RTC 2022

As usual, passengers from Watford for the CME are expected to take a local train at 06:39, changing at Milton Keynes. It appears possible to leave later and take the Avanti West Coast (still coded "VT" in the timetables) train that sets off just behind, picks up at Watford at 07:26, passes the railtour train at Milton Keynes and gives a generous connection time at Rugby. Presumably LNW charge RTC a lot less to take the customers to MK than AWC would to take them to Rugby, but you could pay separately for the benefit of the later start. I did once pay separately to go by service train all the way to Blackpool for a railtour where the steam leg started there, even though the railtour started at Euston, as that gave me a very much later start in the morning.

 

NR will not allow a pick up at Watford in the morning, even with the 86 (I think originally it was due to the slow acceleration of the 47/57's).
I would also suggest this current time of industrial unrest, and it seems unhappiness over certain tweets last weekend, opting for an Avanti service, even if you pay yourself is a big risk.
RTC are going to have to do something to try and let you catch up the tour if the LNW service does not run. Make you own way and you just become a no show if you do not get to Rugby.

 

E-tickets received for the West Somerset trip on 13th August.

Shown as having 9 revenue coaches (plus presumably kitchen car and POB).

No mention either way about plans for any diesel assistance, though I would be very surprised if we don't end up with one on the back at least.

 

There used to be a 730 am Euston to Crewe which made a comfortable 40 odd minute transfer from our first train up which arrives at Waterloo at 0649. Now that’s gone the only hope we have is the 0720 Euston to Preston which is quite tight across London . Before all that there was a 0516 XC Soton which was perfect but this has also gone now. Effectively this puts the CME beyond our reach. One more nail in main line steam for Gricerdon then

 

DL on the back for certain plus it’s an ASLEF strike day so we could not get to it anyway so we have cancelled

 

Actually there's a lot of scrub and farmland at the side of the line between there and Swanley, it might be inside the M25 but urban it aint. Let's not forget a large area of Dartford grass land at the side of the A2 was on fire a couple of weeks back and it hasn't rained round here for some weeks now.

 

Things will get a bit easier after harvest time. A fire in standing corn is serious and will spread faster than you can out run it

 

West Somerset dieselised their line from this morning up to Friday (12/08) when they will review.

 

Not looking promising for Saturday.

I'm almost hoping that RTC postpone rather than press ahead if it looks like the day isn't going to see much steam haulage at all!
Have paid for dining for 4 of us so opting out will be a big financial hit!

 

I'm down for doing sales on this one, it certainly won't be any more than Bahamas on the front being shoved all the way.

 

After enquiring with RTC today, 'Steam hauled by Bahamas' is still the plan, though I'm not optimistic.

 

Meanwhile the 18th's DCE has disappeared from the website, probably because of the planned strike action that day.

 

Neither am I as the WSR are now all diesel but I understand the support crew are still heading down for lighting up on Thursday. If it does run I’ll be round to sell you some raffle tickets!

 

Looks as if it has been re-dated to 15th September. Hopefully this won't be a strike day and we will actually have had some rain by then!

 

It’s an ASLEF strike day so surprised it’s running as GWR affected plus others

 

Why would industrial action within GWR affect a train operated by WCR?

The only limiter would if NR were to declare a higher fire-risk (and severity) status, which would mean diesel-only. Currently the operation is 'show pony'.

JS

 

Because we an only get to it by XC and GWR

 

I wonder what proportion of passengers access charter trains by rail. Possibly a lot higher in the south.

 

I guess at some stage a view needs to be taken that the reality of the day is going to be so far removed from that advertised, coupled with some passengers not being able to even reach the charter, as to whether to run it or not. Long term damage to the charter company by passengers not wishing to part with payment again for something they perceive as not being what they paid for may result. It is an unenviable situation RTC find themselves in, none of which was of their own making.