RTC 2014

I have been on two, and they have both been excellent. As mentioned in an earlier post, I am keen to go on a third next year (the Welsh Borders in May) However, I would agree that a main line excursion can be a long day out if you have to make a long journey to get to the pick-up point. Fortunately, we're only about 10 miles from a pick-up point for this particular trip.

It's a good point about seeing the engine, although I enjoy watching the steam drift past the window, listening to the whistle, the engine working hard on the gradient and the thrill of travelling at 70+mph. Admittedly, I have taken very few decent photos taken I have actually been on a trip. 60019 (as it then was) was obligingly parked under some good lighting at Botley for an evening water stop on the return of a Haywards Heath-Bath excursion I travelled on in 2008, and I got a good picture there, but my hopes of recording the engine taking us back to Swanage on the Capital Christmas Explorer three years ago were thwarted by the ECS arriving only a short while before departure time. Still, it's the same engine (44932) rosted to work next Saturday's train from Weymouth to waterloo and back, so I might nip over to Waterloo with the camera to make amends.

 

Ray Mason ( a friend of Nigel ) proposed the Royal Duchy and asked for peoples opinion before they went ahead with it.

Some years ago various members of the forum ( including myself) requested RTC announce their programme for the following year earlier ( some trips were getting cancelled due to lack of bookings) like their competitors, and they have done this for the last 3 years.

 

I have paid much money to RTC over the years. I have greatly enjoyed some of their tours, others have had problems. I do not blame RTC if there is a loco problem or last minute route change. I do object to RTC consistently over the years publishing unreliable information about the tours and not keeping their customers informed. I do not believe that commenting about this is ranting.

 

This isn't an RTC bash thread..please respect that.

We should avoid repeating the same complaint over and over, can I suggest unless there's anyone with a new complaint, you should "like" someone else's, and allow RTC the courtesy to read in their own time and respond if they wish.

To keep it even, can we have some pro-RTC comments too please.. they aren't all that bad.

 

I'll start the ball rolling by saying my favourite tours to date are those which visit preserved lines, or have quirky nature (The North Norfolk and Bluebell trips were especially right up my street, even if the run to Croydon was slower than the climb back to East Grinstead).

excuse my London bias, i'm sure everyone else has their own...

But If theres room for suggestions in 2014, I would love to see 62005 in some form down south, or a Castle on a tour starting in London, say Paddington, via Greenford to the SVR would be a nice day out. Also Rileys fives on a tour via as much GC as possible to the GCR would be fun too.

I also think London to Brighton on a summer sunday may not be a bad itiniery for the London family tourist market… the attractive times didn't go unnoticed to the dads and lads present on the Bluebell explorer compared to other tours.

Finally as a variation to the London - WCME route, how about a London - Lancashire circuit (like the cotton mill).. even better if a Class 50 was used up from London.

 

I've had several trips over the years with RTC and have never had need to complain about any of them, I have enjoyed every one I've been on and as I live in Devon they are just about the only company to run trips to Devon and Cornwall, both SD and VT rarely come down here, and the fact with the Dutchy you can pick it up at Taunton and Exeter if you can't make it to Bristol on a Sunday makes it a very pleasant day out and you can get back home at a reasonable time, so keep up the good work Nigel and keep the trains coming down here!

I used to travel on the Torbay Express many moons ago when it was with PTR but now the Standard prices have got too pricey for what you get.

 

I think the prices these days is what's needed to keep steam on such a populated mainline ! Fully understand your reasons and agree.

 

This is not an official comment but I'm sure RTC would be welcome at SVR. I had the pleasure of joining the return trip at Kidderminster and conducted the guard back to Bridgenorth. Please note the folowing advantages of SVR (this is not meant in any way to denegrate any other heritage lines which may not enjoy our facilities).

• A fully signaled 15MPH main line connection
• Loco servicing facilities at Bewdley and Bridgnorth
• Diesel servicing facilities at Kidderminster
• A turntable at Kidderminster which can handle pacific locos - Bittern and Duchess of Sutherland have used it
• Alternative motive power should the tour loco wish to come off the train at Bewdley for servicing/turning.

Our biggest asset is probably the turntable so visiting locos can haul the return leg smokebox first at thir permitted speed. I am told that even with diesel haulage a steam loco running in reverse is limited to 45MPH.

I will admit I am not a tour user - the time I can devote to raiilways is fully taken up at SVR

 

I don't get the chance to do many rail tours but I've enjoyed the RTC tours I've been on with just one exception and that was something beyond the company's control.

 

Midlands circular? Last time I looked Crew and Manchester were up north

 

I would be interested in a Pennine circular involving Copy Pit, and another suggestion, if possible in a day and dependent on the cost of the positioning moves required, is Les Ross KX to Newcastle, Steam Tyne Valley ( with a couple of hours in Carlisle) and S & C, and Les Ross Skipton to KX ( or visa versa).

 

Not if you live in Edinburgh.

 

Anything that involves an A4 and a Deltic. I presume the western lads would be just as interested in anything featuring a Castle and a Class 52.

 

True story - Electrical Power Engineers conference in York/ Bill Blogs, London Electricity - cant we hold this conference down south next year. Jock - Hydro Board - this is b----y down south. Mind it goes the other way as well. There was a fitter at Indian Queens who complained his bosses kept sending him up north - Taunton. I'll get me coat

 

Although it may be a long shot in the dark....

Les Ros - Euston - Carlisle, Duchess/Jubilees Carlisle - Beattock - Glasgow
Duchess/Jubilees - Glasgow - Dumfries - Carlisle, Les Ros - Euston - Carlisle

And, one for late 2015/Early 2016 :

Deltic : King's Cross - Edinburgh
B1 : Edinburgh - Galashiels ( Waverley Route ) - Edinburgh
Deltic : Edinburgh - King's Cross

Both are primarily aimed at the enthusiasts market, with the latter being a good oppurtunity for those in the South to sample the newly half opened ( by that point ) Waverley Route?

 

Sorry - navigating by National Grid substations again. Indian Queens (there have been non PC alternatives) is in Cornwall on the A30 north of St Austell - just for those who cant find it on an atlass.