadway - ECML - York now hauled by 46100 one way (deisel on return).

 

What's up with 46233?

 

It does make the Christmas programme look very difficult to achieve now with the locos available.
The absence of 45305 means that Cromwell is doing 3 trips in a week in December.
Currently there appears to be uncovered now (although I am sure as James said on the Holyhead thread, planning has/is being done)
Poole-Bristol Nov 30
Norwich-York & rtn Dec 7
Kings X-Lincoln & rtn Dec 9
Ealing Broadway-York & rtn Dec 16
Cambridge-York & rtn Dec 20

That is a lot to cover when you have Santa's in NW England and Scotland to factor in as well that in effect remove possible replacement locos.

I do not know why the Duchess failed it seemed to be in good steam when I looked on the Crewe cam on Wednesday, but cold again on Thursday afternoon.

I head an unsubstantiated report that both the Duchess and USA may be out of service until February.