RTC 2024

Trains running round the coast again today, nice work NR...

 

Lovely weather (ha not) for this mornings departure to Cardiff with 44871 and 47812

 

Possible problems ahead for the Cardiff tour today.

The line between Bristol Parkway and Swindon is closed due to flooding. The line was expected to reopen overnight but that hasn't happened (yet).

UPDATE: ''The line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway has been affected by flooding in the Chipping Sodbury area. As flood water recedes, Network Rail need to remove some debris which is currently blocking the line. At present, this is expected to take until the end of the day.'' <BJ>

 

Confirmed onboard the train will be diverted via Bath both ways (and I assume avoiding Bristol via Filton)

 

RTC Christmas Cardiff trips seem a bit jinxed. Stewarded a Cardiff trip with Tornado in 2019 where we ended up at BTM for an hour or so and about 5 minutes away from terminating there) instead of direct via Filton. We were then were diesel hauled to Cardiff, all due to a failed train in the Severn Tunnel.

 

44871 through Clapham and Longcross this morning:

 

Ironic that those trains were due to pass there at Longcross, and both ended being up four minutes late.

 

Denied the opportunity on last years Cardiff Christmas Express, time to put things right this year as 44871 is ready to head the train back to London

 

Can you imagine the excitement amongst Cardiff spotters of 60 years ago if a 65J Black 5 had turned up?

 

And the wrong kind of lamp brackets too!

 

No Black 5s had WR lamp irons! They still ran over the WR frequently

 

50% off 2024 trips Black Friday deal this weekend I see from an email this afternoon. Code BF50 excludes dining.

 

Black Fiveday...

 

Latest news from the MNLPS. <BJ>

''All set and ready to go for tomorrow's Railway Touring Company trip to Sherborne & Yeovil Junction. We look forward to it!''

 

Hope all goes well. I had considered going to film it, but the combination of very dull weather, a train of aircons and a diesel at the rear persuaded me otherwise.

 

Timings for Edinburgh Christmas Market on 21/12/24 hopefully with steam:
Realtime Trains | 5Z55 0628 York N.R.M. to York Holgate Siding (Flhh) | 21/12/2024
Realtime Trains | 5Z56 0714 York Holgate Siding (Flhh) to York | 21/12/2024
Realtime Trains | 1Z57 0729 York to Edinburgh | 21/12/2024
Realtime Trains | 5Z57 1355 Edinburgh to Joppa Straight | 21/12/2024
Realtime Trains | 5Z58 1543 Joppa Straight to Edinburgh | 21/12/2024
Realtime Trains | 1Z58 1620 Edinburgh to York | 21/12/2024
Realtime Trains | 5Z59 2300 York to York Holgate Siding (Flhh) | 21/12/2024
Realtime Trains | 5Z60 2315 York Holgate Siding (Flhh) to York N.R.M. | 21/12/2024

 

aren’t all the Black 5’s otherwise engaged on this Saturday ?

 

The trip from Cambridge to York on the 18th is advertised as diesel on return, so maybe that's the Loco to be used.

 

Both 44871 & 45407 are likely to be doing the Euston & Edinburgh polar expresses. What's the status with 45212 at the moment?

 

Polar at Wensleydale …
If only there were more air braked steam locos in the WCRC fleet ,or a fleet of CDL fitted mark 1s…