The Quantock Hills Express

Am I reading this tour correctly?

You get two departures from Weymouth, one behind 777 on the way to Castle Carey with 34067 on the rear banking

Second trip you get 34067 on its own departing Weymouth for Eastleigh?

Looks to be a great value trip if I'm getting right.

 

First departure please

 

Yes, this was one of the emergency back-ups (the other being the Royal Wessex) if I couldn't do the 9 July Dorset Coast Express with 34067 and 70000. Since I can now do the 9 July trip, I'm doing the Southern Irishman instead. However, Weymouth-Castle Cary is one bit of track I'd like to do at some point.

 

Seems you read it the same way that I did.
As 30777 hauls the train from Castle Cary back to Weymouth it should be available to 'bank' this tour up Bincombe Bank en route to Eastleigh. Whether RYTC does intend to use 30777 as a banker is not mentioned. Will just have to wait & see.
Interesting tour over an unusual route (for steam). Was the last (steam hauled) trains between Yeovil and Castle Cary when 30053 and 828 ran shuttles in connection with the Steam Centre's celebrations in October 1997?

 

November 15th 1997 7325+2968 worked Bristol To Weymouth remember the run as i was on it great climb out of weymouth in thick fog I am surprised that no company has run Bristol to weymouth specials like the successful Torbay Expresses

 

I was a member of the support crew on that trip & the logistics were quite complicated compared to say the Torbay Express.
On the outward trip the locos had to be detached at Yeovil (Pen Mill), run to Yeovil steam centre (by the ex SR line) to turn & then return to the ex GW line to run tender first light to Weymouth. Whilst this was going on the passenger train was diesel hauled to Weymouth. Clearly this complication would nowadays increase the costs of a regular operation even assuming the availability of suitable pathing for the extra movements.

 

Price i dont think is bad either, escpecially as it includes a long trip and the west somerset railway. I may do this trip, providing my mum lets me,

 

From a quick glance at UK Steam the last steam trip over the Castle Cary- Yeovil Pen Mill section was on the 14th Feb 09 with 34067 on 'The Somerset Explorer'. The last trip over the entire section from Castle Cary - Weymouth was on the 1st Aug 08 with 6024 on 'The Dorset Coast Express'. Also of note on the RTC booking page it seems like they are planning to run 2 charters from Bristol TM - Weymouth on August sundays 15th and 29th for just £48! I gather that this will be stean hauled from Bristol TM - Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth - Bristol TM using a loco from the Dorset Coast Express pool.

 

Just read above post.

 

I think we returned on 'The Yeovil Bethrothal' (sorry if i spelt it wrong Nick/Shirley! ) via CC??

Cheers,
Mark

 

Thats not the right spelling Mark,its Betrothal,just had a look at the headboard hanging up in the hall!!!
And yes, we went via Castle Cary.