70013 Dawn Patrol/The Waverley to Edinburgh - 1st April

RTC have moved the planned Waverley (Liverpool Lime Street to Edinburgh Waverley) from the 2nd April (Good Friday) to the 1st April. I have to say that this was a journey I quite fancied but was unconvinced that the WCML would be functioning properly on Good Friday and raised it with RTC. They said the date was good but I was not willing to take the chance.

The new times are very strange and reflect the pathing difficulties of rearrangements - now departing Liverpool at 05.51 (who can get to Lime Street for that time???) and arriving in Edinburgh at 14.30 (is it a sleeper?). Return is now diseasal hauled.

I am usualy a good supporter of RTC but I think they have got this one wrong. Was it naive to try to run on Good Friday when NR often use bank holiday weekends to carry out maintainace? Would it have been better to defer the tour to a later date with more acceptable times and steam both ways as originally planned?

This is a fabulous tour made unattractive - will it run at all now?

 

Flipping heck that is early!!

I know us enthusiasts are very keen to do all these trips, but who on earth is gonna be on, or even be lucky enough get to the platform at Lime Street at that time.

It looks like RTC have been given a take it or leave it path by NR to fit in. I would be very surprised if they dont postpone the trip to another date when their is more flexibility on timings, but wil find out the result soon enough. You do have to fel sorry for RTC over the last couple of months though, as they just haven't had any luck.

 

This trip is a positioning move for GB III. If postponed, the latest this trip could be run is the 10th April 2010.

 

this tour was never suppose to be steam throughout, and all though it seems like they've been told to go at silly o'clock or not at all, its not so bad if you get on at preston. i have booked on this for the once in a blue moon opportunity to travel by steam over beattock, so i am looking forward to it despite the pathing issues which are never going to go away.

 

Have cancelled my two tickets, no hesitation by RTC in offering a refund. Would certainly rebook another date with a sensible start time.

 

I do hope they replan with a sensible time. I really like the idea of this tour and would be happy to stump up for it. There are a number of tours to edinburgh using ECML but it would be good to go via WCML

 

what idiot is up at that time????? never mind people travelling on tour, what about staff and crews???

 

If it runs as planned I will be extremely grateful to RTC and those on board for starting out at silly o'clock and providing the opportunity to see OC over Shap and Beattock. I should be in the Lakes near Penrith where it will be a more sensible hour when it passes through.

 

I have looked at the times and compared them a previous trip that shares part of the same run :

The Waverley as advertised Preston - Edinburgh 5 hours. Actual 7 hours.

The West Highlander( Last Year) Preston - Glasgow outward 8 hours return 7 hours.

RTC's provisional times were not realistic based on past experience.

The West Highlander as advertised for this year, shows 7.5 hours Preston - Glasgow( outward) and 6.5 hours on the return.

 

I'm booked on it and I shall be there before 05.51 Mind you, I only live 7 miles from Lime Street!

AK

 

Train crew have been getting up to go to work at 'stupid' o'clock' for as long as there have been railways! It goes with the job.

 

Yes - John - but their "shift" duration and rest periods train to train, are strictly regulated - not so the poor paying punter.

That is why I find RTC multi day tours so unappealing.

 

Start/finish times of last year's Great Britain...

Day 1 - 11.54 to 16.33
Day 2 - 07.45 to 20.14
Day 3 - 10.11 to 17.13
Day 4 - 11.14 to 18.29
Day 5 - 10.56 to 19.25
Day 6 - 06.30 to 18.41
Day 7 - 10.25 to 20.58
Day 8 - 10.10 to 20.50

The only really early start was Day 6 and that was optional, and remember that passengers stayed in hotels near the stations so no long journeys at the start and end of each day.

 

Fraid in this day and age early starts are to be expected with these steam tours (and diesel for that matter),we often end up getting up and out of the house at 3-4am for tours,but when its all said and done,its worth it.

 

Uksteam info now shows this tour hauled by 46201 Princess Elizabeth and not 70013 Oliver Cromwell. Could be something to do with GB3 as 46201 has been removed from the Bristol to Preston leg and also replaces 46115 on the Edinburgh to York section on the return to Kings Cross leg.

Dave B

 

excellent, princess royal over shap and beattock, cant wait for this now. dream tour for me,who cares about early starts anyway.

 

NOOOOOOOOO!! Ollie canned!

Where's he going, anyone know? Is he going to work the Duchy in place of Tangmere?

AK.

 

That's the expectation. I understand that 34067 is unlikely to be ready for GB3, so 70013 will work The Royal Duchy on Apr 3rd, then GB3 from Penzance to Bristol on day 2 (both with 777), Bristol - Shrewsbury - Preston on day 3, Glasgow - Aberdeen - Inverness on day 6 and Inverness - Aviemore - Edinburgh on day 8 (with 61994 to Perth)!!

 

Thanks for the info.

AK