2010 Steam Tours

Until anything is posted on VT's website nothing is official as you say so will believe it when i see it.....but look to be very tempting tours nonetheless if they were to go ahead.

 

Speaking of the West Highlander, what became of RYTC's ideas of doing tours to Kyle and towards Wick (but not quite) from Inverness? I'd also be tempted do to some of the individual routes in the West Highlander itinerary if they were marketed as separate. Currently waiting for a tour up to Glasgow via Shap and Beattock, even if it is diesel on return.

 

On a similar note, does anyone know what's become of RYTC's plans to possibly run banked trains out of Weymouth in the summer?

 

I presume, if both the 'Highland Plan' and 'Operation Weymouth Banker' are summer events, that we'll hear about them in due course. However, it has been uncomfortably quiet on both fronts of late.

 

Details are from Vintage Trains as published in Steam Railway #371........

David

 

Cheers David, thanks for letting us know. Will be making a few bookings in the near future i think.

 

How about Good Friday with 70013? (Even tho it's to Edinburgh)
http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-waverley---020410.html

 

Nah, I intend to do the Royal Duchy on the Saturday, and I'd have to take two days off work to get to Liverpool.

 

Sorry David, but just because something appears in Steam Railway doesn't mean it's set in stone. As Oli 15 said " Until anything is posted on VT's website nothing is official...."
Mind you I'm not saying that Steam Railway have got it wrong, just that it's always best to wait 'till you see any announcement about tours on the relevant companies website.

 

I expect the Weymouth bankers are not going to happen given the RYTC's track record.

 

I've generally found RTC to be fairly reasonable on delivering their promises (71000 to Milford Haven in 2008 when the trip had all but been abandoned due to pathing problems to Pembroke Dock and 6024 out of action). We can't complain if they cancel trips because there isn't enough interest, there are pathing problems or bookings falling way short of break-even. Thus far, some of my best trips have been with RTC.

 

I see Pathfinder have added a new tour to their programme, The Royal Duchy on Sat 1st May with 6024 King Edward 1 running Exeter to Par and back. Tour starts from Basingstoke with Standard class fare of £98... a touch pricey maybe?

Dave B

 

I expect the high price is due to the fact she will only be allowed to take 9 carriages over the banks (with one being the support coach) so less seating = higher price. Sounds good though!

 

Regarding Pathfinder's Tyne Tees Tornado it will not be doing the advertised route via Sunderland and Hartlepool on the return. I queried the steam ban under the metro wires and was told it does still stand so they are apparently looking into running over the Blyth and Tyne route.

 

I notice in Steam Railway that 70013 is doing a couple of tours in Scotland for RTC: York-Ayr and Ayr-Stranraer-Carlisle (with 45305). They look rather interesting, although I am wondering whether they are a combined in a similar way to the West Highlander tours.

 

You doing any tours on Clanline in May Bulleid Pacific??

 

I wouldn’t believe all that you read in that article in Steam Railway. I’ve just contacted Steam Dreams as 70013 is booked on their 29th April trip to Canterbury and they confirm that it is still hauling the tour. Funny as according to Steam Railway it should be up in Scotland at the time of that trip. Steam Dreams also said that the planned 29th July trip to Minehead or Lincoln is 'completely wrong' and confirm that they will not be running to either of these destinations.

 

Had a sneek-preview of the new program for TYS 2010 through June. I can confirm the Britannia Banker on May 29th (70013 and 9600) and the non-stop Bristolian on April 17th with positioning moves on the Friday and Sunday.

There are some really interesting trips scheduled!

 

70013 on 2 trips for SRPS on Sunday 18th April - from LINLITHGOW (morning train) & DALMENY or INVERKEITHING (afternoon train)
Morning and afternoon steam specials round the 'Forth Circle'; over the Forth Bridge, along the Fife Coast and round the Fife Circle then along the recently re-opened railway through Kincardine and Alloa to Stirling.

A Brit at Stirling again - can't wait!

 

Now its 30777 in charge of the Canterbury trip