2010 Steam Tours

Apart from when Churchward produced the first modern British superheated piston valve loco with long travel valve gear which effectively set the blueprint for every "modern" British loco that was subsequently built, it was probably when Swindon set down the ground rules for the rest of the industry for modern methods for the testing and analysis of performance. There don't appear to have been any dvelopments thereafter as the 1955 Modernisation plan came along. It is worth noting that most of the modern "Standard" types of loco such as the 5MT 4-6-0's, 4MT 4-6-0's, and the 3MT tanks were generally held to be inferior to the much older GW types that they were sent to replace in the early 50's and were soon moved on to other lines where the home products were so bad that the recipients were actually grateful to receive them.
Recent events appear to have shown that a double chimney Castle can still hold its own with a converted Scot, given the disparity in boiler pressure between the two types and at the end of the day they are now all museum pieces!

 

Even though my post was meant to be in jest, I still think 1906 was the last time the GWR led the field in locomotive design, when the 'Star' class emerged from Swindon Works; every GWR 4-cylinder express passenger locomotive was a variation of that basic design, and it certainly inspired other companies to follow suit. However, things moved on since then, to the extent that the 'Kings' were pretty much derivative from Churchward's 1919 design for a heavy passenger 4-6-0, and were essentially a propaganda coup to retake the most 'powerful class' title from the Southern. Lets be honest, there weren't many duties for them off the mainlines, and even then, Wales and some parts of the Midlands were barred until Nationalisation. So in terms of locomotive development, it can be argued that the GWR had stagnated by 1940. I also believe that the Hawksworth 'County' class was a missed opportunity to regain the cutting edge in locomotive design, as it certainly pointed in the direction of ease of maintenance, marred only by the fact that no other GWR classes used its boiler. However, even this was derivative, as Bulleid had already used 280psi boilers for his pacifics. As for calling them museum pieces, I just couldn't resist it! This could be an interesting thread of its own so long as there's no throwing toys out of the pram...

 

From 6201 Princess Elizabeth Society website :

Confirmed tours : -

4 September - Chester - Kings Operated by UK Railtours

16 October - Kings X - Scarborough - York Operated by UK Railtours

23 October - Doncaster - S&C - Shap - Preston Operated by UK Railtours


Possible future tours : -

25 September - Waterloo - LSW Route

Operated by UK Railtours

 

Has there ever been a Castle over the S & C ?

 

yes, and its about time it happened again.

 

1994.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6pz1xgU3BQ

 

Just found on UK Steam a trip to run on sat 19th june called 'Great Western 175' to be run by UK Railtours with king and western champion.

http://www.ukrailtours.com/tourshow..._trains&tourfile=100619_GREAT_WESTERN_175.txt

 

Looks like a positioning tour to get 6024 to London in advance of the Cornish Riviera Special on the following weekend.

Regards,

Dan

 

The same day as 70013 to Swansea. I know which one I'll will be on.

 

Didnt scroll down to see other steam trips.

The royal oak is one for 6024 Preservation society as made aware elsewhere in forum along with a tour behind tornado up lickey incline routed via harringworth viaduct past home back to victoria.

http://www.ukrailtours.com/tourshow...rains&tourfile=100726_THE_MIDLAND_TORNADO.txt

Cheers

 

It appears from UKSteam.info that the weekend tour with 70013 on the West Highland line to Fort William has been cancelled.

Regards,

Dan

 

Low bookings,i believe?

 

Perhaps, Nigel Dobbing did allude to that in the recent Steam Railway magazine. It is a shame as it was a bold move to take 70013 to Fort William. Perhaps one long tour too far for 2010, or just too far to travel for a one off weekend tour?

Regards,

Dan

 

I think it is a case of it only being advertised about a month ago.
Last years West Highlander in September was advertised from Feb/March. Ditto this years

 

Hmmm, Saturday 29th May - there are five tours due to run, three of which are special ones for the 2010 season.

First is The Britannia Banker with 70013 and 9600 up the Lickey Incline.
Second is 35028 on a very rare excursion out of King's Cross up the ECML.
Now you have the potential comeback tour of 70000 on the Cornishman (Bristol to Par and back).

Plus 60163 on the Bath & Bristol Explorer and an as yet unidentified locomotive hauling The Lakelander.

Regards,

Dan

 

May will certainly be a bad month for the wallets of us regular travelers. It is not just Saturday 29th that has a large amount of very good tours. May 8th includes 35028 to Weymouth, 6233 over Shap to Carlisle, 46115 from York to KX, 62005 on a jolly around the Blyth & Tyne and finally 60163 to York. All of which excluding 60163 I would be on if they were on different dates but sadly 62005's trip will have to do. Then on Saturday 22nd it is much of the same with 60163 to Chester, 60019 York to KX, 6233 to Carlisle, 34067 & 30777 to Weymouth and 5029 to Fishguard. Then of course there is the 29th as mentioned above. It is fantastic to see this amount of steam on the mainline however it raises the problem of which tour to do!

 

I see the that the Kentish Belle that RTC was running on 31 Mar has now been cancelled. Only 2 weeks ago they sent me an email with a reduced prices offer for this trip.

Wonder if low bookings are the reason for the cancellation.

Dave B

 

It was operational issues regarding the workload 70013's support crew would of had with the L.E from Crewe and then to Bristol before and after the tour.

 

Along with a few other tours added including another three day trip to scotland, RTC are doing an unusual trip to the Weardale railway with 5690 from Newcastle.

http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-weardale---161010.html

Looks interesting.

 

Hmmm... What to do! Go up to the NYMR Autumn Steam Gala or have some Brit thrash over Beattock and Black Five & Brit thrash over the road to Stranraer. Couldn't be better if they are picking up at Huddersfield! RTC are really planning some exciting railtours!