If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Royal Duchy 2017

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by gwr4090, Jul 14, 2017.

  1. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,121
    Likes Received:
    20,771
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The reduced load on the Duchy is to permit steam unassisted over the Devon banks. As for Par, most passengers opt for side trips such as a visit to the Lost Gardens of Helligan.
    As for gricers like me, there's a pub or two for lunch and local Ale.
     
  2. wcmlbls1846

    wcmlbls1846 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2009
    Messages:
    1,002
    Likes Received:
    441
    The tour includes trips to Fowey and Charlestown. The buses were waiting for us when we got to Par. AN

    And an operational reason for terminating at Par is that there is a turntable at St Blazey. AN
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2017
  3. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2013
    Messages:
    2,836
    Likes Received:
    2,677
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Relaxingly retired
    Location:
    Deep in the country
    Had letter from Nigel offering a full refund of payment for last Sunday's Royal Duchy; not just a credit against a future train, but a full cash refund. Very intriguing. Got to be a story there somewhere.
     
  4. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2005
    Messages:
    1,232
    Likes Received:
    748
    Agreed. That's amazing, never heard of that happening. Maybe because you are such a good customer?:)

    Great news anyway.
     
    RayMason and 26D_M like this.
  5. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    914
    Likes Received:
    327
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I can't fault RYTC's response, I also received my letter yesterday offering a full refund, or for them to 'hold' a credit for future use.

    They did exactly the same earlier this year when a Manchester departure train (can't remember which one at the moment), was cancelled. So it's not a one off.
    We're all disappointed when these things happen I'm sure the operators are too, especially as it's their livelihood/ business.
     
  6. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,445
    Likes Received:
    9,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    6233 to Stirling?
     
  7. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2013
    Messages:
    2,836
    Likes Received:
    2,677
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Relaxingly retired
    Location:
    Deep in the country
    What's different is the Duchy wasn't cancelled. It ran with the Class 57. Leads me to wonder if the TOC might have been at fault with the paperwork and consequently not charged RTC for the train. Or then again, LSL might have been at fault and the Trust compensated RTC. Both or neither are possibilities.
    Can't find a way to access the RSL to check the loco's status. The Scot has an illogical TOPS Number, 98702. The third number in the TOPS sequence is the loco class and the last 2 digits are the engine's, so should be 98700.
    However Britannia is 98700 so they might just have used the next available number. Could have entered the wrong number quite easily or it might not have been anything like that!!
    Anyone found anything out about what did happen?
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2017
  8. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    4,889
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    There are of course constraints on what you can drag over the Devon Banks (without the dreaded Diesel at the rear) so the train will never be very long. Is not 8 the maximum for unassisted over Dainton and Hemerdon? The other reason for Par of course is it is near a turntable.
     
  9. RayMason

    RayMason Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2009
    Messages:
    357
    Likes Received:
    236
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Company secretary. Finance director
    Location:
    Dawlish Warren
    Par often is 'full'!!
    Yes, Fowey is the real destination.... what a pity the old station is not available as the branch from Lostwithial is v attractive.
    Lots to do so on a repeat visit --it's easy to go on a boat trip etc!!
    Oh and the turntable......!!!!
    Ray Mason
     
  10. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    914
    Likes Received:
    327
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It was the first Buxton Spa Express planned for the 4th Feb billed as 76084 & 45690, would have been 76084's first main line run since restoration, I think ?
     
  11. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2005
    Messages:
    4,323
    Likes Received:
    2,397
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Westcountry
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    A very honourable response from RYTC. I hope that they are not out of pocket, or at least not greatly so. Possibly it was a Network Rail failure of communication and they had the decency not to charge RYTC. Maybe we shall never know, and perhaps we don't need to know!

    As Ray Mason says, the line from Lostwithiel down to Fowey (only runs to Carne Point, being the clay shipment point on the Lostwithiel side of Fowey) is very attractive, indeed I'd go further and say that it is drop dead gorgeous! Even more so if the old station were still there. I am old enough to have travelled over it in a (diesel) railcar just before Dr Beeching had his wicked way, and there have been several diesel worked specials over it since. A 'can do' culture could yet result in a 14xx and auto coaches) doing the trip. Around 2000, there were some Sprinter trips down to Carne Point on summer Sundays for a mere £2 a time. With the china clay freight contract up for review this December, there may be a smidgeon of doubt as to continued clay trains?

    John
     
  12. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    3,827
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    45407 went to Carne Point top and tailed with a diesel in March 2007.
     
  13. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,445
    Likes Received:
    9,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Ah right, I had also booked on that one and ended up transferring my booking to two other trips which were also cancelled before eventually asking for my money back, done without question.
     
  14. wcmlbls1846

    wcmlbls1846 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2009
    Messages:
    1,002
    Likes Received:
    441
    But my pal who booked three tickets is only being offered £25 per person off a future tour. AN
     
  15. GC Met

    GC Met New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2014
    Messages:
    73
    Likes Received:
    200
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Looking on TripAdvisor one reviewer was offered the same as your pal .
     
  16. wcmlbls1846

    wcmlbls1846 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2009
    Messages:
    1,002
    Likes Received:
    441
  17. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2009
    Messages:
    4,416
    Likes Received:
    1,681
    At the risk of generating opprobrium from certain quarters, is the reason for different rates of automatic compensation clear?
     
  18. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    914
    Likes Received:
    327
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I was offered a full refund after arriving at Temple Meads on the day, and deciding not to travel, this was announced over the train's PA system
     
    26D_M likes this.
  19. wcmlbls1846

    wcmlbls1846 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2009
    Messages:
    1,002
    Likes Received:
    441
    I belatedly recall that there was a similar announcement when I boarded at Exeter. AN
     
  20. The Man

    The Man New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2010
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    442
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Railwayman
    Location:
    RUGBY
    Sadly you are quite correct about a disappointing season. 23rd July No Loco. Injector issues with 6100. Whilst disappointing, SLS took the correct and responsible decision not to run a loco with a potentially job stopping defect until repairs could be carried out. 6th Aug; was it a disaster ? lost 30 miles of steam, but still got back virtually on time. Still had nearly 200 miles of steam over the most interesting part of the run. The cause was what can only be described as an error of judgement, and it won't happen again. I can't remember why 13 & 27th Aug were cancelled but they were cancelled very early. 3rd Sept, Paperwork issues. Not the fault of SLS, WCR, NR (and don't ask me to point fingers at this stage of the game). The loco was registered until Dec17, but got deregistered in August. 10th Sept was cancelled early due to Engineering work. I did try to get 10th re-instated after 3rd debacle, but blocks prevented it.
    Questions raised on this forum re the 'Royal Duchy':
    1) Loading. 8 + PoB is the load for class 7 locos. A good class 8 may take 9 + PoB, but the siding at Par only holds 10 vehicles, (Loco + PoB + 8), so we can't go with more. In 2016 even 6233 struggled up the hill to Treverin Tunnel, starting cold from Par.
    2) Why Par. Simple, Steam Charters tend to run where there are facilities to deal with them, and the Turntable at St BZ is the Key.
    3). Why steam only from Taunton. Bristol is getting congested with stocks at weekends. Barton Hill won't accept steam any more. SPM is very busy, and have a job to accept steam for stabling despite the stirling efforts of the staff there in recent years. SLS had concerns over the day length for their staff and the total mileage (about 320 miles per day). Taunton was felt to be more reasonable. WSR also deserve thanks for their input into the RD season. They have been first rate, and deal with Main Line charters in a very professional way.

    I sincerely hope the RD runs again next year and that me and Spike Hodges will be out doing our best to put on a good show for the paying punters.
    To paraphrase Joni Mitchell "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone"
    TTFN A
     

Share This Page