RTC 2024

Very fine work with the drone.

 

44871 on yesterday's Christmas White Rose, featuring 60007:

 

Departing Peterborough Saturday morning...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/54146419669/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/54146419719/in/dateposted-public/

 

Black 5 44871 on this mornings "Christmas Sussex Belle" captured at Balcombe Viaduct and Wivelsfield:

 

Saw it leave St Leonards returning to London, To be honest, it didn't look that well loaded, If it runs next year, i wonder if the MK1's will be back, or if it will be mk2's only from now on, and what Loco, will be hauling it, be good to have something other than a black 5 for a change, a rebuilt west country would be nice.

 

Would a WC fit down that way these days?

 

Braunton has,

 

The first time I attempted to do this trip, back in 2015, it was booked for Tangmere, so unless anything has changed massively, no reason it shouldn't still fit. (Sadly it was cancelled due to an OTMR failure on the loco).

I was looking at a pre-Christmas steam trip, and it was a choice between doing this one, or Vintage Trains' trip to York next week.
Given the choice between a relatively short run in Mk2 'coffins' with potentially lots of shoving, or 'fresh-air' Mk2s over a longer route for £5 less, it was a bit of a no-brainer really.

I'd normally do a least 2-3 tours a year with RTC, but this year it's been none, with all my railtour budget going to VT instead.
I hope for the sake of all involved that WCRC pull their finger out and we get the Mk1s back sooner rather than later!

 

A Bulleid Pacific is a fairly gauge friendly loco.

 

Which throws Eddystone into the mix as a potential Bulleid for next year, that all hinges on which TOC will be operating it.

 

Not a single mention of today's Eastbourne run that I can see. The train left Victoria pretty much on time but immediately lost its path and was 20 minutes down by Gatwick. It regained well and the rest of the trip seemed to be better regarding timing. Shot and video from Salfords.

 

Apart from the video at post 644 you mean

 

Must have missed that, as I was sure that there was nothing when I posted. Thanks. Just a little surprised about the lack of mentions before the event.

 

I have done it a few times with Tangmere, but the last one was 2012. The network has a habit of "shrinking" as shown, for example, by the U that I chased around Dorset & Hampshire in 2021 but is now apparently out of gauge down here.

 

Still hope one day of a couple of terriers then on this working at least they will fit

 

The Christmas Cheshireman (for anyone wanting to brave the forecast wind and rain & sleet)

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U34671/2024-11-23/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U34674/2024-11-23/detailed

 

Indeed and then to be pushed along by a DL. In one of my future column I will recount how it used to be

 

The answer from Southern Locomotives Ltd. <BJ>

''Over the past couple of months we have been finalising our plans to work with the Railway Touring Company in association with West Coast Railways, and we are immensely grateful to the MNLPS, owners of Clan Line in assisting us with this Project. Owing to the dearth of suitable motive power in the south, the plan is for Eddystone to commit primarily to RTC charters which will hopefully see it work all over the former Southern Region and maybe beyond. Further details of our plans and possible itineraries will not be released until later when we are confident that Eddystone will be ready for its first trip in the first half of 2025''