UK Steam info web site 2011 rail tours

Or to re-phrase that...

"Apart from 4 out of 7 trips, there's not that much of interest"

 

A couple shown as provisional from Manchester to Newport in May2011 with RTC

 

As a paying customer, I reserve the right to be picky as I can only afford to do seven a year at best. Money doesn't grow on trees, particularly when you are on what a certain high street retailer pays you, which is minimum wage on a very 'flexible' contract (flexible in that I am classed as Part-Time, but am only contracted to do five hours a week so that holiday pay is cheap, thus making it less attractive to take whole weeks off. Most of my pay is therefore overtime, which remains minimum wage, but even then, I have to spread costs over many months, so I tend to plan trips well in advance). So I have to be 'picky' and ensure that a) my tours are memorable for the right reasons and b) I can do them in three days flat with minimal cost in terms of earnings. As such, none of the RYTC tours, apart from the St. Pancras lot (and I can't even do those) float my particular boat thus far (and it was intended to be a sweeping personal opinion, after all. ).

 

And everyone has the right to their own sweeping personal opinion! We all have different means but still have shared interest and want to see proper steam on the mainline covering interesting routes.

 

Thank you. The general gist of my argument put far more concisely than my ramblings above!

 

Does anyone know why there are no rail tours from Dec 30th 2010 until Feb 12th 2011 apart from two VOSEs? This seems a bit odd considering after Feb 12th there are rail tour/charters being advertised every weekend.

 

73129. The answer to your question can be found here.........http://railways.national-preservation.com/showthread.php/28052-Quiet-January

 

January seems to be a bit thin on the ground now Past Time Rail has disappeared into the ether. I remember doing the 'Golden Arrow', which was done on a cold 24 January 2009. One of my better trips, despite leaving Folkestone Harbour late due to the coal lorry bursting a tyre en-route. Looking forward to 34067's return next year...

 

What about the folks that don't live in the nations capital?

Trips that don't originate in London are definitely a bit thin on the ground.

We are trying to pickup passengers from as many stops as we can on our trips next year.

Also, we are open to suggestions of where to go. We are very limited with turning and servicing facilities, but always welcome suggestions.

 

In addition to my two suggestions earlier in this thread : -

Aberystwyth with two halls ( if they fit or 2 black Fives or 8f) - last one i can find on Uk Steam Info is September 2006 with Bradley Manor( excludes private charter with 8f in the last couple of years)

 

You would be welcome to visit the West Somerset Railway. Hopefully the Norton triangle will be finished soon following the recent delivery of rail to the site, courtesy of Network Rail. This will provide the option to take the mainline engine off at Bishops Lydeard, giving more time for turning and servciing, while a West Somerset engine takes the train to Minehead and back. One slight problem at present is that there is still a gauging restriction on steam southbound through Cam & Dursley, so the outward journey from Tyseley would have to be via Oxford or Newport(reverse). There are still many route options available however.

 

Its not on a great western line, but with a possible gwr loco attending the nvr next year, a good run of mileage from Tysely to Wansford via leicester, melton mowbray, peterborough, fletton loop and wansford offers a rare bit of track with steam and be something different to enthusiasts. We have sufficient servicing facilities with a large turntable adequate for any of your locos. Just something different to throw into the mix.

Cheers

 

Sounds good to me.

 

How about Tyseley to the Mid Norfolk Railway given that there will be a bit of a GWR fest there next year with 6023 and 9466..sure 5043 would fit in nicely! Not a clue as to logistics or feasibility as never been to that part of the world!

 

May be its about time more steam charter start in the north of England and visit London for a few hours? A day shopping in the west end of London and see a few attraction?

 

Re: UK Steam info web site 2011 rail tours
"How about Tyseley to the Mid Norfolk Railway given that there will be a bit of a GWR fest there next year with 6023 and 9466..sure 5043 would fit in nicely! Not a clue as to logistics or feasibility as never been to that part of the world!"

I would have thought this would be possible, train could run onto Norwich for passengers just wanting a day out, loco could turn at Norwich crown point on the triangle there, and 9466 could be used to pull/shunt the train at Wymondham if required, would be great to see 5043 and 6023 together!. If memory serves right didn't Vintage Trains try and run a train to the NVR a few of years ago, then it was cancelled?, no idea why,

regards George

 

Panniers from Paddington to Greenford, down to Hanwell, over to Southall then upto Brentford.. back to Southall and a fast run to Paddington pretty please..

and if there was time for a second... then to Old Oak, upto Willesdon and round to Clapham, Hounslow loop and back to Paddington

 

If you're taking the Panniers round west London and Middlesex, Colnbrook branch would be good too. Not sure how close you could get to the oil terminal, but it'd be worth going down there to go through the middle of the M4/M25 interchange!