RTC 2025

I can only assume so as next year it'll be no better. If Eddystone is then working for them that's all they have, alongside Clan Line for the occasional trip, since 45212 goes out of ticket this year and the other two Fives will be needed in Scotland.

They will need to either cut back, do more diesel hauled tours, or attempt to force WCR to air brake some more of it's fleet!

 

Good luck with forcing West Coast to do anything, I would expect, that going on what Mr Smith has said about air braking, and CDL, it's very unlikely to happen

 

What has he actually said about those things (as distinct from what people have deduced)?

 

Well Mr Smith will have to do something about this, either fitting CDL to his MK 1's or air braking more locos or he won't have a business left to run the way things are going!

 

It did sound right when it was part owned by Ian Riley.

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I think that is overstating it. Part of his business is outside the charter market. Out of the Northern Belle, the Jacobite and the rest of the charter business we can probably guess where the money is. It is a crying shame what has happened, and not least for the supply chain. By the way, Riley's turned around one of the other Black Fives, 45407 I think, over a winter, so it's quite possible 45212 will be back next season.

 

Fair enough.

You bring up a good point about Riley, still impressed by how quick 45407 was overhauled. Hopefully then 45212 could be back quickly to ease the increased work load.

 

Do we know when the KWVR - 45212 - Riley partnership is due for renewal, or if an extension has already been agreed?

Alternatively, who knows how far off we are from No. 45163 gracing the metals!

 

West Coast do a lot more than run steam tours, they could survive on a reduced basis

 

I’ve heard that 5212 has failed at Plymouth, not confirmed though

 

Yes removed on the outbound leg. The info I received said it was a bigger failure than before. Not sure what the plans are to fix the loco.

 

45212 being withdrawn end of September for overhaul

 

If the failure this time round, is more serious, then it might make sence to withdraw the loco now, and start the overhaul sooner, assuming That Riley's got space, and more important, he isn't already up to his eyebrows in contract work, and just can't fit it in right now,

 

The original agreement with Rileys for 45212 was 10 years from 2012. This must have been renewed since.

 

Most of RTCs profit comes from their multi-day holidays in Europe. UK day trips represent just a fraction of their business.

 

And now with Ian's 5's the soul remaining steam locos in his fleet... What would Mr Smith do without his connections with Ian.

Do we know if the 8F is coming back Air Braked? I swear there was a picture of it at Carnforth with Tornado recently, is it's overhaul complete?

 

I understand it's a low loader job.