The Easterling 60163 3/10/20

After all the excitement of The Lune Rivers Trust run presumably attention will now switch to Tornado's projected run into East Anglia. As there appears to be no thread for this, I thought I'd start one, with a question:

Is it still going to run?

A quick look at the RTC website seems to indicate it is but there are no detailed/confirmed timings either there or on RTT and, ominously, RTC's booking form says that all types of ticket are still available.

Does anyone have any up to date information?

 

As a passenger the only information we have had was an email about 3 weeks ago saying it is still intended to run.

No further information as yet which I agree is a little worrying less than a week before the trip.

Andrew

 

I booked on the easterling for 3rd october last night from london K.X. ret on standard class and looked at 1st class and premier dining by putting in the column how many passsengers and put 1 checked the availability it went red in premier and 1st class and no seats seats available only in standard which i was surprised at i checked seating availability just over a week ago for the easterling and it was fully booked back then so i assume some passengers within the past week must have decided to cancel their bookings in standard.
Davo 56F

 

I've noticed that on RTT (at time of writing this) that the ECS has appeared from Southall to Kings X, but nothing else at the moment. ECS arrives at the Cross at 0725.

 

The word from RTC's Booking Office (checked earlier today) is that times and tickets are due to be published on Tuesday. Patience, as the saying (not to mention a great Del Amitri track from the 1990's) goes, is a saintly virtue, so watch this space!

 

Just had an Email:

The Easterling Saturday 3rd October 2020

With regards to your booking on The Easterling this Saturday 3rd October 2020 we are writing to advise you that during the late planning stages a collection of operational issues have been identified by the Network Rail planning team.

Our original plan submitted many weeks ago was met with no objections. Since being notified yesterday of the issues we and our operating company, West Coast Railways, have worked to attempt to overcome the issues raised but other than accepting a plan that detracts completely from the advertised tour we have had no option but to cancel the trip.

We know that this late cancellation will cause much disappointment to you so please accept our most sincere apologies for the inconvenience and disappointment this cancellation will cause.

After long discussions with Network Rail we have assurances that the issues identified will be rectified for 2021 and therefore should you wish to transfer your booking, our Easterling tour will be running again on Saturday 2nd October 2021.

What can you say???

 

Not sure what you can say to be honest!

That's probably the end of my mainline steam till March then.

Andrew

 

We're hoping to do the CME next week but Preston is a High Risk Red Zone; Crewe and Carlisle are Medium Risk Orange Zones for Covid so wondering what that might mean for joining/leaving a train there. As well as that, even here in rural South East Wales the Welsh Government is encouraging us, regardless of there being no restrictions in our area, to only make necessary journeys to avoid any risk of bringing the virus back into Wales. Bit of a quandary.

 

Is it a gauging issue with tornado that network rail have been trying to resolve with west coast railways, or is it due to new restrictions with the covid 19?

 

Talk on the lunchtime news of more restrictions in the NW, not sure if that would impact on Carlisle (for lunch etc) or the tours operation

 

I thought Bacon Factory Curve was a bit on the tight side for steam? I seem to recall David Buck saying 61306 struggled to get round it. I know 60103 has been round in the past, but I guess the coupled wheelbase is slightly shorter on an A3 than a B1.

 

I'm don't know anything about the coupled wheelbase of the the locos but very many moons ago I can remember 6024 doing King Cross to Norwich and return,and more recently I've been there behind a Britannia,I can't remember which one !!

Colin.

 

B*&@ll@€!!! I had my filming spots and itinerary all planned.

 

My sentiments entirely!

I too had itinerary and phot spots all planned.

Hey ho! I'll have to practice my social distancing at the pub instead. Cheers!

 

My hunch - and is nothing more - is that the shunt release between Norwich Platforms 2 and 3 is out of use. This is from the Feb 2020 Sectional Appendix (publically downloadable) which shows it being there:



It will be next year for railtours for me now , hopefully under better conditions.
-SC-

 

Wasn't the shunt release taken out of use after something hit the buffers several years ago,possibly a B1.

 

Good. At least it keeps you both south of the river where you belong.

 

Next thing you will be suggesting we need a visa to travel north of the Thames.
( On second thoughts DON'T, it could give our "leaders" ideas!)

Likewise I had the photo locations sorted out and was looking forward to a day of travelling and a few photos.

Cheers, Neil