Railway Touring Company - Summer 2010

Looks like The Railway Touring Company are going to have a busier summer than last year. More steam tours have been added to their ever increasing summer programme.

Sat 10th July: The Heart of Wales
44871 + 45407: Newport-Llandrindod-Manchester Victoria

Sat 17th July: The Cotton Mill Express
46115: Lancaster-Wigan-Manchester-Huddersfield-Copy Pit-Blackburn-Bolton-Manchester-Huddersfield-Rochdale-Manchester-Wigan-Preston-Lancaster.

Mon 9th August: The Tall Ships
5690: York to Hartlepool & return.

Sat 11th September: The Mayflower
60019: Paddington-Newbury-Plymouth-Newbury-Paddington.

On Sundays 25th July, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th August & 5th September. The Waverley will run from York to Leeds, Settle-Carlisle & return.

Locomotives pencilled in for The Waverley are;
Black Five 45231
Black Five 45305
Jubilee 5690 'Leander'
Scot 46115 'Scots Guardsman'

These were on the UK Steam website, not RTC.

 

Third time lucky for the Cottons Mills then... How is 46115 doing?

 

Not quite sure what's going on with 46115. I was told on Friday that it is currently at Carnforth undergoing repairs.

I received the brochure from Railway Touring Company which includes all steam tours for the Spring, Summer & Autumn. I have to say it's an excellent presented brochure.

 

RTC have certainly pulled out all of the stops with the 2010 Brochure and some excellent tours. More of their own from last year and picked up some old PTR favourites. I hope they all do well for sales and ensure continued services. Having to keep a tight control on the credit card... there are so many I want to do!

 

i am intrested in the south western one, but on the other hand if duchess of sutherland does a tour into scotland later in the year i want to be on that so its difficult to know what to do, its like being in a sweet shop with so much on offer.

 

RTC are definately making us dig deep into our wallets because all their railtours are so good! I'm still thrown as to whether I should board the South Western or go to the NYMR Autumn Steam Gala!
Decisions, decisions!

 

"'er indoors" is pouring over the brochure... addicted to Premier Dining experience and likes the idea of a short break into the bargain. Better be a good year for bonus!!!

Credit to RTC...

 

Already booked on 'The Mayflower'. A Gresley Pacific Paddington to Plymouth, shades of 1924!

 

I'm intending to do several: The Southern Irishman next month to get steam into my own backyard (almost literally!), the first Dorset Coast Express, one of the Bristol-Weymouth trips (the five hours in Weymouth will allow me to get to Portland to catch a glimpse of 35018) and one of The Waverleys.

 

It is amazing how much traffic Weymouth will see in 2010. I seem to recall that there used to be a couple of Cathedral Expresses plus one or two individual tours each year.
The Weymouth catering and souvenir outlets must be rubbing their hands with glee with all the potential business - assuming they've been told. I know we try to get the word round to as many businesses as possible when hosting an incoming railtour.
The South West Steam Centre at Yeovil Junction must also be gearing itself for one of its busiest years ever - playing host to all the Bincombe Bank banking engines plus all the 'passing trade' from the trips to/from Exeter! I'm sure they will be glad of an increased bank balance.

 

09.15 on 15th August is going to be a great sight with RTC's Weymouth Seaside Express sat along side TBE's Torbay Express - A Brit and a King pulling out of Temple Meads at the same time...

 

http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-easterling---150809.html

The Easterling doesn't make sense. Steaming from London, pick up passengers at Norwich and Lowestoft plus Beccles, steam to London where it terminates. How do passengers get back!

 

The pick up points are London Liverpool Street and Colchester( see drop down when you try to book).

 

Shame there are no trips from Norwich until December :-(

 

I'm sure if the Easterling doesn't sell well they will offer part trips from the other points nearer the time.

 

The Sou' Western Express shows as running ECML and the Tyne Valley to Carlisle. However, it shows both pick up and set down points at Newcastle. Now either this involves a layover at Newcastle while the loco is turned (at Heaton), a diesel on the back to haul the train back to Tyne Yard for the junction to Carlisle or a journey over the High Level bridge long mentioned (for no good reason that I can see) as having a steam ban.
Clearly I am hoping for the latter, but I am interested to see what will happen. It could just be an error by RTC of course.....

 

I got a email from RTC offering £5 off the trip's on the 8th of May (both trips) and the 15th of May

 

Edited: The two runs with 46115 on the East Coast seem to have dissapeared off RTC's website. Presumbly the loco won't be ready in time. Lets hope they can be re-scheduled in the near future.

 

With all the trips to weymouth coming up they could do with putting a turn table in on the top rigth hand side as you come into weymouth ,there is room and water it would save the trip back to yeovil every time.all they need is the money to do it.