RTC 2023

Is a Castle wider than a Scot, despite having slightly slimmer cylinders?

 

Onboard todays Kentish Belle with 45596, load 10 with premier at the front all day and 47802 at the rear, crew for the outward are B Monteith and J Johnson

A rather slow run so far through the outer London suburbs, except for one or two sections of high speed running, so far topped 73mph, 47 has been providing a considerable amount of assistance so far

Currently at Ashford for a pathing stop

 

Why is there so much diesel these days? I can appreciate during fire risk periods but getting shoved around the country side by a diesel isn't what folks pay for...... and the exact reason I don't bother with mainline steam anymore.

 

Glad you mentioned Ashford - this trip had passed under my radar. I hope to catch the return leg this evening

 

Apart from anything else needs to reverse on the Sheerness branch using the triangle just west of Sittingbourne.

 

Not much further to add after Ashford, rather slow run other than a sprint at 76mph between Margate and Herne Bay, I’ve chosen to alight at the latter for some seaside vibes today

Info from the tour manager suggests for the return 45596 will be the first steam locomotive to haul a charter down the single track branch through Birkbeck since 70000 back in 1994, neat bit of red pen for a midweek tour!

 

Yhe Kentish Belle, 45596 Bahamas, 9th August 2023.
Filmed at Minster:

 

Well, it's been debated to death on this thread https://www.national-preservation.c...s-including-the-use-of-diesels.757898/page-48 so why not have a read of that. But the most common reasons will be required for shunting at destination, fire risk and train too heavy for rostered locomotive, amongst others. Anything operated by LSL/Saphos will always have a diesel, it appears to be their policy.

In fact there have been many diesel-free trains in recent weeks (obviously helped by rainfall), but I don't think any of them have been South of Thames.

 

I was on the train ahead of Bahamas at Otford, the driver was going slow because he'd been given reports of a potential lineside fire. There wasn't one in the end, but that could've resulted in the crew on Bahamas being warned there might have been one and to take it steady in that area, as the diesel was on full wack. Complete speculation of course, there's many reasons the diesel might need to kick in.

Out of all the other shots I got of Bahamas today the diesel has been on tick over doing nothing (well except for the time it was leading the ECS of course...)

 

Bahamas on today's Kentish Belle, seen at Kemsing, Sittingbourne (inc the nearby Sittingbourne light railway), Kemsley, and Birchington:

 

Photos of the tour around sunny Kent yesterday.

Passing the foot crossing just north of Shoreham station in the Darent Valley.


Passing under the A20 after the stop at Charing.


About to pass under the A299 at Cliffsend.


At Goodnestone on the way to Faversham.


The return leg at Wye in the evening.

 

All of the RTC trips for the Xmas season plus Mancunian in October initally booked for 6233 are now being advertised as a locomotive from the Carnforth Pool

With the exception of the Worcester Christmas Express which is now advertised as Flying Scotsman with FS fares now bumped up, I wonder if those that prebooked this one have been lucky with not having to pay the extra Scotsman fee

 

Interested to see what hauls the Bath Christmas Express from my local station, as it's a tour I'm considering doing. 35018, 46115 or 45699 would all be very welcome and rare locos, but I'd assume 44932 is a possibility given the Christmas Sussex Belle is listed as having its regularly scheduled Black 5 and a picture of 44932.

 

I would expect the Cotswold Venturer next Saturday to be cancelled or re-scheduled. There's an RMT strike that day and Shrub Hill station is usually closed completely on those days, due to station staff not working. There are no passenger trains due to call at the station all day. You'll recall what happened with the Lickey trips VT wanted to run there earlier this year.

 

Now running to Gloucester, updated on RTCs website with what look like the actual timings. Involves an unusual pick up/set down at Langley, presumably it’s been offered due to Slough closing early for the day. Great work from all concerned.

 

Only if you live near London or a pickup point. There's such a limited service on the GWR. The first Temple Meads -Paddington isn't until 0730 and the last train back from Pad to Temple Meads is 1730. And that's if they actually run. There were last minute cancellations last time.

 

Although when I lived in the area it had a small car park and parking restrictions all around. Maybe post Crossrail things have changed.

 

Once again lack of proof reading as the opening paragraph still describes the destination as Worcester...

It's sadly a no win situation, find an alternative path (which they have) and run the tour as best as possible in the restrictions, or don't run it at all because people can't get to it, and those that can then miss out, especially as this particular Venturer was probably popular given that 45690, a rare visitor to the south, is booked to haul it.

IMO, I personally prefer these new timings, despite the fact its a different destination, although an hour or two later leaving Gloucester for a bit more time to visit would be better and still make a near 9pm arrival back at Paddington with an 8am start. Much more preferable than the 7am start the Venturer has to have now these days, but obviously in this case the early departure from Gloucester is to get back to Paddington before the station closes.

 

None of our options are great. Round trip to Didcot Parkway, 240 mile; close to 5 hours on the road. Round trip to Reading, 230 miles; 4 hrs+ on the road. Not much chance of getting nearer to Pad. Only 1 DPW-Slo and 1 DPW-Pad; 3 services from RDG to get to Slough or PAD before CV departs. Only 3 back if train gets in RT at 1843: 1848/1850/1858. Tight to say the least and there are no guarantees any of them will run! We'll probably go to do the 3rd Jub over Sapperton but not fans of Gloucester. We were looking forward to having a lazy afternoon in Worcester after a seriously good lunch at Brown's on the Quay.