Railway Touring Company - Summer 2010

My Dad had booked my grandad on the May 15th one and he got and email yesterday saying the run was cancelled and asking whether he wanted a refund or to go on a different trip so i assume they are not being re-scheduled

 

Re, post from Jane.

Re: Railway Touring Company - Summer 2010
With all the trips to weymouth coming up they could do with putting a turn table in on the top rigth hand side as you come into weymouth ,there is room and water it would save the trip back to yeovil every time.all they need is the money to do it.


Who are 'they'?

 

Hi Beavis Railway track and i would think the council at weymouth as well as it is bringing a lot of people
into the town.and bringing a lot of trade into the town as well.and railtrack as it make's a lot of money out of steam trip's. some £5-6000 a trip.

 

Hi Ralph. did not mean it would only cost a few grand that comment was how much railtrack get per run by steam trains,into weymouth.
it would cost many many thousand to do this but watch this space . (wink wink)

 

Same idea springs to mind for Blackpool. How much business could be generated from regular steam tours. I think "they" should also include the tourist department of the local authorities. Look at the number of tours to Scab as an example. These seaside resorts could do so well. Last year Blakpool Tourist department ran a Wakes Special with Scots Guardsman, but it was steam only into Blackpool.

 

IIRC that was the same day as the air show, which had the recently restored Vulcan after a £6 million restoration, part funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, part by donations from enthusiasts. see you tube:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5esdbkDTBM
I took the train, only £12, was surprised it was half empty, although the single to get back to lancaster was nearly £12, but it did go via hellifield, clitheroe, blackburn and preston from carnforth. so presumably the tourist board were making sure of a good turnout, it was advertised as a commemoration of wakes week when back in the 40's/50's all the poorly paid workers would go by train to the seaside as most factories would close for the week. the seafront was undergoing refurbishment and wasn't finished, it was extremely crowded that day, a local resident said he hadn't seen so many people for many years.

 

Was on the train too. Kids loved being in the Hogwarts coaches. Great trip around as you say with the air show at the end. This tour was publicised very late which accounts for the relatively low numbers but if marketed properly... Travelling back to Preston on a northern rail cattle truck was a sad way to end the day.

RTC and others could make Blackpool a regular destination if the turning issue could be sorted.

 

back to the subject..RTC railtours this summer, coming up are 'The Waverley' tours July 25th, Aug 1st, 8th etc, the 1st and 8th are with 45407 according to Ian Riley, erm... mixed up again, what will be doing the 25th? guardsman?

 

If you look at UKsteam.info, it says 46115 or 5690 and I'm not sure whether Leander is ready for the road just at the moment (think I saw something in another thread that routine maintenance was in progress ATM).

 

I should be going on The Mayflower with Bittern in September with my Grandad for a 19th Birthday present. My first railtour since 2006.

 

yes, quite, just me getting excited having spotted it at Carnforth, obviously a steam test and maybe a test run after boiler work would be prudent, but there is 'the Waverley's' coming up, and its in the pool for that too....

 

I'm booked on this one too, I just hope it runs as advertised but for some reason I think it wont.

 

Maybe not. Least Bittern has both tenders should be a good fast run and be good going over the banks. I should be starting at Paddington hopefully. Never been to Brunel's Cathedral before so thats exciting and at the GWR 175 anniversary is good as well. Shame its not GW steam on the front but never mind. I'm going to be doing a lot travel that day. Haywards Heath - London Victoria and then underground to Paddington then Paddington to Plymouth and return and then underground again and Victoria to Haywards Heath again. Come to think of it my last trip was with RTC on a Cumbrian Mountain with 71000 from York to Carlisle that started at Kings Cross diesel hauled and we joined at Potters Bar.

 

According to the 5029 Nunney Castle website "The Mayflower" on 11 September is now double headed between Taunton - Plymouth with 5029 + 60019. However reference to 5029 hauling the following Sundays "Cornishman" (19 September) has disappeared. It was previously listed on the "events" section of the 5029 site. Whether this is an oversight on site update or whether the "Cornishman" has been cancelled or turned over to another locomotive remains to be seen. Both are RTC trains but needless to say there is currently no update on the RTC website.

 

B***er! We were going to book on this run but I just looked on the RTC site which now says the Mayflower is fully booked.

 

Is Bittern quoted as taking both tenders ?, i'd be very suprised if it does as trailing load is more important than water capacity to Plymouth.

 

Unlucky you didn't manage to book but its a good job my grandad managed to book it in time. So 5029 as well then from Taunton. That will be a hell of sound going over the Devon Banks with 60019 as well. Never seen or ridden behind 5029 so thats something else to look forward to. No sign of 5029 being added on the RTC site yet.