RTC 2014

2nd Seaford - Brighton now departs from Kensington Olympia according to the website. Glad I booked the first one, having to get there from Bedford would have been a pain in the backside.

 

That's a pain. I had originally booked the Saturday trip but changed it to the Sunday for the sake of starting from Waterloo. For me Olympia is less convenient to get to than either Waterloo or Victoria, but not too bad.

 

I don't know how many here know but the Cumbrian Mountain Express departing out of Newcastle has sold out. In my view, A good move to have a tour from Newcastle traversing the S&C.

 

Timings now up for Welsh Borderer on Saturday week. My wife & I are booked on this one, and really looking forward to it.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55121/2014/05/17/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55127/2014/05/17/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55122/2014/05/17/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55123/2014/05/17/advanced

(Second of these four timings is the running round for 34046 on the triangle at Gloucester)
I know these are only provisional timings at this stage. It would be good if the silly break of almost an hour sitting outside Oxford doing nothing could be eradicated when the final timings are agreed. I mean, honestly, what a waste of everyone's time. Who dreams up these paths?

 

Water stop at Oxford

 

and also pathing.

 

There are only 2 through platforms at Oxford so Steam has to use the loop for a water stop and pathing.

 

Well, I'm sure that something less idiotic could have been arranged for the return trip. It is held in the Magor loop for 20 minutes while a Gloucester-bound train passes by. Result: Gloucester passengers (including wife and self) have to wait nearly an hour at Severn Tunnel Junction before the next one comes along. We won't be home now till 11PM because of this stupidity. I feel like giving up going on main line steam trips if these stupid long stops in the middle of nowhere can't be eliminated. However, rather than just whinging on this forum, I have sent an e-mail back to RTC begging them to try and sort out something better. you never know, sometimes, better timings have been negotiated at the last minute.

 

I suspect it is a water stop see times on Uk Steam for last years trip - http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t0504a.htm

 

Yes, but last year it then ran on to Gloucester and then back to Bristol via Cam and Wickwar. This year, it's almost home at this point.

 

Letter from RTC stays 'The Royal Duchy' on 15th June is cancelled due to the lack of turntable at Par. The 29th June train (and future trains) will run with the loco running round and Plymouth Friary and working tender first from Plymouth Friary to Par. New projected departure from Bristol is 08:15. Return times are the same.

 

2nd Seaford 150 : -

Standard 9 seats left
First 19 seats left
Dining 56 seats left

 

Bristol. The Bermuda Triangle of the railway system.
I was returning to Bristol Temple Meads on a charter some years ago. It was very late at night. We were 35 mins early but were held at Barton Hill, some 400 yards from Temple Meads station. Not one train passed us. After 40 minutes we eventually arrived at the station. There were no other trains in the station and the place was deserted. Perhaps your 65 minutes from leaving the water stop at Magor to BTM may not be so unusual after all!! <BJ>

 

Times now on RTT for both Seaford - Brighton trips from London Victoria/Kensington Olympia to Eastbourne. the iPad won't allow me to copy links at the mo, have a look for Departures from Eastbourne on 07/06 and 08/06.

 

Timings for Seaford - Brighton trips.

Saturday (07/06) 70013/TBA Victoria - Seaford, Newhaven Harbour - Newhaven Marine, Brighton - Eastbourne, Hastings - Victoria:
Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63082/2014/06/07/advanced - 1Z46
Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63083/2014/06/07/advanced - 1Z47

Sunday (08/06) 70013/TBA Kenny 'O - Seaford, Newhaven Harbour - Newhaven Marine, Brighton - Eastbourne, Hastings - Kenny 'O:
Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63093/2014/06/08/advanced - 1Z42
Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63094/2014/06/08/advanced - 1Z43

 

Seems as though the 'Tin Bath' has been wiped, as its no longer on the trips menu. Shame, as I was going to book it as seats were freed-up, but I suppose two postponements in a year and the iffy November weather meant this was the best course of action to take.

 

Its still on the booking form, maybe its something to do with the previous date which has just passed and the computer deleted it, this happened earlier see post #37 & #38 on the Tin Bath thread
http://www.national-preservation.com/threads/the-tin-bath-25th-may.199614/page-2

 

Strange, as it was also on the list on the L-H side for November up until the weekend. Might be a website error after all.