The Tynesider, 24 November 2012

This is advertised on the RTC website to pick up at Darlington but there is no stop shown in the timings on UK Steam.
Has anyone any further info?

 

0821 off Darlo, 2206 arrival back, per the timings with my ticket.

Mark

 

Apparently only setting down at Darlington on the return. The up train is not booked to stop due to pathing issues.

John

 

Is that a last-moment change then? My tickets & timings arrived a week ago. Not good for those joining at Darlington then, if they are to take a service train to York, especially as 'Gresley' now comes off at York

Mark

 

Taken from SNGPLT web site this morning :-

Thursday 22 November 2012 60007 + engine and brake Grosmont - Heaton T+R.S.M.D.

Location arr. dep. Activity
Grosmont NYMR 11.15
Glaisdale 11.30 11.40
Battersby 12.10 12.30 Run round
Nunthorpe 12.50 12.54
Middlesbrough 13.02
Thornaby 13.07
Hartburn Junc 13.12
Norton South Junc 13.20
Norton West Junc 13.31
Ferryhill South Junc 13.45
Durham 13.57
Birtley Jun 14.08
Newcastle Central 14.30
Heaton T+RSMD 14.40

Saturday 24 November 2012 60007 Newcastle - York

Heaton T+RSMD 06.57
Newcastle Central 07.05 07.10
Birtley Junc 07.17
Durham 07.26 07.30
Ferryhill South Junc 07.46 08.06
Darlington 08.19 08.21
Northallerton 08.32
Thirsk 08.39
Skelton Bridge Junc 09.02
York 09.06

 

Thanks for the replies guys.
A friend had received tickets and timings but was concerned that no pick-up was shown in the UK Steam times.
Mind you, 11 mins for the 14 miles from Darlington to Northallerton will require an average of 76mph start to pass!

 

60007 reported to have arrived at Heaton today, as planned.

 

Reports on Facebook are suggesting Sir Nigel has failed with valve trouble on arrival at Heaton which means a diesel will work the Newcastle to York leg, hope its not true.

 

I really hope this is just a rumour. If true, we've now gone from Newcastle - Kings Cross - York with Gresley (which is what I booked) to just York to the Cross with Number 9. Not good at all. No disrespect to 'Union', her owner and support crews, nor, indeed, to RTC for this latest development, but this does nothing for Gresley's reputation. I do feel sorry for her (his?) team too...

Mark

 

How many years has this tour been advertised for steam each way(3?) and how many years has it run steam both ways?

 

If im being honest it is now the 4th year this excursion is running.

2009 The infamous failure in copenhagen tunnel after leaving Kings X, resulting in bus back from Peterborough, arrived home at 4.00am
2010 The infamous push home from Kings X, with Bittern doing very little work.
2011 Did not happen at all due to pathing issues???
2012 This unfortunate sequence of events, feel deeply sorry for all who look after SNG, however the reported valve troubles have beset her for most of this year.

Its no way for people to gain any confidence in providing what they are buying, luckily im not doing it this year due to other commitments.

For many in the NE of England this is the highlight of the year, a mainline run to Kings X, sadly it is badly effected again.

1 year out of 4 is a poor return im afriad.

 

But how many of those can be blamed on the tour promoter....none really.

2009:Not RTC's doing
2010:Not RTC's doing
2012:Unfortunate but not RTC's doing

Just a case of bad luck,why this train seems jinxed is beyond me.

 

Indeed. These things happen though.

 

They could always bring up No9 with the stock tomorrow morning early doors, and have steam all the way to Kings X?????

 

I'd think it's safe to say that would probably easier said than done.....

47270/804 appear to be the diesels for those interested.

I'll be boarding at York,should be a good trip.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Yeah Mark, Wishful thinking for those starting up here!!!

Never mind everybody have a good trip. Lets hope the issues with SNG can be resolved quickly, as she has a tour program to complete, based from york next week.

 

Hmmm. A child was on Chris Evans Show today, in the daily "kids aged between 6 and 11 doing something for the first time" slot. They're being treated to this trip by their train mad gran. Monday's report at 8.30 should be interesting.

Oddly this was the second steam related item this week, on Monday he picked up on a report in the papers about the SRI 130 project in the States, and new build steam for the future in general.

 

Had an email from RTC a short while ago. They HAD tried to get Number 9 up to Newcastle; that bit wasn't the problem, it would appear, as the email says that due to construction work at York, it would not be possible to get a water tanker into position to water the locomotive.

Mark

 

I did wonder if watering was the reason No. 9 couldn't work the train throughout.

 

Route it via Church Fenton, water there or Milford loop