RTC 2015

The Mk 2 carriages don't seem to be in use at the moment. They were last year and IIRC they were in use for the Valentines run which I travelled on. Looking at videos of trips since the WCRC situation the formation for SD has been MK 1 stock only.

 

I've just noticed that RYTC's advertisement for the Royal Duchy on 5th July shows a rather nice
photograph of 5029 'Nunney Castle' departing from Bristol with TBEL's Torbay Express. <BJ>
http://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/the-royal-duchy-3

 

While there were none in use on the 4/6 to Bath, their were 7 Mk 2 carriages on the trip to Worcester on the 7/6 and at least 3 in use on the trip to Minehead ( the one that was oringinally due to go to Kingswear).
The set used on the 4/6 appears to have been used on the CME on the 6/6.

 

More chance of 2 locos and support crew being available with fewer trips.

 

RYTC appear to be cancelling quite a number of charters in the south
and west of the country at present due to various reasons. <BJ>

5th July. Royal Duchy. CANCELLED.
12th July. Royal Duchy. CANCELLED.
18th July. Cotswold Venturer. CANCELLED.
19th July. Weymouth Seaside Express. CANCELLED.
Plus London to Weymouth trains:
9th July. CANCELLED.
15th July. CANCELLED.

 

I would imagine some of the cancellations are to do with the steam ban in the south west issued by Network Rail.

 

Cheers Bill - it's a big pity. The RD on 5th and 12th July are new cancellations, aren't they? IIRC, the others have been shown cancelled in UKSteam for a little while.

I was looking forward to seeing both Tornado on the TBX and Tangmere on the Duchy on Sun. 12th

 

Yes, the Royal Duchy trains are the most recent cancellations. The train on Sunday can be put down to the steam ban but the train on the 12th is a different matter. Who can tell how much rain we shall have in the next ten days.

I'm also looking forward to Tornado on the Torbay Express. If the Weymouth Seaside Express is cancelled on the 26th July, the 12th July Torbay Express behind Tornado will be the final steam charter to run via Bath before the GWML upgrade / electrification work starts in the area.

From Network Rail.

''Why are we doing it?
We need to make room under bridges for the new overhead electric line equipment. In other, less sensitive areas, we have been able to demolish and reconstruct bridges. Bath however is in a World Heritage Site which means we need to find alternative methods. Whilst we are track lowering to achieve this clearance, it also gives us the opportunity to replace the track, which is something we need to do on a regular basis to maintain safety and performance of the infrastructure.

When are we doing it?
This huge piece of engineering is scheduled to take place over six weeks this summer and is split into two phases that you will notice.
18 July to 31 July 2015
The line between Chippenham and Bathampton Junction will be closed.
This will result in a reduced number of services from Bath Spa towards London to one per hour and they will be diverted via Westbury.

1 August to 31 August 2015
The line between Chippenham and Bath Spa will be closed as will the line between Westbury and Bathampton Junction.
This means that there will be no trains running between Westbury, Freshford and Avoncliff to Bath Spa and journeys towards London from Bath Spa will be routed via Bristol Temple Meads and Parkway''.

<BJ>

 

Just had this email with some discounts:

Special offer on Cumbrian Mountain Express 18th July, North Wales Coast Express 19th July and Welsh Mountaineer 21st July tours

We are pleased to offer you a special discount of £10 per person in any class on the Cumbrian Mountain Express 18th July, North Wales Coast Express 19th July or Welsh Mountaineer 21st July tours.



To obtain the discount please quote promotional code SND when placing your booking.

 

Would be nice to know what planned for these trips before booking, besides not 61994...
Is 45305 about to leave GCR or is that 0/2 per the brochure?

 

I hope the WSR trips don't get cancelled. Seriously considering one of them as it's been a long time since I last visited the WSR. Trouble is with the current weather I fear they will suffer too (first one scheduled for 25th July).

 

The Waverley 19th July appears un bookable - **on the RTC website** - now which may sit with todays rumour.
(**edited after quote below)

 

What rumour?

 

Probably not the same rumour, but its seems fairly official that WCRC are not being permitted to apply for paths over the southern end of the ECML (ie. York-KGX) at the moment. Had a cancellation letter from RTC for the 'Pilgrim Fathers' today to this effect. Not sure whether this will be resolved after the 20 July review of WCRC progress, or not. Either way, the whole issue rumbles on as predicted.

 

The Waverley on the 19/7 and 2/8 are no longer in the RTC website.

 

I'd noticed a couple of days ago that the 19/7 Waverley was not showing as cancelled on UK Steam too.

 

Revised date for the Royal Wessex 5/9.

 

Has there been any suggestion whether the GB will run in 2016?

 

seems odd that WCRC can run diesel York/KGX(as with todays SD trip) but not steam?