RTC 2014

Hello Ray. Thanks for taking the time to reply. It's much appreciated. Fingers crossed we get at least one SR loco on the 9th July DCE!

 

Due to loco availability issues the DCE will run with one steam loco unless another can be found. Let's hope 34016 and the Carnforth Merchant are ready soon then theDCE can be a proper 2 steam loco trip as originally envisaged
Sorry to be the bearer or confirmer of this unwelcome news.

 

Thanks for the update Ray.

I wonder what the loco will be for the 9th of July? Icons of steam site doesn't even mention these trips.

Sent from my C1905 using Tapatalk

 

According to the 5305LA website 70013 will haul the DCE'S trips both ways on 16/7, 30/7, 6/8, 13/8, 20/8, and 27/8.

 

I take it then that 70013 is no longer doing the Scarborough Flyers, as both uksteam & RTC website say it is

 

Received an email from RTC today indicating a new pickup stop on the 'Valleys Explorer' at Newport, which is sensible. No mention of 4936, so either NR have already said no or they are still working at it.

 

4936 will not be used,sadly.
The kitchen car will not be on so the replacement vehicle is a TSO
LOTS more seats for enthusiasts.......!!

 

It was a long shot. Shame there isn't anything else gauge-friendly or with a support crew at Bristol that could be tagged onto the back...

 

Actually the sheer volume of work is a fantastic achievement and the total turnover of the main line steam industry must be £20-30 million not including ancillaries, catering. Ridership of say 300,000 says a lot of people like this pastime and are willing to pay and the total volume of activity has stood up through the worst recession in many a year.

If ADB has finished lying down in a darkened room with a nasty headache there are two other categories which I think are interesting

1. Postponements--- ran as planned in terms of route but on a different date (multiple count as more than one!)

2. Diesel assisted

My amateur impression is that both of these may have increased in proportion recently.

 

I'm sure lots of enthusiasts would travel if it wasn't diesel assisted. There is no runaround at Ebbw Vale but why couldn't the diesel have been sent to Newport? And is the length of the train the reason for taking it to Rhymney? I didn't think Rhymney had lost it's sidings. In 2001 when we did it with the Pocket Rocket, the loco ran around the train and took it back to Cardiff. Being pushed up the valleys just doesn't do it for me.

 

It was looking promising about two weeks ago. Not sure how long the train is, but there's a carriage of space worth £5785 left in Standard class, and a carriage and a half of space worth £13,066 in the now expanded First class. It ain't looking too good at the moment, but I hope my doubts are proved wrong. Otherwise, it would make three trips in a row cancelled or postponed to an unsuitable date so far this year. Looking on the brighter side, it would mean a bit of money to spend on one of the new trips; I do have my eye on the Easterling, but I am almost afraid of jinxing it by booking!

 

Clarification!
If 4936 passes gauging it will be the second loco(not a diesel )
The results of gauging are awaited. Fingers crossed

 

Oh, well in that case I'm keeping everything I possibly can crossed (Just realised this is my 2,000th post on NatPres)!

 

Marvelous. Valleys Explorer caped because of firemens's strike, which was supposed to start about the time we'd have provisionally got back to Newport. Third trip cancelled in a row, second because of the strike, and I have to say that as a result, sympathy from my neck of the woods is waning. It may sound selfish, but I've already said that the dispute has been in gridlock for three years with little prospect of strike action resolving it.

 

Hmm, that would be a shame, if confirmed. What's your source? Cancelled completely or just postponed to later in the year?

 

Postponed until the Autumn according to RTC website.

Dorset Coast Express 16th July also cancelled.

 

My source was an email from RTC yesterday as I was booked on it. I'll try and keep the booking if I can, but it will entail me having to go out of my way to get to Bristol at that time of year.

 

W

We've also lost Carnforth to Carlisle on the CME of the 19th because of the FBU strike now. Booked it more for No. 9 over Shap than the S&C return. Can't believe that only steam hauled trains are affected. Of course there are no potential fire hazards like flashovers or sparks from braking or sparks on the third rail during those times are there???? Tour should have been cancelled, especially as it appears we won't even get to Carlisle any earlier to enjoy more beer time.

 

If it had to run without steam at all and/or was only part full, then maybe. Since there will be steam for the return and (I guess) a pretty full load, it's probably better to run it. Maybe you can transfer to a different date?

 

Just be thankful you have steam at all! The strike was only supposed to affect the final hour of my trip on Sunday, but it seems Notwork Fail decided to cape the lot, instead of undertaking work-arounds. Having kept a close eye on bookings for the trip, there is also the possiblity that more bookings were required to break even as there was no Premier Dining, so a combination of both strike and this may have meant that the best thing to do was postpone. At least there might be a chance for two steamers to take part on the revised date, but I will have to wait and see when it will take place before I confirm my booking as it will probably take a fair bit of planning on my part.