RTC 2025

I have said this before, it’s off their own doing but that doesn’t make it any less of a shame for RTC or their paying passengers who are loosing out.

WCR cannot go on like this, it’s very poor. As I have said before, ruled the roost for too long and still think that that’s the case when it most definitely is not.

 

What has 45212 supposedly failed with that lead to it allegedly being stabled at Tyseley?

 

I couldn't agree with you more. RTC themselves do an excellent job with their trips, it's just a shame WCR continue to mess them about with locos and stock. If only there was another Toc who could take over but unfortunately there isn't.

 

Again, WCR have a monopoly on it. If you aren't LSL or VT then you're stuffed in terms of operating license and stock since Riviera sold their stock to WRC (worth thing to happen to the railtour industry in a while in my opinion) because there is simply in no one else. I don't know how friendly the relationship between RTC and WCR is (I assume quite friendly given they worth togther) but if I were RTC I would be taking them to task on it as it's a direct reflection, in the public eyes at least, of RTC as a company as it's them whom the customer deals with, not WTC so as a result it will be RTC who gains the bad reputation in the long terms in the eyes of the customer especially in the non enthusiant market.

Now just to be clear I am not attacking WCR on this as break downs and issues do happen and that is the fault of no one other than lady luck but this is becoming a reoccuring theme here and I don't think that it is all a case of bad luck. This loco needs withdrawing for overhaul as soon as possible but that cannot happen due to a lack of spare locos which then goes back to the CDL issue etc. LSL claim that it cost them around £32,000 per mk1 to fit CDL and comply with the regulations which, might I add, have been in the making for decades and didn't just appear one day as a suprise.

 

Another tender hotbox I am hearing.

 

A hot box will run hot when it wants. You could do lots of testing and it may not show. It will happen when it wants.

Something is clearly out of line, or not in the right place, for this to keep happening. But that’s not WCRs fault, and tbh not Riley’s. Riley’s are brilliant and if they are struggling to find it, then it suggests that the fault goes back way before they had it.

 

I think a similar situation happened with 60009 in 2019, towards the end of its ticket. It failed with a hot box, the tender was sent for repair (Riley's iirc) and when after it was repaired it ran a LE movement that acted as it's test run, but ran hot again and was pulled from the tour it was booked for the day after (I was booked on it to Lincoln).

That was when 60009 was nearing the end of it's final ticket and might have only hauled one or two more charters after prior to Covid. I think 45212 is in a similar situation regarding its boiler ticket, but we know how quickly Riley's can turn round a Black 5 overhaul (assuming Keighley want it to remain on the mainline).

 

Do we know if it’s the same axle causing the issue every time? Hopefully it’s repaired in time for the Royal Duchy on the 28th of this month.

 

You’re correct in saying that Ian and his team are those best placed to judge their locomotives fitness to run but what Alex has said is not wrong and is a logical statement, film maker or not.

 

Loco now withdrawn for immediate overhaul.

 

I'm sorry if I gave the impression I know better then them as I certainly don't. I have nothing but respect for Riley's team, hence why I never mentioned them in my comments, I'm only just watching from the sidelines here and seeing this loco keep on breaking down makes you wonder if it's had its time on this ticket. But as I said what do I know.

 

God you really don’t like me do you Martin, proper hostile.

Also, could you show me where I said I wanted the loco fixed so I can enjoy the steam? As I said in my reply to Alex it’s the passengers and RTC that suffer, I never once mentioned myself in my reply thank you.

WCR may well take a dim view but that doesn’t mean that myself or anyone else who shares my view (which is a considerable number of people) are wrong and nor does it make our opinions invalid.

Your point is bang on Alex and just because some don’t like hearing it does not make you wrong in the slightest.

 

That’s a real shame for all involved.

 

Really?

45212 current boiler certificate and mainline certification expires on 29th September 2025, according to R2.

So it’s only been withdrawn for overhaul 23 days early.

 

'
@Sidmouth would you care to comment on this? and reflect on your comment about my post, clearly too much is being expected of Ian, and his engineers, that he has decided to withdraw the engine early would indicate that something isn't right, and he knows his engines, yet West Coast, as far as I can tell, remain steadfast in not sanctioning any of its active fleet to have air pumps fitted so that the load on Ian's 5's can be reduced. with the winter tour season coming up, will there be enough engines?

 

As I stated a few minutes ago, 45212 has been withdrawn 23 days sooner than the expiry of its mainline certification.
Not exactly very early in my view .