Belmond Private Charters

RTT for tomorrow at Betchworth has now been updated with the day's detailed workings, with no sign of anything filling the afternoon or evening slots - so presumably the working has been cancelled or re-routed. If the former is the case (as seems more likely), that's a shame as a potentially-lucrative main line steam customer has been let down and may not return. Not a good advert for the regime. Of course, it may all be owing to the hot weather and fire risk, which would exonerate steam.

 

How many times have people been told don't rely on RTT!
He said getting his steam gear together.
There is still a danger of a steam ban though, but as of 1030 ish, we are go.
The train is running though, even if it has to be a 67.

 

Hi Wayne. Thank you for your post. Are you able to advise as to what time the train will be off Victoria please?

 

I just took a wander over t'shed, and No 9 seems to be being prepped. Nice to get out of the air conditioned office here at Stewarts Lane sometimes...

 

prepped for what though, surrey hills which should leave victoria at 12:28 or move to mid norfolk railway

 

While cant confirm times I do know todays Belmond is an evening job.

 

Well, at the risk of being told not to take notice of RTT, it's usually reliable enough to show a train running in Q slots, neither of which are being used from Victoria today. Nothing shown via the Surrey Hills either, so, if it is running it may be from another terminus and running on another route, and with diesel, so not exactly the original planned trip! I hope I'm wrong and we can tell when it will pass my house at Betchworth!

 

There are some moves showing in Open Train Times, though:

http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U55353/2017-06-20 - ECS?
http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U55346/2017-06-20 - banker / LE back to Stewarts Lane
http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U55350/2017-06-20 - 1850 departure around normal Surrey Hills circuit

Always worth checking OTT if RTT doesn't have what you want

 

As posted above, 1850 from Victoria.
Surrey hills circuit but out via Kensington, Willesden SWS, Kew East then normal route.

 

Thanks, Wayne. Fingers crossed for steam!

 

I've never really understood the point of this late evening slot round the Surrey Hills, as, even now with the days at their longest, the scenic section is in darkness. There have been recent 60103 workings in and out of Victoria in the height of the peak, so it would seem possible to find a slot that would give daylight round the hills if only in summer. Anyhoo, here's hoping for steam, which I assume can only be 60009 if it's now in working order?

 

Indeed - but it requires knowledge of which trains may or may not appear on RTT to then check OTT. OTT's timing points are also much sparser than RTT's - e.g. nothing between Gomshall and Reigate. Neither is perfect. Not clear why RTT doesn't have this run, as it's not secret (e.g. Royal Train) and must have been cleared with NR ages ago.

 

Presumably the same path as the Railway Children Special of the 13th?

 

Now on RTT:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55353/2017/06/20/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55350/2017/06/20/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55346/2017/06/20/advanced


Hopefully steam?

 

No9 sat waiting for the off when I left Victoria 10 minutes ago.

 

RTT has it now but seems odd, with the usual "at platform" at Victoria not showing, even though it has been reported as being there. Now 10 after scheduled departure time and not showing as being either at Victoria or underway.

 

It seems to be a really private charter! Both RTT and OTT are still not showing any action on this run.

 

Yes - the late appearance on RTT is very unusual. It suggests a security issue, perhaps? I have never known another train to appear on both RTT and OTT but not to have progress updated. Odd.

 

RTT has now caught up with it, 3 early at Latchmere Jct. OTT now also activated.