RTC 2025

Yes did at least two LE runs yesterday afternoon, although it bought a new 33 back from Corfe on one of them.

 

Re:- RTC Railway 200. I wrote to RTC last week with a genuine concern over this train.
"My wife and I are booked on the Railway 200 trip on 27th September. I think you would agree that this is perhaps the most significant railtour for many years given the date on which it is taking place and the route over which it is projected to travel.
West Coast Rail’s reliance on a tiny number of locos is seemingly wearing rather thin, given the recent failures and the withdrawal of Tornado from the rosters. I would like to be assured that all is being done to assure beyond any reasonable doubt that this landmark railtour WILL be steam hauled as scheduled from York.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Neil "

The answer was thus:- "Good afternoon, I can confirm we intend to run the trip as scheduled at this point in time. We intend to run the trip steam hauled between York and Bishop Auckland and on the return between Darlington and York. You can find further details on the link below:https://www.railwaytouring.net/r200-27-09-25
I hope this helps.
Kind regards
Jack Amos
Office Assistant
The Railway Touring Company"

I found this response desperately disappointing seemingly completely ignoring the the current situation and advising me to read the webpage which of course I would have done to book it in February.

Or do I just expect too much for my £450.

 

Whilst understanding your concerns what is wrong with the answer "I can confirm we intend to run the trip as scheduled at this point in time".
What were you expecting the answer to be, I am a little confused.
The website makes no mention of loco, maybe it did before, was it originally down as a Tornado trip?

 

With the recent loco failures and consequent cancellations and assumed lack of back up I guess I was looking to a more pro-active answer i.e. hopefully a plan B or at least a description of what they are doing to ensure it will run with steam..
No there was no loco mentioned, not that I expected one and Tornado had another duty that day but I suppose might have been able to step in.

 

This might slightly put your mind at rest. The Jacobite afternoon service ends the day before the Railway 200 trip, based on last year, one of the Fives headed back to Carnforth as soon as this happened so my prediction is this railtour will be run with the Five that leaves Scotland first.

 

Even with the best will in the world, getting from Fort William to York overnight is almost impossible. The loco will have worked pretty much every day for the last 5 months, based 300 miles away from home. With a diesel on the front you might be able to get to York in 15-16 hours - leaving Fort William at 6pm would get you to York about 9am, just in time for the tour!

 

Given how heaven and earth were moved to get Tornado from Edinburgh to Southall last month, I wouldn't say it's out of the question.

 

It's possible that the final week of the afternoon Jacobite could always be diesel hauled, to facilitate a washout and then movement to York.

I do believe that the Jacobite has regularly been diesel hauled outside of fire risk, due to planned washout and maintenance routines for the Black 5's, with WCRC notifying passengers a few days beforehand. If the Railways 200 tour is of big enough headline, I can see a lack of hesitation in sacrificing the final few afternoon trips in the Fort...

 

44871 is down on RTC site to pull the Royal Duchy on 31st August. I'm presuming this is a typo as that's still got duties in Scotland so perhaps 45212 is taking the train instead.

 

There was talk of swapping the pair of them around

 

Yes I had heard that as well.

 

Ah ok that explains it. Also makes sense as 45212 boiler ticket expires I think September/October so having it end the Jacobite and go straight into an overhaul would be a good plan.

 

Email from RTC this afternoon of September trips makes no mention of the Swanage Belle, WSSE or DCE, all which are currently on the website. Maybe they are all sold out or perhaps now not running.
Also refers to the trip on the 11th as a CCE when the website has it as a CME. Is the coast not shut anyway so you cannot go all the way?

 

Yes, Network Rail currently says Bransty Tunnel is closed until 23 Sept. that's the first date RTT is showing through trains.

 

That was the end date for the planned closure, when it was only due to start on 30th August.

At the moment, it's closed "indefinitely", and I've heard November mentioned as a possible reopening date - though that was several weeks ago.

 

I have read on Facebook (all information to be taken with an appropriate amount of salt of course) that apparently 45212 has failed today with another hotbox issue, has anyone heard anything official?

 

Swanage Belle timings (assuming there is a steam loco for it).

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U61633/2025-09-10/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U61634/2025-09-10/detailed

 

Has there been anymore news as to when 34028 is going to be tested so it can be used on tours. I know it could be due to the fire risk that it has been delayed but I also heard WCRC had an issue with the electronic equipment.