RTC 2018

Stop the 2 Croatian midfielders from playing and we're there.

 

+ 1

 

Looking ahead to next winter's WCME trips, in view of the revised timetable for service trains, will there still be paths available to allow the Euston originating trains to be steam hauled over Shap and back over the S&C?

 

Well we don't know the winter timetable yet (!) but for the moment out from Euston at 0710 (Carnforth 1124) and back from Carlisle at 1410 works provided everything goes according to plan. But 1.5 hours at Carlisle gives no margin for getting looped at Grayrigg or Penrith. Class 8 power required.

 

Has there been an advanced version of the timetable effective from December published yet?

 

In the news yesterday it was suggested there will not be a timetable change in December.

Rail timetable changes scaled back to avoid further chaos - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44774539

 

It's the consistently late Trans Pennine that causes most of the loopings.

 

I've looked back at Six Bells. I'm not sure the TPE is 'consistently late'. Quite often the CME is out of Carnforth on time. But I agree the TPE on time performance leaves something to be desired. Sometimes this is because it's late between MAN and Preston, sometimes because the VT trains preceding it are late from Preston, once or twice it has even been the Tesco train.

But anyway, if everything goes according to plan , a Jubilee with 11 on good form can keep the schedule. Suppose however the TPE is 10 late at Carnforth for whatever reason while the following VT is on time. In that scenario you only have 25-30 mins to get past Grayrigg without getting looped. An 8P should do that, a 5XP will be on the limit. Then if you do get looped, you may well get looped again at Penrith for the Edinburgh and then you will be into Carlisle at maybe 1320 with a 1410 departure.

The other point is that with the new timetable, half an hour late out of Carlisle might be OK if you don't have to stop at Appleby. But if you do, that is probably not OK. So a big machine with a big tender could be useful in making up that half hour between dep Carlisle and dep Hellifield.

Of course the schedule from Farington to Euston is so lax that even an hour late arriving at Farington could probably be recouped by Euston.

 

Having booked on the CCE for 29th September, I was disappointed to learn there would now be no steam over Shap on this trip due to changes in service train timetables. RTC immediately offered me a full refund or voucher against future trips. The money was back in my account within 3 days. That's what I call good customer service. It's also good marketing as I'm feeling valued and more likely to book on future trips with them. Well done RTC!

 

Good to see this prominently on the website at the head of the description for Saturday's West Somerset Steam Express:

* Please note that due to the current dry weather conditions this train will be diesel assisted due to the high fire risk.

Timings are up, Via Swindon and Bristol due to engineering work.

Outward:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55176/2018/07/28/advanced

Return:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55177/2018/07/28/advanced

 

Just thought I'd share my B/W edit of the RTC's ''North Wales Coast Express'' on Sunday. 45690 passing through the portal into Conwy station with a rather fitting headboard.

 

UKsteam shows RTC's 17 November York Yuletide Express as running London Victoria - Corby - York and back.

The RTC website says "Our train leaves London Ealing Broadway at around 07:10 ... and travels around West London through Kensington Olympia and Neasden."

So which is it: from Victoria via Olympia or from Ealing not via Olympia?

 

It can't be both from Ealing and via Olympia, can it?

 

It could loop through WLL to CJ then travel to Barnes and head to the Dudding Hill Line via the Hounslow Loop and WLL.

I doubt it though.

 

Quite!

 

Where has the Oxford Explorer (22 Sept) disappeared to? Seems to have gone from RTCs website.

 

Afraid it was cancelled on Friday ...

... reason given as being "some operational difficulties" which WCR are unable to overcome. I enquired further to find that one of the (steam) drivers has become unavailable.

Shame! I was looking forward to it (especially 60009).

Cheers!
-SC-

 

As there is very little running on the Cumbrian Coast next Saturday, due to the Northern Rail strike, surely the CCE could now run with steam over Shap and on its original path round the coast?