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RTC 2026

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 2857Harry, Aug 13, 2025.

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  1. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    20260214_082451 (1).jpg

    34067 at Biggleswade this morning. Nice to see steam on the ECML and it not bloody raining! Good to see @Johnb later in the day.
     
    5944, Feb 14, 2026
    #101
    gricerdon, Oswald T Wistle, ykin01 and 14 others like this.
  2. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

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    Travelling to Doncaster today to see family so we were able to time the journey around three shots of 'Tangmere'. Bridge Road Stevenage, Peterborough and Doncaster...
     
    alts1985, Feb 14, 2026
    #102
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  3. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

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    alts1985, Feb 15, 2026
    #103
    Crawley Ben likes this.
  4. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

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    This is very early but timings are live for the Sussex Belle on real time trains. Once again it's taking an alternative route via West Norwood before rejoining the mainline at East Croydon. Looking forward to this railtour as it's my first railtour I've been on in awhile. Can only guess that 44871 will hopefully pull the trip, should be out of winter maintenance by then.

    London Victoria to Eastbourne
    - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78986/2026-04-15/detailed
    Eastbourne to Hastings
    - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78989/2026-04-15/detailed
    Hastings to London Victoria
    - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78990/2026-04-15/detailed
     
    Alex Productions, Feb 26, 2026
    #104
  5. Fireboxchaserphotography

    Fireboxchaserphotography New Member

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    Its a shame but enthusiasts are no longer wanted on railtours.
     
    Fireboxchaserphotography, Mar 19, 2026
    #105
  6. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

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    I wouldn't say not wanted. More that railtours are no longer geared towards them as the target audience much anymore.
     
    Alex Productions, Mar 19, 2026
    #106
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  7. NathanP

    NathanP Well-Known Member

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    The recent series of Shap/S&C tours that Saphos ran would say otherwise..
     
    NathanP, Mar 19, 2026
    #107
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  8. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    You been taking your happy pills again?

    4 Saphos Cumbrian Jobs have ran in 5 months. All full. The Buxton and Whitby jobs had enthusiasts on in their number.
     
    2857Harry, Mar 19, 2026
    #108
    Mick45305, Will RL, Waterbuck and 1 other person like this.
  9. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    I am very much looking forward to Tornado over Shap next week - which should include many miles of 70mph+ running, 3 unassisted climbs and a full day out behind an A1 Pacific.
    This enthusiast will be celebrating this is still possible in 2026.
    It will be over 3 years since I last booked with RTC however...
     
    acorb, Mar 19, 2026
    #109
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  10. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    How strange, as well as the recent Saphos Carlisle trips, are the semi-regular Vintage trips to Plymouth and Carlisle which make a point of advertising opening windows, unassisted steam (sometimes double-headed), and selling "Enthusiast Class" tickets guaranteed to be next to the locomotive, all figments of imagination?
     
    alastair, Mar 19, 2026
    #110
    Leviathan, green five and MellishR like this.
  11. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe Member

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    Probably the most incorrect comments I have read from others on this forum and I have read a lot...
     
    Charles Smythe, Mar 20, 2026
    #111
  12. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

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    The Sussex Belle page on RTC's website has been updated to now show 34028 as the loco, no longer a Black Five.
     
    Alex Productions, Mar 25, 2026
    #112
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  13. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    RTC offering £40 off this Saturday’s CME
     
    neildimmer, Mar 25, 2026
    #113
    sunstream and Waterbuck like this.
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    That's generous but on the other hand, what sort of experience will it be other than a nice view?
     
    Big Al, Mar 25, 2026
    #114
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  15. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Unfortunately for RTC much better competition this weekend. Remarkably there were still a handful of tickets left even on the VT trip according to the Tornado Telegraph earlier this week.
     
    acorb, Mar 25, 2026
    #115
  16. charterboy

    charterboy Member

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    Indicative of people getting fed up of the same steam locos Tangmere or a Black Five on coffins?
     
    charterboy, Mar 25, 2026
    #116
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  17. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

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    And as others have said already that on the same day there's a trip with what I consider to the general public a more well known and popular loco, plus with much more steam milage and unassisted for a lot of the journey, travelling on alot of the same route of the CME. It's no brainer what most people will lean towards when given the option of two.
     
    Alex Productions, Mar 25, 2026
    #117
    acorb and green five like this.
  18. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Back at the time Tornado was new, on the news and things like Top Gear it may have been in the thoughts of the masses. Not so sure that is the case any more. Back before Covid when RTC were using Tornado and before the whole CDL issue trips were not always full.
    @Big Al mentioned it was a nice view through the window, to a lot that is enough.
    The enthusiast market may see a "uniqueness" in the lack of a diesel, not sure how well that has been marketed outside of the enthusiast bubble, or even appreciated by those just wanting a day out.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Mar 25, 2026
    #118
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  19. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Speaking for myself, if it's a straight choice between a journey over required track in a Mk2 and an unassisted run up Shap, I always plump for the former, particularly as there's no guarantees the required track will get done again. It all depends on what you value most.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Mar 26, 2026
    #119
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  20. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    To be fair, Vintage Trains are running an Easter promotion that offers 20% off Standard and Pullman tickets for tours that include the Shap Mountaineer. That reduces the standard price from £132.50 to £106. <BJ>

    ''For a limited time, we're offering 20% off Standard and Pullman tickets as a special Easter celebration offer''

    https://vintagetrains.co.uk/the-shap-mountaineer/

    https://vintagetrains.co.uk/the-cambrian-coast-express-pwllheli/

    https://vintagetrains.co.uk/the-north-wales-coast-express/

    https://vintagetrains.co.uk/the-golden-hind/
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2026
    free2grice, Mar 26, 2026
    #120
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