RTC 2025

Wow! Superb footage wonderful sound from 45212 at all the locations fabulous to see many thanks.

 

Thank you! 45212 certainly sounded great today.

 

Sounded on top form indeed! 45212 at St Neots, Newark, and Doncaster:

 

Forward planning;

Timings already in RTT !, proactive or what ?

1/3/25 Mancunian to Holyhead.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U41974/2025-03-01/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U41975/2025-03-01/detailed

15/3/25 Cheshireman
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U42519/2025-03-15/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U42524/2025-03-15/detailed


22/3/25 Blackpool
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U43528/2025-03-22/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U43532/2025-03-22/detailed

and mentioned elsewhere a full set for 29/3/25.

 

I certainly wouldn’t have made the effort of chasing this one if it had been the usual 44871, but 45212 is quite rare enough on this side of the country (and a personal favourite from firing it at the NVR) so I was easily won over on this one!
Captured at Langford, Newark & Bentley

Hope to see more of this one before it bails out of ticket!

 

I only got to see her at Peterborough. Superb loco.
My video of the 'moves' at Peterborough is here, I'm still trying to get the hang of panning, while trying to move carefully around my tripod's legs. It's not very easy with my arthritic knees!.

 

45212 with some great sound accelerating away from Helpston Junction(20mph limit) on the outward journey Kings Cross to York, and passing Stamford, engine and coach, Wansford to Carnforth

 

Having booked the Blackpool Steam Express a few days ago I’ve been rather disappointed to hear it’s been postponed to 10th May, not disappointed because of the postponement but rather hearing the news through a friend of mine last night and have yet to have heard of the reason from RTC themselves

 

Received an email from them yesterday and decided to transfer to another trip. The justification was lack of bookings and operational issues, so take your pick as to which is the main reason.

 

Possibly, possibly not. The basic timings were already on RTT, so last minute revisions notwithstanding, the principle was probably fine.

 

I suspect that the offered £50 discount suggests the main reason for the postponement, perhaps 5 hours in Blackpool in mid March isn't universally appealing. Worth noting that the new date, 10th May was to have been a CME which the Blackpool train appears to have replaced.

 

Amazing, almost 4 hours from Southall to Kings Cross then the passengers have only 9 minutes to board. Still there may not be too many at that time of the day midweek.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U45753/2025-03-19/detailed

 

I don't envy the support crew on that ecs move !!!

 

Luckily the steam comes on at York! Looks like the convoluted route is to pick up 86259 in Wembley yard.

 

Is the Cheshireman still steam hauled tomorrow ? I can only see a 20 minute stop at Rugby ? Also its booked on the fast line out of Rugby for a considerable chunk.

 

Still steam. Rugby - water stop on way out and steam off on return.
There are engineering works on the Weedon line resulting in an amended timetable along the WCML south, so spare pathing allows the sustained ML running.

 

Cheers Will, much appreciated.

 

The Cheshireman passing Leighton Buzzard this morning. A few minutes in the car and back home for breakfast!