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RTC 2014

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by mike1522, Sep 25, 2013.

  1. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Nothing against Black 5s but if the rearranged date means two Bulleids on the ACE, that will be a much better option.
     
  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    More to the point, if this is the RTC realising that their limited options on this date would mean diesel assistance because of the available motive power then I applaud their common sense in moving the date. Two Bulleids may still not be an option but two Class 7s would also do the job nicely.
     
  3. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    I note the locomotive rostering has been reversed, now Braunton out to Exeter and Tangmere on the return to London. I also note the reference to banking from St Davids to Central has disappeared.
     
  4. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    I would presume there'd be diesel assistance regardless, as it would help with shunting at either end. 34046 would probably head direct to Bristol as part of the RTC West Country pool (pun intended!). I'm sure I can arrange my second visit to the National Archives for that week, anyway.
     
  5. JDTTRAINS

    JDTTRAINS Member

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    I'm not an Adult though.... I'm in my early Teens. So I go for child's price.
     
  6. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    The Blues Bros ?
     
  7. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    Steady now, steady, : )
     
  8. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I've done a few tours that require shunting and the steam loco has done it itself. The Waverley, Lindum Fayre and SSE are three that spring to mind.
     
  9. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Pay attention at the back there. 6023, 60007 and 60163.
     
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  10. theblackwatch

    theblackwatch New Member

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    The Cheshireman on May 26th looks interesting, particularly the outline timings - I think even a diesel would struggle to manage 3 hrs 25 minutes from Chester to Ealing Broadway via the MML. Is it actually steam both ways? Quite where the Northampton loop fits in, I'm not sure...
     
  11. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Have you not learned by now that the RTC does not know how to spell proof read, let alone what it means?! I think you will find that this is one of their infamous cut and paste jobs where the timings refer to one thing and the main text something else.

    This was originally the standard Euston to Chester via Northampton trip that has changed to an Ealing Broadway start because that's more convenient for the stock and loco that originate from Southall. Give them time and they will sort it out, we hope.
     
  12. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    The post wasn't suggesting you personally should pay the adult fare. Whilst you are lucky enough to pay £55, many others will have to pay £90, so the post was merely adding the adult price in the interests of balance. Anyway, its good you are supporting steam on the mainline, and I hope others will follow your example for the future of the movement.

    I've also been on tours where steam has done all the shunting (including the January WCME when Nos 61264 and 45407 did a GWR sandwich-style of shunt between support coaches and train), but it definitely isn't a given. Its probably just idle speculation on the part of those who have told me, but I have been led to understand that in the case of 34067, it sometimes has an issue with range in terms of coal consumption (very much dependant upon quality), which is probably why it frequently gets accompanied and pushed around by a diesel on trips such as the ACE (fire-risk notwithstanding).
     
  13. JDTTRAINS

    JDTTRAINS Member

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    Ah I see sorry for that.... Mainline steam is my bread and butter, the main activity of my youth. ;)
     
  14. southern13

    southern13 New Member

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    Not very happy to find on Rtc website the alantic coast expprees has changed to June yet I've had no email from Rtc to tell me as I am booked on the tour

    Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
     
  15. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Here's the description of the first part of the route, as just copied from the website:
    '“Oliver Cromwell” will steam out of Ealing Broadway with “The Cheshireman” at around 09:30 and immediately begin working hard on the climb up Camden Bank. We stop to pick up more passengers at St Albans City and then continue through Watford Tunnel into rural Hertfordshire.'

    Should we laugh or cry?
     
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  16. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    That is a classic! Talk about cut-and-paste gone crazy.

    However,joking aside, it does seem a bit bizarre that an outfit the size of RTC apparently has no-one who can be bothered to check whats being put up on their website. It does not exactly engender confidence in the professionalism of other aspects of the organisation. I have a lot of time for RTC and count myself as a good customer of theirs but this sort of stuff is letting them down.

    Would Ray Mason,who has often posted useful info re. RTC, care to comment?
     
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  17. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Agree entirely. They get quite a lot of my money and so I think I am entitled to have a view. What it does is make me look at the unprofessional way that they go about this aspect of their work and that makes me think that this is the way they do everything else including what we don't see. Not a confidence booster therefore and a factor that now influences my booking decisions. It would, for example, stop me ever booking on one of their international holidays even though some say they run well.

    It could be argued that this is unfair but I apply the same logic to my other interactions between provider and customer and it's seldom proved to be wrong.
     
  18. meltonnorth

    meltonnorth New Member

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    An error was made by a new member of staff to which we apologise

    I imagine all on this forum understand what is really happening with this train we were moving because work around Euston meant we could not run up the West Coast Main Line
    The new route is Ealing Broadway and the Midland Main Line Hopefully direct via Market Harborough and Wigston

    I am amazed that this error has caused so much bad feeling towards Rtc
    the update being posted before we could check it which was unfortunate

    Reading all the comments on here I can fully understand we are not at all popular on this Forum
    We have tried to introduce some Trips for Enthusiasts but it just increases our critics voice
     
  19. southern13

    southern13 New Member

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    I agree sort out your customer service or lose another customer and I been let down to many times please tell me why you have changed the date of the Atlantic coast express from 6th April to 22nd June

    Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
     
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  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Actually Nigel, if you look elsewhere you will find praise for the t/t Bluebell Explorer last autumn and the upcoming Seaford trip which is helpfully clear about how it will operate - i.e the steam/diesel combination - and another example of an enthusiast trip that will be popular.

    Behind the occasional moan is probably a desire by those posters to try and help ensure that the RTC can promise and deliver the best in imaginative steam trips. That's for everyone's benefit. The fact you take the time to comment on Nat Pres is definitely appreciated by myself.
     

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