Great Britain 3, 6-14 April 2010

The signalman's action is likely to have much more impact in areas controlled by the smaller traditional signal boxes as opposed to the large panel boxes which can be covered by NR, hence the re-routing of GB3 away from Cornwall and the Welsh Marches etc. The ToCs do not expect to run any services in these areas.

David

 

... and all due credit as well to the West Coast Railway Company, who I suspect have done much of the hard work !

David

 

Have today recieved the following email , note that they are also sending a copy by post



Dear Mr *******



Please find to follow a copy of a letter sent out to all clients on the Great Britain III tour yesterday by post.



URGENT



Ref: The Great Britain III tour CHANGE OF DEPARTURE STATION



Dear Customer



I am writing to inform you that due to the proposed rail strike which begins next Tuesday 6th April we have had to change the start point for the Great Britain III tour.



The tour will now depart from London Paddington and NOT Victoria as previously advised. The route will be London Paddington, Bath to Bristol, with steam locomotive 5029 Nunney Castle.



The time of departure will be 12.00 from Paddington, arriving at Bristol Temple Meads at 15.12



Any changes to other days due to the industrial action will be advised at the start of the tour.



We hope you enjoy your tour aboard the Great Britain III.



Kind regards




Nigel Dobbing




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I dread to think of the trouble this proposed strike action must be causing RTC. As well as the cost of having to send extra letters to the customers, all passengers recieve an a4 sized colour illustrated 40+ page book containing the route descriptions, locomotives and detailed timings for each day. I'm assuming that by now those have already been or are in the process of being printed and due to the changes made so far will be less than useful, certainly as far as the first few days are concerned.

People complain about customer service, but I can't see anything wrong with RTCs at all and all credit to Nigel and his staff for making sure we all get a GB3 even if it is not to the original itinerary. :clap2:


Dave B

 

Clouds and silver linings: 44871+70013 up the Lickey will be a splendid sight and sound. Even if there's a "box" on the back, I don't imagine the steam locos will be taking it easy!

 

it will be a tremendous sight and a top route change. its on a thursday tho and i wonder what time it will hit the lickey incline. i reakon between 12-2. do we have any timings for this move from bristol to preston?

 

Can someone say what the best lineside place is to watch / video the train come up the Lickey Incline? I would like to see it but have never been to that area. Thanks!

PS I see the Nunney Castle leg will be its first outing in its new streamlined guise. Should be good seeing that streaking through the Berkshire countryside

 

I would say Vigo, http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepa...58095&lon=-2.0220367544397457&gz=18&oz=8&gt=1
I hope that link works,if not just follow line up from Bromsgrove.
There is a track off the road,B4096, to crossing gates.

One word of advice....get there early for the best spot.

Sorry to anybody who is a regular there(Hi Bill !!!!), I hope loads dont turn up it can be a bit busy.................

 

Many thanks Nick, I will take your advice

 

Thanks Nick looks like I'm going to have to camp out Wednesday night

On a serious note take some steps with you as a minimum, another place is just south of vigo loads of room follow the foot path from Pikes Pool Lane I'm sure you'll see others waiting.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?Z=115&X=398093.29885658715&Y=270648.4157738851

 

anybody got the timings of this tour yet? its going to be an excellent sight double headed up the lickey incline!!!!

 

I Will be giving the Lickey a miss as i have something more local in mind when was the last time steam went north from Bristol up the midland line

 

In my opinion, the third day has been made into a even better itinerary! 44871 & 70013 up the Lickey Incline has really wet the appetite! Shame I live too far up north to go down. At least we hope to have 46115 running over Shap & Beattock the following day, with a overpowered support coach movement following in front with 44871/45407 and Ollie!!! Roll on the 9th April!

 

I am sorry Bill,just trying to be helpful..................................

Looking forward to the videos guys,just wish I could be there as well!!!

 

What happens if the strike is called off...
Does this tour revert back to the old timetable or is this now set in stone?

 

April Fools I presume

 

But what a GREAT idea!!!!

 

Nice one Martin

You could have rostered an LNER paddler for the crossing !

The little black accompaniment to long distance tours passed its MOT this morning

I hope the roads are up to it. With these petrol price rises, I'll be paying as much as full dining before long!

 

I assume that Day 1 will run to the revised plan from Paddington as all passengers have been told of the change and it's probably too late to go back to original plan.

I'm guessing that Day 3 would revert to the original route via Hereford and Shrewsbury (unfortunately) as pathing up the Lickey and WCML may be an issue if a full service is running.

I don't know about Day 2, but I'm worried that it might be Totnes only on Day 2 and along the Marches on Day 3. (As it stands, Day 3 via the Lickey is great compensation for the loss of Penzance).