The Royal Duchy 2012

Re: Te Royal Duchy 2012

Was north end this weekend.

 

Re: Te Royal Duchy 2012

An excellent trip. To give credit where it's due a top class effort from RTC and WCRC, both of whom sometimes get some stick on this forum. It was particularly good to see WCRC put together a very respectable set of stock. Top class efforts from the crews as ever. The timings were probably a little generous as the train arrived at every stop early, apart from the delay due to the wandering cow(s) near Saltash on the return. As it was, we were running about 14 minutes early at this point so despite a long stop we are only 7 minutes late at Plymouth and that had been made up by Newton Abbot.

I booked this tour mainly through having been disappointed like so many others by the Tornado / Diesel combination over the Devon banks and this more than made up for it. I have to say that the experience of a single loco with a sensible load is to me preferable than one of those 13-14 coach monster trains double-headed, but others may not agree.

Anyway the stewards said yesterday that there are a few seats left on the remaining runs so if you get the chance grab one - it's well worth it.

 

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Very good run yesterday, I haven’t been through all the times yet but the comment about the schedule is correct. We left Plymouth 9 late, were only 1.5 down by Totnes and 2 minute early at the top Dainton. After drifting along the coast were we still 11 early at Dawlish! It was like that all day.

That said the running on the banks was very good, outstanding for me was Hemerdon with what I believe is the 3rd fastest time in preservation and 2nd Fastest with 9 coaches. 71000’s record is out of sight but for a class 7 to post 5 min 34 sec is remarkable.

Thanks to WCR, NR, RTC and 5305 LA.

 

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Perhaps a bit of slack in the schedule is prudent ?, different loco's will be used at different times and others may not get on as well as Ollie.

 

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I agree with everyone else on the train excellent trip for all aspect value experience and atmosphere meet a lovely couple on the train and my disabled brother enjoyed it and apart From my partner getting I'll was a superb day if your thinking about going on this one I for one will recommend it and I will say if u want somewhere to eat in par then try ship inn

 

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Thanks. Not that it makes a lot of difference given the number of good climbs in each direction but would be nice to be at the front for Hemerdon from standing start at Plymouth.

 

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I must apologise profusely to all the serial WCR knockers for giving you absolutely nothing to complain about yesterday. I can assure you that me, Ray, Pete, Craig and Charlie all had a good day out. Loco was faultless, support crew first rate, and everything was spot on. Slight problem with a Bovine incursion at Saltash on the way back, but soon made up. Timings were a bit relaxed 1'11" from PLY to Dawlish, when we can do Exeter in the hour. That probably just made the trip more relaxed. All of the punters seemed more than happy, which makes me very happy. See you next week. A
(P.S. even had lights in all coaches back at Bristol)

 

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The train was almost full yesterday-fantastic. I was able to join the train to Par+it was good to meet Alberta+Dad and other regular faces!! Two Penzance trains pass at DW + then the R.Duchy follows them to Par. Even Cornwall is busy on Sundays these days + its wonderful to see this level of activity. Saturday saw 71000+60163 spend 10m at the Warren + now we have the propect of a 20m sunday stop on 7 sundays!!

The rake of carriages looked splendid. Atmosphere on board (in standard) seemed wonderful. Andy wrote what I felt so will not express in detail my disbelief at some NP posts recently. However,had these posts been made 3months ago I would NOT have proposed this series of excursions....
Clearly the R.D. provide a very good value for a day out to Plymouth let alone Par (coach to Fowey etc) If this experiment (caused by the Olympics at Weymouth) is successful then perhaps Nigel/RTC/WCR will consider doing them in the future.
I believe load9 was just right+spent most of the time with my head at the window. The noise was great even in the rear standard coach.

Those of us who were on board really enjoyed this fantastic +many had smiling faces......

 

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Looking forward to my trip on the 12th. As long as there's some good vigorous driving to exercise the level meters on my sound recorder I'll be happy.

 

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I second this,nice meal and looks like a good selection of beers for those interested.

 

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Goodo. Will be looking for a pint or two during the layover.

 

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The timed section on Hemerdon is between MP242.5 and MP238.5.

I made the min speed 27 mph.

 

Dawlish Warren was put in as a pathing stop, so it was decided to try and attract some 'bucket and spade brigade' traffic. Unfortunately, Some steam is banned from the up platform loop at DW, so the pick up on the return was at Dawlish. A couple of people got on at Dawlish yesterday who had got off at Plymouth, and caught a service train back to Dawlish.
The stops at Liskeard and BPW were requested by WCR/RTC. When the timings came out there was insufficient margin, bearing in mind that we have to detrain all the passengers, and then shunt back at Par to clear the line. If the stops had been left in it would have had about a 40 minute pathing stop at Plymouth, and arrived just before 15h00. That would leave insufficient time to turn and service.
Once again, the stops were wanted, and advertised by the RTC in good faith, but when the timings were done by NR, they simply could not be made to work.

 

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A few shots I took at Par are on at:

Flickr: 56074 Kellingley Colliery's Photostream

Cheers,
Mark

 

One reads "The Man's" post above this morning, including the section highlighted while simultaneously the text below is STILL quoted on RTC's web page for the RD :-

"After leaving Plymouth, we cross the River Tamar on Brunel’s masterpiece, the Royal Albert Bridge, and enter Cornwall. Our train continues through the magnificent Cornish countryside before arriving at Liskeard where we stop for passengers who may wish to travel by branch line service train to the picturesque harbour town of Looe."

Does "The Man" have any comment ?

 

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As someone who has commented on WCR in the past, and sadly not in the positive, (though I'd challenge anyone to prove I'm a "serial WCR knocker"), I am really pleased to read that the inaugural RD has been a great success. I will certainly be travelling on one myself with Yatton being not far to travel from my home station of WSM. In theory I could join at Temple Meads but with the 08:11 arriving TM 08:42, and the RD leaving 08:48, I don't think I'll tempt fate. Better leave the 08:11 at Yatton and buy some breakfast at the excellent Strawberry Line Cafe on the down platform. This is an excellent enterprise so hope many will support it.

While I'm very pleased to read of last Sunday's successful RD, I hope note is taken of the fact that while it's great that something has gone well, this is how it should be all the time so let's not have too much tub thumping please ?

Also btw, working lights in all coaches is not a luxury, it's a H&S requirement so probably best not to promote that item too loudly ?

(P.S. Can "The Man" confirm whether we've progressed to a working PA in all these smart maroon coaches as well by the way, as this equipment, (also regarded as a luxury presumably), was missing from one of WCRC's sets last year, (the one in use on the Armistice Day Kentish Belle), and had been for "months" prior to that according to WCR and RTC staff following my enquiry into the matter).

 

I doubt it - he works for WCRC and is not responsible for RTC's website!

 

He doesn't need to be responsible for RTC's website to make a comment on it does he ? He sees fit to comment on aspects of the RD, not directly in the gift of WCRC (his remit), yet apparently shouldn't be expected to make a comment on a lack of accuracy on their website, which contradicts information he gives in one of his own posts ?

Logic anyone ?

 

Seems perfectly logical to me. Anyway, the funny thing is that RTC are obviously aware of the problem as they were handing out leaflets advertising the future runs on Sunday, stressing that inaccurate information about Liskeard / Bodmin stops had been removed. Seems like the message hasn't reached the webmaster yet.