BRISTOL - PLYMOUTH instead of Weymouth?

RTC's regular Brs-Wey train cannot run when the Olympics clash in Weymouth Bay.
Carriages+ loco(s) may be without work.
Why not run to Plymouth instead? Standard timings Load 8+1. No worries about turning the loco
Engineering work rarely takes place July/Aug between Brs+Ply.
Plymouth has no beach but the Barbican/ Hoe/Aquarium are interesting+boat trips etc
What do forum members think? Would families still support it as they do Weymouth?
Pickups have only been discussed briefly but Yatton/W s M / Bridgewater may be suited as well as Taunton.

I have suggested this idea to ND who is happy that I make this post. He likes Weymouth but accepts that
a "repeat" Ply might attract those forum members who want a diesel free "Devon Banks" run
+ who enjoy comparing performance. Price would be the same or a bit more than Weymouth + may or may not incl dining.

I suspect mid week might prove v popular but sat or sun is more likely

 

Bristol - Minehead?

Rob

 

I think Plymouth should be a viable destination even though the Hoe & Barbican are a 15 to 20 min walk from the Station.It has a good selection of places to eat and drink., and a pleasant walk around the Barbican and Hoe.Suggest a start about 9am arrive Plymouth 12.30 ( Based on an hour later than last years Cornishman timings ) depart 4.30 and arrive back 8.00pm.I suggest Saturday so it does not clash with the Torbay's when they run( such as 5th August).Any advert should list attractions of Plymouth. I would also suggest having a single page leaflet to hand out on the train with map showing station, Hoe, Barbican & details of possible boat trips).

 

Too short a trip?

 

Personally I don't like Plymouth but I think it could be a viable destination and the run over the Devon banks would always attract the enthusiast so long as the train is kept to a sensible load to avoid having diesel assistance. If the train could stop at Totnes you could have a trip up to Buckfastleigh on the SDR although that would mean tackling Rattery from a standing start which could be interesting!

 

I'd go for a Sunday jaunt over the Devon Banks as well as a run down to Weymouth. Some decent pubs in both. Bring it on.

 

Go via Westbury. Similar pick ups to Weymouth trips. Should take about 3 1/2 - 4 hours each way. Just depends on pathing on WSR.

 

Minehead from Cardiff perhaps?

Or Bristol to Plymouth - regular Devon Banks steam for a summer season, great idea!

 

Excellent idea - Plymouth is a good destination; bus runs from outside the station to the city centre and easy access to the Barbican and the Hoe with plenty of family attractions. Gunnislake branch (dmu, unfortunately!) is one of the most scenic in Britain. Perhaps Plym Valley Railway would be a useful fill-in, if running. Buses go from across the main road to Saltash via Royal Albert Bridge; could try for a shot on the Plymouth side with a main line train and the Gunnislake branch dmu on the line below - I've managed that twice in my life!

 

I remember 6024 + 5051 crossing the bridge from Saltash whilst hauling the Penzance to Bristol leg of the 'Great Britain' railtour in April, 2007. A unit passed under the train heading from Gunnislake to Plymouth.

As for a series of charters from Bristol to the west country, bring it on. <BJ>

 

Ok so I saw this thread and thought id post my random but wacky idea. ok so why not run the train to plymouth as stated with a slight twist that pleases both the rail enthusiasts and the famillies who want to go to the beach its A long shot but here goes...

Bristol - Dawlish Warren or Plymouth set downs

Dawlish Warren is excellent for the famillies who want to go to the beach walk the sea wall etc.. its also quite convient for A stop to set down as service trains can pass through the station no problem service trains that stop there run every 30 mins at the most so should be easy for NR to slot in. So if you dont want the beach or anything else Dawlish has to offer then you could always carry on to Plymouth which is the enthuiasts choice of course with A run along the sea wall the infamous devon banks.

The famillies get plenty time at the beach the enthuiasts get the sea wall and the banks and plenty of miles of steam.

problems... costs of having 2 set downs could create a headache as not going as far should mean lower costs.
limited loading over the banks could make it hard to be profitable I guess. What do people think.

 

My only problem would be how to tell the wife that I'd be out so many Sundays.

One request though is try to avoid turning the whole train in Plymouth.

 

That didn't happen on last weeks Cathedrals Express - train stayed in the station. I believe this is not always possible in the summer months though.

Still like my idea of a stop at Totnes for the SDR.

 

Personally I feel that Weymouth is a better destination for the kind of passengers these trains attract. I would say at least 75% of the WSE passengers are Jo Public and are not necessarily interested in whether the engine has to go over steep gradients etc and the main attraction is a day out to the seaside behind a steam loco. Also, if you wanted to leave/arrive at BTM at around the same time as the WSE you wouldn't get much time to explore Plymouth (about 4 hours in Plymouth compared to 5 hours in Weymouth).

Stopping at Totnes would be nice, but with it being right at the bottom of Rattery/Dainton it could be dicey and would mean taking a reduced load thus losing bums on seats.

There aren't any WSEs running whilst the Olympics are in Weymouth (29th Jul - 11th Aug) and instead there will be a trip to Tenby and Pembroke Dock on the 29th July (as seen on the 5029 website).

 

Agreed if the CE had run as planned last week it would be 15 over the devon banks regular double headed steam that pleases both the beach goers and enthusiasts I'm sure would attract A good reception and with 13 passenger carriages surely it would be profitable it's ambitious I admit but could it be possible Seems so In my opinion.

 

Agreed. Knowing my luck if they turned it I'd be at the back throughout no matter which class I was in.

 

The trip to Tenby is not in the RTC brochure or on the website.

 

Many thanks for the many replies+comments.
I like the idea of a Warren stop---a 10m walk!!
Weymouth IS a fantastic destination + I have always backed it(+the tuntable plan) This idea was floated for when WEY is "out of bounds" to steam specials.
Paul42 is spot on! A leaflet is needed to assist visitors in Ply. In Wey you land almost ON the beach. Assuming Ply was not quite as popular as Wey I was hoping enthusiasts could help fill the train. Generally spls stay in Ply station+locos turn.
However, engineering work in Cornwall/out of course running/failed sets or platform closures at Ply can mean the whole train is reversed. As ND reads NP I suspect he would try to keep carriages in the platform--easier for stewards as well!!