'The Royal Duchy' 2013

Well I wasn't expecting 45231 to be a possibility for September 1. Like I said back in June it will be an interesting comparison 44932 vs 45231. Has anyone noticed that 44932 has not seen much action at all since 45231 emerged from overhaul.

 

Tickets arrived Saturday, Braunton still mentioned.

 

Extract from the 'Icons of Steam' website. <BJ>

4th September – The Dorset Coast Express – No. 34046
London Victoria to Weymouth. The return journey will be hauled by a different loco not supplied by us.
This tour is promoted by The Railway Touring Co.

8th September – The Torbay Express – No. 34046
Bristol, Weston-Super-Mare and Taunton to Paignton and Kingswear for Dartmouth
Find out more about the Torbay Express here

11th September – The Dorset Coast Express – No. 34046
Weymouth to London Victoria. The outward journey will be hauled by a different loco not supplied by us.
This tour is promoted by The Railway Touring Co.

15th September – The Torbay Express – No. 34046
Bristol, Weston-Super-Mare and Taunton to Paignton and Kingswear for Dartmouth
Find out more about the Torbay Express here

21st September – The Exe-Parrett – No. 34046
Bristol Temple Meads to Okehampton via Yeovil, return via Taunton
This tour is promoted by Pathfinder Tours

 

Not a lot of itineries are suitable for a 60MPH class 5 throughout, most needing higher power, 75MPH or both.

 

It's not just an issue of speed but in this case surely the load. the RTC letter includes the following:
Train formation

A Premier Class
B Premier Class
C Premier/First Class
D First Class
E Standard Class
F Standard Class
G Standard Class

add the kitchen car and support coach which is definitely needed on a long day out to Par and that's load nine. There's no way will a Black 5 be allowed to take nine over the banks. As a ticket holder it's a bit worrying as the spectre of a box on the back looms large.

 

At least a locomotive has been made available, the assistance issue is a little unfortunate but the upside is that a diesel will not be the prime mover. Things could be worse. It has been a typical Summer excursion season with locomotive availability issues making themselves felt. We can all say "if only". In all the talk about locomotives it is easy to overlook the support crews. And do not forget the "gauging" issue. It might be worthwhile for next year to have the circle of operation of some of the engines in the various pools enlarged to allow better cover for situations like this.

 

Quote...."As a ticket holder it's a bit worrying as the spectre of a box on the back looms large."


As a ticket holder would you prefer it didnt run if theres a "Box" on the back???
We have this all the time..if they have rostered a loco not capeable of doing the job then what do you expect??It might be that there isnt another loco available so it may be this or nothing...

 

Well is it usually a 9 car consist?

 

The voice of reason !

 

Short answer is yes and I don't travel with a box on the back. What's the point? The issues are a bit wider than that though. I reasonably expect that promoters will not include locomotives in advertising that haven't been agreed with the owners or organisations that operate them. If conversations on Taunton station a fortnight ago are to be believed neither Nunney nor Braunton were going to be rostered on a Duchy this year.

 

I think you're right there and hopefully it will run with eight. A friend reminded me that one of the RTC people said the advance bookings on the last three Duchys weren't that high when he spoke to him on the 14th August at BTM. We were wondering if one of them might have been pulled as quite a few of the people I know are booked on them all. Looks like Cromwell will be available for the 8th and the 29th if they need a Class 7 loco. Quite looking forward to travelling behind 45231 for the first time. Did travel behind Bert Hitchin's first engine, the magnificent Taw Valley. Wonder is she'll ever set wheels on the big railway again?

 

44932 Sept 1st trip to Par afaik

Ray Mason

 

It certainly appears that 44932 is on it's way to Southall. <BJ>
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P92258/2013/08/30/advanced

 

Is 45231 still at Southall? I haven't seen anything about her going home. So why is 44932 coming south? Either 45231 developed a problem on Wednesday, or... Double-headed Royal Duchy on Sunday? Surely not...? I can't help thinking that a solo Black 5 will be in trouble, even if the load is reduced to 8 coaches. For one thing, there's no water stop between Exeter and Par in either direction. Given the gradients, that seems to me like a long way without topping up. (Not such an issue for an A4 or a Bulleid with their 5000+ gallon tenders.) So I would think that an assisting engine of some kind is required. Until just now, I assumed it would be a diesel.

 

it looks as though 44932/45231 could be both heading to Bristol tomorrow according the UK steam engine movements, anyhow a single Black 5 will be OK with 8 coaches as it was on the last Dutchy and they didn't need additional water stop and with the brilliant Ray Churchill driving again it will be fine, of course double headed Black 5's would be brilliant! Remember the last Dutchy with the Black 5 was stopped at Newton Abbot for a late running service train and Ray had no problems with her.

 

From the Icons of Steam website : -

29th September – The Royal Duchy – No. 34046
Bristol Temple Meads to Par and return.
This tour is promoted by The Railway Touring Co.

 

Have had report that the Par will now be 44932 + 45231; should be quite a spectacle if the weather holds and an experience for the passengers !

 

Very much looking forward to popping out and seeing this! My first trip out for photos etc since breaking my leg! Then braunton on the 29th hopefully! Very good news

 

Better not give you the theatrical "Good Luck" message then