Dartmouth Express 11th June 2016

Timings aren't out yet and there is an issue for RTC/NR - the train can't stop at Paignton in either direction apparently as it's the weekend of the first Torbay Airshow. Very appropriately named loco for the occasion.

http://www.torbayairshow.com/

 

Getting a bit worried about this trip as I am booked on it and I still haven't had any tickets or timings through yet. Hopefully there might be some tickets when I get home this evening.
Surely they can run straight through Paington as the destination of the Rail Tour is Kingswear? Or do they have to stop to attach the P&D Diesel to the rear?

 

A P&D crew usually take over at Paington.

 

Could the P&D crew join at Newton Abbot if necessary?

Or is there also a signalling issue, a train not being allowed to run straight through the station and over the boundary without stopping?

 

Just got the Email from RTC. Steam now coming on at Taunton on the outward. Later return too.

Journey Details

06.35 Woking 23.54
06.56 Guildford 23.33
07.49 Reading 22.52
08.25 Newbury 22.23
09.18 Westbury 21.12
13.15 (arr.) Kingswear 17.30 (dep.)

This is on the letter:

Please note that due to the Torbay Airshow there will not be a stop available for our passengers to
disembark at Paignton. There are platform restrictions and extra service trains which are scheduled on the day, which will make it too difficult for our passengers to be able to rejoin our train at Paignton on the return journey. Please accept our apologies for this change.

Please accept our apologies for the later than advertised return times for the tour which is also due to the Torbay Airshow and the extra service train traffic that is therefore operating on Saturday.

 

Also had the e-mail. The timings have totally screwed up our chances of travelling on this. The outward run departure time now only gives us the option of one train to catch to get to Guildford in time for the charter, if that is delayed we miss the charter.
The return run timings are even more helpful as the charter returns to Guildford after the last train back to Aldershot has gone and also after the last train from Woking back to Aldershot has gone. I think I will be calling RTC tomorrow to transfer to another trip.

 

Yet another main line steam tour screwed up. Surely RTC must of known the Torbay Airshow was on when they planned this tour, couldn't they have re-scheduled it?

 

They should have. We've only got one train back from Westbury after 2112 and that involves hanging around there until 2210.
Not a great start to the day either as after just 20 minutes of running from Taunton over Whiteball we have to dive into Tiverton Loop on the outward to let the 1116 Cross Country to Penzance through. Hope it's late. Links to OTT are below.

https://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U54554/2016-06-11
https://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U54555/2016-06-11

 

On the basis that, I would have thought that most passengers wish to go through Kingswear, how on earth can a stop for a couple of minutes to allow passengers who wish to get off at Paignton be such a big issue. The private railway crew have to take over the WCR crews there anyway (by the way, they would be able to drive from Newton Abbot, not allowed on the national network). On the way back, again, to pick up a handful of passengers and detrain the P & D crew will take just minutes. Such an early start and late return too. What a shame for those who didn't see this coming but are booked on the trip.

 

Does show a brief stop at Paignton both ways on R.T.T

 

I have now cancelled my booking for this "epic trip" to the West Country and now have credit to use on another occasion. Very helpful and understanding staff at RTC.
Off to the MHR War on The Line event instead on Saturday.

 

They can change crew at goodrington surely, both ways no need for a Paignton stop then.

 

I doubt if WCR is allowed beyond Paignton station!

 

Regardless of changing crews. Trains from or onto the national network can't be signalled. Therefore trains must be stopped and hand signalled over sands road level crossing, once the barriers are down and points locked in position. This means a stop on the down direction is inevitable, but the up direction can proceed without having to stop at Paignton.

 

Dave B

 

The diesel path back to Westbury in the morning is on RTT.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54561/2016/06/11/advanced

 

Another comedian, NOT!

 

I think that is for one of the Diesels involved as I believe there are top n tail diesels to work the Woking - Guildford - Taunton section. The train reverses at Guildford and only stops for 10 minutes.

 

Last time they top and tailed a train into Taunton the second diesel was left behind on P2 road and joined its colleague to return to Westbury; but these days???? who knows. If both don't come off it will be a quick return to Bristol and then home for us.