Royal Duchy 2019

Anyone know when NR are likely to make a decision about the fire risk status in the South West? Only a week before next Duchy.

 

Tuesday is the only day with any rain forecast in the South West so I guess pray for some heavy rain that day.

 

IIRC, Tuesday is also the day when NR's regional committees are supposed to meet and decide for the coming weekend - assuming they're going to use the procedure agreed with the TOCs and tour operators

 

In the St Austell area we’ve had more than 14 hours of persistent often torrential rain.

Hopefully Devon, Somerset and the Bristol area have had the same.

 

Yes it is raining quite a lot here in Swanage (at times with biblical intensity) but not all the time. I notice from the webcams currently not raining at Dawlish or Bishops Lydeard although obviously has been, so I guess it depends on what NR think if they are reviewing it today, plus their view of how the supposed dry weather the rest of the week will undo the effects of today.

 

The Bath and Bristol areas have had steady rain. There's more rain forecast to just after midnight.
Let's hope that NR's regional committee meet locally to discuss the steam situation. <BJ>

 

is the Duchy going via Bath this Sunday please?

 

Via Yatton

 

Duchess moving from WSR to St Philips Marsh Friday morning:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K13891/2019/08/02/advanced

ECS Southall to Bristol Kingsland Road
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55409/2019/08/03/advanced

Timings for Sunday.
Stock in
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55411/2019/08/04/advanced
Loco from the Marsh
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55412/2019/08/04/advanced
Diesel to PLY
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55404/2019/08/04/advanced
Outward
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55407/2019/08/04/advanced
Duchess at PLY
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55413/2019/08/04/advanced
Turning move
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55405/2019/08/04/advanced
PLY-PAR
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55415/2019/08/04/advanced

Diesel Par to Bristol
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55406/2019/08/04/advanced

Return
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55408/2019/08/04/advanced

 

Looking good for Sunday

 

Does anybody know if it will be steam hauled?

 

I understood NR had removed their steam ban so I would imagine so, assuming there is no issue with the Duchess.

 

Thanks

 

Given that 61306 and 44871 double-headed an excursion from London to Cardiff today,
with a diesel acting purely as a tail-gunner, I should think that steam traction on Sunday is guaranteed.

 

Entirely different route. PAD-CDF is nowhere near the South West.

 

Could they not put the diesel on the front of steam and save a path, rather then the 47 going light engine down to Plymouth. Asking for a friend

 

From Railway Herald:

Network Rail has confirmed that the restrictions on steam operation from last weekend have been lifted, and that currently no steam ban is in place.

 

I can't believe you are seriously asking that after the upset that last Sunday's Torbay Express caused. They could of course stick the diesel on the train to save a path but if that were the case they would put it on the back.

However..... The Royal Duchy is one of the few tours left that appears to be organised to appeal to the enthusiast and both RTC and WCRC are to be applauded for making every attempt to run it as a genuine steam-hauled train. The situation of the depot at St Blazey being off limits has made life more difficult but WCRC have found a way to run the train with minimal diesel haulage so well done to them!

 

Anthony, after reading many of your various posts I gather that you appreciate diesel traction a little more than others here at National-Preservation. If a Deltic or a Western were to haul a main line charter I too would go out to see it. But if I had booked to travel on a Deltic railtour and the the organisers then decided to put a class 66 diesel in front of the main tour loco I too would be really annoyed. So to answer your question, yes a diesel could be added to the front of the Duchess on Sunday but let's hope that common sense prevails and the steam tour stays just that, a Steam Tour. <BJ>