RTC 2023

.... and it looks like they will in due course. I've just received an e-mail from RTC which states:-

"We have today also launched nine dates within our 2023 daytrip programme that are scheduled to be hauled by 60103 Flying Scotsman. There are plans for a few further dates to come once the details have been finalized - so watch this space as they say!"

 

It will be interesting to see how these FS trips sell in the current economic situation the country is in. The Royal Duchy trip standard class for example:
Fares Standard
Adult
£185
Junior
£145
Family
£588

Gulp!



Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

These are unquestionably eye watering high prices but remember a Royal Duchy is limited to a load of nine coaches with standard being limited to one and a bit coaches so that could also be a factor as well as the current situation. For reference the 20th August Royal Duchy Tour has the following fares:
Standard
£134
Junior
£109
Family
£432
Unquestionably there is a Scotsman premium but the question is how many people will be put off booking given the current financial situation.

 

Never sure if the tour promotors ever look at what else is going on in the places these tours go to on a given date.

They've picked a day when Coldplay are playing the Principality Stadium to visit Cardiff.

Those that know Cardiff will know if there is an event on at the stadium, it is best avoided as all pubs and restaurants are very busy.

Reminds me of when Saphos chose to visit Cardiff when Wales v England was on in the Six Nations!!!!!!!!! but it got postponed due to covid.

 

Typical yoouf of today - no consideration for others! Surely they should have known that 60103 was in town that afternoon and should have booked to play somewhere else that day

Peter

 

If I had my way, Cold Play wouldn’t play anywhere.

 

Are the ‘Waverley's’ going to start steam hauled from York? or be like this year with steam added at Hellifield?
RTC originally said this year’s would start at York but due to NRM not having proper servicing facilities had to change it,

 

The Royal Duchy has the old timings and the journey info contains:'We leave Par steam hauled by Flying Scotsman at around 17:45'. Wonder if that will happen? Not been steam from Par for years. WCR have been saying there's not enough time to get locomotives serviced in Plymouth and then get a path for the loco and POB tender first move from Plymouth to Par. Would be good for the Duchy if that's now possible again.

 

Looking at the "rounded" timings in the RTC web site, they look very close to what operated this year with a loco change at Hellifield.
If the schedules work, why change them? I guess the cost of coal will affect the decision making by WCR as well.

Cheers, Neil

 

you would think with it being a NRM loco they would/should start it from York, especially with a £50 Scotsman surcharge

'Our steam hauled train leaves York, hauled by steam locomotive No.60103 Flying Scotsman, at 09:30 and heads for Church Fenton where we take the direct route to Leeds. We stop to pick up more passengers at Leeds, Keighley, and Skipton. There will be a stop at Hellifield for our steam locomotive to take on water before we join the famous Settle & Carlisle Railway at Settle Junction.'

 

I hope it does, same with SSE next year
I will be booking on both if they do

 

Flying Scotsman Centenary Weekender announced.

https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-flying-scotsman-centenary-weekender

 

3rd July to Aberdeen ------- 'pass through Ladybank and run via Leuchars to cross the Firth of Tay on the Tay Bridge' ----- Hmmmm !

 

Explain to me how Scotsman could cross the Tay Bridge and Tornado couldn’t? Anyway delighted Scotsman will be going to Aberdeen.

 

Do RTC know something we don't, are they telling a porky, or are they merely confused?

 

It's the way they tell 'em. ' A free evening in edinburgh' after a round trip to Aberdeen is another likely story.

 

Surely the arrival of a steam tour anywhere these days before 23:00 classes as "a free evening".

 

Looking back the closest comparison I can find would be the 2013 GB optional day trip with 45407 north and 60009 south.
Edinburgh 10:04, Aberdeen 15:06 - 16:10, Edinburgh 19:46, both ways via the Tay Bridge. The timestamp on the last pictures at South Queensferry aren't far off schedule so it could be done with some time in Edinburgh after arrival. Can it still - I would suspect only by the direct route and with a much earlier start than in 2013, for turning and servicing in Aberdeen if nothing else and of course if past restrictions have now been lifted. I'm sure someone with local route knowledge would know. It would be something if the route were open to steam again.
I did wonder though if the text for the tour included a bit of 'cut - don't read - paste', not as if that hasn't happened before.