RTC 2014

I don't think steam is guaranteed as 60009 will have to get to Carlisle for a 1435 departure. it presumably can't leave Carnforth until after 1300 hrs, the end of the strike, and then it has to get a path for the 63 miles light engine run which it won't be able to do in less than an hour as it's speed restricted light engine.POB. Then it has to turn on the triangle and possibly water. Will be tight unless they diesel haul it to Carlisle in light steam before 1300. Anyone from WCRC online who could tell us what the plans are?

 

The "York Yuletide Express - 2" on 20th December is described on the RTC website as going via Kensington Olympia, Neasden and Dudding Hill Junction. Looking at the map, I can't see how that can be done without either a reversal or some shunting at Willesden. Any thoughts, anyone?

 

I expect this is an error and it will most likely go via Kew East Junction.

 

Looks like 60009 dep Carnforth 0735 light to Carlisle but cannot confirm.

Andrew N

 

According to RTT you're right. loco arrived in Carlisle at 0905. There's still the light engine movement for the electric from Carnforth UDGL to Farington at 1102. Does anyone know if the Amber Alert Gordon Hodgson quoted on the Fellsman is still in place? If it is, it probably means there will be a loco change from electric to diesel in the loop with the diesel assisting on the return. Hope not for the passengers sakes.

 

According to RTT, if I'm reading it properly, the 1102 light engine movement didn't happen and nothing came off Steamtown; so it looks OK for a steam only return.

 

The S&C section has a Class 47 at the rear. Weather & light as forecast; rain & more rain.

 

and shoving for all its worth from video on the other thread.....

 

Footage of the Cumbrian Mountain Express with 60009 at the helm with the class 47 assisting . Seen at Scotby and a deserted Birkett .

 

Just caught it west of Langho climbing Whalley Banks 15 early. Whilst it was racing up the banks, the 47 at the back seemed to be giving it a big push from the back. Suppose this tour was a big of a let down for the steam buffs on it being steam only from Carlisle to Lostock hall junction and then being pushed up the hills.

picture here - http://www.steamingnorth.com/displayimage.php?pid=5410&fullsize=1

John

 

I'm rather glad I didn't battle through the storms this morning for that. While not all RTC's or WCRC's fault on this occasion, they both must have known about the Class 47 on Wednesday after the Fellsman. The roaring silence after was deafening. Why tell the passengers? ... oh yes, because we pay good money for steam hauled trains. Lost £160 but saved the £100+ the day would have cost in fuel, food and beer by staying at home.
Still the destination travellers probably enjoyed their day out. For the rest of us it's time to gamble on being able to pay on the day when we see the steam engine on the front and no sign of a dreaded box.

 

Good luck with that...

 

It's always worked on the Scarborough runs each year for us to York. If it's a Diesel or assisted don't purchase.
I agree it should be that way for all steam trips with the number of Diesels being used, ruins the trip, tour companies still get their money with the normal pittance they pay in refunds for these events.
Got to the stage as said elsewhere we are no longer supporting main line trips anymore and just spending on heritage lines, or watching from end of friends garden. (When on that line).
That will save our small group over £4.5k per year, and with no premier Dining on some runs.....................
What with Failures, Diesels, FBU, Dry weather and out of gauge problems beginning to firmly believe should stop running on main lines, or introduce full fine system when delays are caused by these, that would stop many running.

Sorry if it hurts but this last year has been the worse yet, and others have said on trips now, never again, at least staying at Premier Inns means we get all money back when trips are cancelled.
Steam on Main Line Metals in Summer doesn't fit 21st Century running, unless it's a pay as you board system.

 

Sadly I think this is all true

Don

 

I've said before that steam is more of a 'bookend' for the summer (too hot) and winter (too cold and wet, especially if train heat is dodgy). May to the first week in June has been a fairly lucky period from my perspective over the last few years, but this may have been because I have done steam in far-flung locations in the depths of Scotland at that time of year. However, I've done some pretty excellent trip this year- Wansbeck, Esk Valley, Kyle and Cumbrian Coast, as well as the staple Winter CME double-header that kicks-off RTC's year. However, this is not to say I've had problems:

Less successul trips I booked on were the RTC's ACE, which was postponed then cancelled due to locomotive availability issues; on the rebound from that I booked on the CME via Hexham as I could get on at York, which was then postponed becaus of the FBU strike to an inconvenient date, so was as good as a cancellation for me; and today's Valleys Explorer, again due to the FBU, which currently has no definite resceduled date. However, RTC responded to an email I sent regarding the situation that it might be sometime in October. As can be seen, none of these issues can be attributed to RTC, who I commend for trying to push the envelope in the challenging operational environment created by NR.

So that's three trips in a row down the swanny for one reason or another; the theme being they were all to take place in summer. It's an object lesson for me to stear clear of this area of my hobby for the three months of June, July and August, which I intend to after doing a DCE on 30 July (fingers crossed!). It is also probably why you see very few 'one-off' trips taking place in the summer months, probably because of the greater risk of cancellation; the Valleys Explorer was the exception that proves the rule.

As for SD, I consider myself very lucky to have done Cath-Ex to Scotland last June, which despite suffering a setback in the guise of an over-ambitious itinerary up to Inverness (Aberdeen outward and Aviemore on return in one day) on day 2 (we went via Aviemore in both directions), was probably a high-point of that company's operation in recent times, and it looks like it won't be surpassed any time soon if this year's dire, diesel-driven performance is anything to go by. Despite the lesson posed by the Cath-Ex to Scotland, the over-ambition remains; but like salami, the juicy bits of SD itineraries seem to get sliced away until there is little of consequence left, as with their ACE in September. I suspect their trip to Kyle earlier this year remains the highlight of the year.

It looks gloomy, but I'm a fairly patient person when it comes to this sort of thing, so if there's a trip over a route I want to do, I have not hesitation in booking, finances and logistics permitting. As long as there is the option for a refund after cancellation or postponement, there is very little to lose apart from a slight feeling of disappointment that dissipates after a few days. Life is too short to dwell on these things.

 

.... with the number of Diesels being used, ruins the trip, tour companies still get their money with the normal pittance they pay in refunds for these events.
19th July's CME hit a new low. Lost Carnforth-Carlisle steam leg; the train was pushed all the way from Carlisle to Farington Jc which effectively means there was no steam haulage at all other than for show; total refund on two tickets: £0. A pittance indeed.

 

Last Saturday's CME was hardly a destination train as there's only a bare 2 hours in Carlisle and it could have been cancelled without upsetting passengers. Many others are being cancelled at present, seemingly rather arbitrarily. RTC have cancelled the 25th Scarborough due to fire risk yet it had a proper destination, yet the CME on the 26th is running with diesel assistance due to the fire risk???