West Highlander 2009

Hi

I'm booked on it and it was close to being booked out mid-july. I taking it no news on here is good news.

Jeff

 

Hi all

I can tell you that standard has sold out as i tried in some hope a few weeks ago to get a ticket. Was only a few seats in the other classes. Looks to be a smashing tour.....hope you enjoy the trip 45064.

 

Yeah we have most of the details (No tickets etc) yet but we have the confirmation that states it has the green light...


Should be a good weekend,just hope the K4 produces as that is pretty much my main reason for going....


Cheers,
Mark

 

Have you been told outline times yet? I'm going to follow this one, and need to book B&Bs. Any help with start/finish times, etc. would be very welcome. TIA.

 

Travelled on this tour in 2006 & 2007, and can highly recommend it.
With limited paths on the West Highland line, you may get a rough idea by looking at these which are still on UK Steam
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs07.htm#sep
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs06.htm#sep

 

The only times that have been given, are as the RTC website, which are -

Day 1 Depart Preston 11.00am

Day 2 Depart Glasgow 7.00am

Day 3 Depart Fort William 10.00am

 

I did a version of this in 2005 and it still ranks as one of the best tours i've ever been on especially as we had the bonus of steam on the Oban branch which to my knowledge hasn't been repeated. I look forward to seeing the pictures! I will have to settle for a ride on the last week of the Jacobites...

 

There won't be any steam to Oban in the forseeable futire as there is a weak bridge somewhere or other, not sure where, which is preventing steam operating on the Oban line.

 

I don't believe we have any times yet,when we recieve the tickets i will post them,hopefully soon.

 

start and finish times now on rtc website.
anyone travelling prepare yourself for a shock as 8.20 departure from preston and arrival in glasgow at 17.57. know wear near the around 11 estimated departure time, and know wonder there is not many tours over beattock to glasgow as you could cycle there quicker.

 

This 0820 departure could well lead to a lot of cancellations if it is correct as the departure time of 1100 was specifically made to allow people time to get to Preston from from London, The Midlands, Eastern England etc. Many will have only taken the one day off work [Friday] so will be unable to get to Preston the day before. In any event that's likely to add circa £100 to the bill for an extra nights accommodaton in Preston. Perhaps the 0820 departure time is a misplrint! Surely it cannot be right. Where is the train going in taking until 1757 to get to Glasgow!

 

The times I have show Preston dep 10.11, Glasgow arr 17.57

David at www.uksteam.info

 

Have just received my tickets & spoken to the RTC.

The RTC website is a misprint and the Preston Departure is 10.11.

Other times on the RTC letter as per the RTC website.

Jeff

 

Times now on UK steam info.Does anyone know why there is a stop at Tebay.Is this water on just someone at the timeing office idea of a laugh!
As far as I can remember this is the first time this would have happened apart from the planned banker trip where the 2-6-0 came off the front of the train to be the banker.

 

There are also two other changes of note.A banker from Queen St on Saturday and I think that the Jub comes off at Carnforth on the return.I just hate these late changes.It just not professional.I can understand why this is happening but it should be advised in the promotion of the tour.

 

Well unless you want to sit a QS all day i should think it is a good idea...... They probably didn't know about these problems when it was advertised,with the way your carrying you'd think they had just announced it was diesel hauled from QS-Mallaig and back!

However the Tebay stop is a little disappointing,i reckon there would have been the chance of a record otherwise? Load 7 or 8?

 

I think a banker out of Queen Street was always going to happen - just as all steam trains out of London Victoria are banked by a diesel (except when the diesel fails). At least it's only as far aw Cowlairs - in previous years, the diesel has not come off until Ashfield or even Craigendoran Jn.

It would have been nice though if we could have run into Queen Street on Sunday so that the K4 could have acted as banker to Leander.

The stop at Tebay could be interesting - has steam taken Shap from a standing start in recent times?

 

Well as its fully booked and I couldn't get on - the B&B is arranged for Friday and Saturday for a weekend's motoring.

Anyone for a pint in the Grog on Saturday night?