RTC 30777/34067/70000 Dorset Coast Express, London - Southampton-Weymouth July 9th

UK Steam now showing a number of provisional tours in July / August which may feature 70000 !!

When will we see the first tour with double headed Brits 70013 & 70000 ???

 

Not soon enough!

Regards,

Dan

 

Some details on these trips released in this months Steam Railway which came through today. Prices are £69 standard, £105 first and £169 premier for those interested. They also say that the August 25th trip could be the 1st trip with both 70000 and 70013.

 

My Beano hasn't arrived yet -- but then again I haven't seen a postie for 2 days -- probably another industrial dispute !!

 

looks good and hopefully i can travel to wareham by steam, relatively cheaply, my first mainline tour, or if i got my act together, maybe helping out.

 

The South Western Main Line will see an awful lot of steam this Summer, according to uksteam.info, if all proposed trips work!
15th May - RYTC - 30777 from Poole-Eastleigh-Cardiff.
22nd May - RYTC - 30777 Waterloo-Weymouth-Wareham.
31st May - RYTC - 30777 Swanage-Waterloo.
16th June - UKRailtours - 60163 Victoria-Swanage-Southampton-Victoria [Well booked already]
3rd July - RYTC - 30777 Waterloo-Swanage.
9th July - Steam Dreams' Cathedrals Express - 30777 to Swanage [a "C.E." first!] and TBA return loco.
9th July - RYTC Dorset Coast - 'Pool' 34067 or 70000 Victoria-Weymouth with 70000 or 34067 back to Waterloo.
18th July - Steam Dreams - 34067 Waterloo-Yeovil; 34067+30777 Yeovil-Weymouth-Wareham; 30777 Wareham-Waterloo.
21st July - RYTC Dorset Coast - 'Pool' 30777/34067/70000
28th July - Ditto
4th Aug. - Ditto
11th Aug. - Ditto
18th Aug. - Ditto
18th Aug. - Steam Dreams - 70013 Clapham-Weymouth; Diesel to Yeovil; 70013 Yeovil-Waterloo
25th Aug. - Statesman Tours - 70013 Waterloo-Weymouth-?and return?
25th Aug. - RYTC Dorset Coast - 'Pool' 30777/34067/70000
1st Sept. - Ditto
Phew, what a Summer in store!

 

So 2 tours to Weymouth the same day,anyone up for swapping locos?!

 

Oooh the summer can't come soon enough! I might have to plan a holiday around a couple of them

 

flaming hell, it never rains in my life, then things go hectic. I live near eastleigh, so it should be good. I ought to try to get involved with it and not just be a photter.

 

Any chance of something like this down Kent or Sussex coast??? Seems a bit bare...

 

That's something to mull over. Maybe if/when the Folkestone Harbour Branch is saved there could be a repeat itinery banked service up 1 in 30, Brits top and tailing. Imagine the noise!

 

There is a plan for when 35011/35025 are restored for them to do something like that.

 

nope just couple both rakes up and use both engines , lets see, 20 odd behind 2 brits, yeah they should cope with that ,

How far apart will they be pathed if they both use the same route thats going to get some people confused

 

are you trying to get us closed down before we even open, talk about scaring the natives ! what about our own tank engine, wouldnt you prefer to see that shove either 70000 or 70013 up the bank , i know what i would prefer , well thats our grand re opening plan scuppered now

 

Wonder if 'banking' locos, up Bincombe Bank, are scheduled to 'drop off' before Dorchester Jcn so they can go straight to Yeovil. If so, presume banker runs round its support coach and hauls it tender first to Yeovil. In which case it will look strange to have a steam hauled tour being banked - with the last vehicle being the banker's support coach! (Lineside photters will have apoplexy no doubt.)
Also, with all the proposed locos to/from Weymouth I hope Yeovil Steam Centre have expanded their coal capacity arrangements. The black stuff will certainly be used in abundance this Summer.
The turntable will also take a bit of a pasting with more usage than many a year past. I'm sure the vacuum 'engine' will be up to it.
I know there are carriage tanking water pipes but can't remember if there is a proper water main on Weymouth platform for all these locos. That might save 'Blues and Two Tones' a long trek West every week during the busy Summer season.

Perhaps Kent and the South East will get more steam during 2011.

 

How would you get a loco to bank a train out of Weymouth at 5pm and then go to Yeovil for 3 hours??

 

Mark, I know I'm being particularly thicker than usual but why is the banking loco supposed to go to Yeovil for 3 hours? Is it scheduled to do something else at 8pm? I thought it would stay at the steam centre until being readied for its next working - next week, or whenever. Knowing me I've probably got the wrong end of the stick! If so, humble apologies. Peter

 

I think that between them, Steam Dreams, RTC and Statesman are being a bit silly. The clashes of their schedules are likely to lead to poor bookings, if you ask me, as there isn't infinite demand for riding on these trains (now watching, that's a different matter!). You'd think they'd get together and come up with a set of dates that will maximise their traffic, not cannibalise each other. Yes I realise they're competitors, but even so it would make sense to avoid the same day, same general area clashes at least!

 

Have since re-checked uksteam.info for 25th August. Statesman Rail are planning a steam trip but it is currently showing as The Fellsman between Lancaster and Carlisle via Preston & Settle.
Either I had a Senior Moment or it was a mis-print - either way, apologies.
The 25th Aug. just has an RYTC London-Weymouth return with locos from the 'pool' of 30777/34067/70000/and, for this day only, 70013! Might have a different 'Brit' in each direction - perhaps.
Statesman Rail appear to have a diesel tour between Shrewsbury & Weymouth on Thursday 19th August.

 

Edited post,just read last one,which makes this irrelavent,lol.