Royal Duchy 2017

Initial times for the Royal Duchy in 2017 are now available at uksteam.info
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t17/t0723b.htm

As in previous years, the morning Torbay Express passes the Royal Duchy at Exeter St Davids

 

Royal Duchy 23rd July is cancelled!

 

Got some credit to use since my Devon belle has been cancelled October 28th so likely do a royal duchy

 

Oh poo! I'd thought about booking on that.

 

Only leaves 3 now as 27th August went weeks ago too.

 

3 Royal Duchys still scheduled but 4 cancelled. This is disappointing as these trains have been so good in the past. The trains offer an interesting and scenic route, ample steam mileage and stiff gradients. They are good value for money. What is there not to like about them? <BJ>

 

I agree. It's a bit of a schlepp from Bedfordshire to get to Bristol and back on the day but my trip with 70013 was well worth the early start and late finish.

 

Agree they used to be best value steam tours on offer. Booked many and POTD on quite a few more. Some awesome performances recorded.

But now no longer steam from Bristol and I'm generally hacked off at RTC couldn't-give-a-damn whether its steam or not attitude on other trips.

So a doing more Sunday cycle trips round the Mendips. Better for waistline and wallet!

 

Any examples of this attitude then?

Dave B

 

Email exchange with RTC following Lindum Fayre 2015.

 

And the timings on the outward - dep Taunton 1000 then sit in Exeter from 1039-1133. Was OK when it was steam from Bristol but now? Perhaps SPM will be able to accommodate more than 1 steam engine at a time when the shed is 'downgraded' after HSTs are transferred away. Overall was 326 steam miles; now just 235.

 

SPM are more than happy to accommodate 2 steam engines at once. Indeed we did it on 2 or 3 occasions last year when both the Torbay & Duchy or other tour locos operated out of the depot on the same day without any problems at all. The decision to start steam at Taunton this year was of no fault of the depot's & not our decision. SPM has been the home of the West unit fleet now for 10 years with servicing of HST's on nights only with no allocation of any HST stock since that date so I guess we were 'downgraded' as you so kindly put it 10 years ago. I think if you ask any steam loco group who have visited or stayed over the last few years that they are always made very welcome & looked after by all staff to the highest of standards.

 

Does anyone know why the Royal Duchy has been cancelled this weekend?

Uksteam has a Southall to Bishops Lydeard loco movement for Saturday, 22/07/17. <BJ>

 

Apologies for my post but that was what I was told by normally very reliable sources. Don't do rumours.

 

My cousin, who was booked on it, was told: "due to the Royal Scot repairs to the injectors not being completed in time and they're unable to find a replacement."

 

Hope The Scot is OK for the 30th and 6th August as we're booked on both. Anyone know if it's intended to do some running on the WSR?

 

No longer steam from Bristol due to engine support crew not wanting the long day.

 

Shame they ruin it for paying customers

 

. Shame you don't understand that you are criticising the very people, whom after all are volunteers, that support every loco on the main line, if they are unable to commit to a regular schedule, you'll just have to live with it, their lives are just as important as yours, if you don't like it, don't travel, least they are giving you over 200 miles of steam, how about being grateful for that.