RTC 2022

The program is beginning to expand. One of our favourite trains, the early year Cotswold Venturer is on the 19th February with 60103 as motive power. The fares are eye watering; Std £165; First £235; Premier Dining £335.

 

Not to us, much as we love the route with lunch in Worcester and Sapperton on the return.

 

No, but 60007 might be!

 

The WCME are up too

 

Pretty much the entire range now up until September 2022. Many of the regulars, but also an interesting one-off in the guise of 'The Mancunian'.

 

The rare treat of a Duchess out of Euston, and just for fun arriving at Piccadilly but returning from Victoria.

 

Hopefully this coming year, we might see the Dorset Coast Expresses running as advertised, with 31806 doing the honours between Weymouth and Southampton on the return leg. I've been itching to go on this for the last two years but a combination of restrictions in 2020 and a motive power shortage at Swanage has messed up RTC's (and my) plans. Next year, with 34028, 34070 and 34072 also available to work Swanage Railway Services, the U can be spared to do a few more trips on the main line and if the loco out of London will be 45596 as advertised, one has all the makings of great day out.

Incidentally, I'm surprised that 45596 is coming back down south after some comments by @Johnb's who is, I believe a member of BLS. If I have understood him correctly, most of the support crew are based in the north of England and have to sleep in the support coach next to the busy GW main line at Southall when the loco does trips out of London, which they don't find to be a particularly enjoyable experience. If Bahamas does come down south again for the summer as advertised, a big thank you is therefore due in advance to those people who will be facing several nights disturbed by 59s and 66s rolling past on heavy stone trains.

 

So the pricing is pretty favourable relative to the competition.

Interesting photo on the Tynesider page! I didn't think North Lincs and Morpeth looked quite like that.

 

They’re a hardy lot those northerners! I think the opportunity to spread the engines fame far and wide trumps the deprivations of Southall depot. There are times when you have to keep telling yourself that it’s a hobby. I was on the Bristol Belmond recently with all its problems of operational difficulties and consequent late running. Getting up at 03.45 and not getting home until 01.30 the next morning is a long day but looking back it was an enjoyable day and I’d do it all again. I look on being invited to work up close with steam as a privilege

 

They obviously think it is to Joe public and they will know their market considerably better than we do.

 

I think most if not all FS trips sell out. I guess there is a price point that becomes too much for many, but not sure any tour company has reached it yet.
One of those iconic things I guess that trades on its name, I suppose some car brands are similar.

 

Ooooffffttt - additional tour visible tonight and it looks a good un'

Saturday 19th March - Preston to Edinburgh (Steam from Carnforth and return) - Shap and Beattock both ways - a repeat of what was supposed to have been the A1 Trusts slightly ill-fated "Caledonian" in many respects...

https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-edinburgh-flyer

 

Re run of the Peaks Express as well
https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-peaks-express


wrong date though 2021 instead of 2022!!!

 

Great to see the Royal Duchys back to their former routing with steam coming on at Bristol Temple Meads. Two dates announced, 31st July and 21st August.

 

Getting closer. The 31st July has steam outward from Bristol to Plymouth and back from Par; so still no turntable use at St Blazey; the 21st August is only steam from Bristol to Plymouth and return. no steam in Cornwall at all.

 

This may seem a daft question (as there may be a logical reason that just escapes me...) but why would both RTC and Steam Dreams have a big gap between early April and the middle of May?
Yes Easter is in the middle of this but I would of expected these dates to be prime - especially for Steam Tours with the longer daylight hours and a significant less chance of fire risk.

Loco availability perhaps? Just strikes me as being a bit odd that's all.

 

For RTC the Great Britain is at the end of April, so that would account for quite a bit of it. There may also be more tours to add. I've heard there are some tours which are still awaiting approval to be made public.

 

Thanks Ian - I'd completely overlooked the GB tour - and "The Shetlander" (another multi day tour) follows hot on the heels - I had wondered if I had missed something really quite obvious!

 

Some trips with Clan Line have been added : -

2/7/22 The Atlantic Coast Express see https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-atlantic-coast-express

9/9/22 The End of Southern Steam see https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-end-of-southern-steam

27/8/22 The Cotswold Venturer https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-cotswold-ventureraa3f5720