Torbay Expresses 2017

2017 Dates are out.

Only 6 trains in the programme:

Via Bath and Westbury: 18th June; 2nd July; 20th August and 10th September.

Via Weston-super-Mare: 23rd July and 3rd September.

It's going to be the 'Battle of BTM' again as there are 3 clashes:

On the 20th August RTC has the Pembroke Coast Express.

On both the 23rd July and 3rd September RTC have Royal Duchys. TBE and RTC are literally going head to head on these two as, for the first time, the TBEs via Weston are also picking up at Yatton. Definite scope for punters to get on the wrong train there - or if they're 'clever' do the Duchy to Taunton and join the TBE there!!

 

With Braunton on the pools of both TBE and RTC there may be some tug of war games...

 

Loco Services Ltd (operators of 34046 for JH) will be putting their planned schedule of ML operations and Preserved Railway visits up on the Icons of Steam website later this month. It will be interesting to see what's on their list compared to what the tour operators are saying....

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According to the latest Heritage Railway Braunton is no longer hauling any of the Torbay's : -

Clan Line now hauls 20th August and 3rd September, while Tornado hauls the 10th September.

From the Torbay Express website 12th April 2017 : - "We are very pleased to be able to announce that Clan Line No. 35028 has been added to the pool of locomotives booked to haul the Torbay Express in summer 2017."

 

That's brilliant

 

Hopeful still for the king but Bulleid will do aswell

 

I really hope Clan line makes it this time.

 

Diesel on front

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We have a diesel on the front

Apparently due to 60009 setting off fires on ECML yesterday.

 

At bath

 

if network rail have imposed a steam ban with this amount of lush vegetation around then you can kiss goodbye to any more steam tours this summer

 

Big shame that for the first one of the season but I suppose a necessary one if indeed there have been fires elsewhere. Let us know if by some miracle they decide to remove the box. Unlikely with Whitehall and Dainton en route though I suspect. Anyone know if it will stay on for the Paignton-Kingswear stretch?

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Only No9 light engine yesterday. Must have been sparks from the brakes from the report on LE. Should have been preventable.

 

Does seem strange, I can't believe the west country is that dry given the dreadful weather we had only a week ago.

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Quite agree. Unfortunately it looks like a knee jerk reaction to the fires set by No9. Just got home from Bristol another £200 wasted. The A1 Team and DB are right p***** off. Tornado has a state of the art spark arrester and sprays into the ashpan to make sure no red hot coals escape the locomotive. As far as I know it has never set a lineside fire. It was out with the 13 coach Belmond Pullman on Friday when it was equally as hot and didn't do any damage to the much drier Surrey countryside. DB tried to get NR to make an exception as it was Tornado but were told "diesel on front" or cancel.

 

the west country is green and lush vegetation is still growing so fire risk is minimal its notuntil mid july through to September that the fire risk is at its greatest

 

I'm getting a little annoyed at 9 falling over and creating problems for others now TBH, Also at NR given the issues yesterday was apparently caused by a brake fault rather than anything from the smokebox/ashpan, Certainly the Duchess didn't incinerate Somerset yesterday, So why are NR making a decision based on a freak failure ?.

 

I feel sorry for the passengers, if you were going to book one to avoid the chance of fire risks/diesels this would be the one, especially with tornado on the front. Such a shame. On the plus side I shall enjoy a beer in the garden rather than chasing round the Devon countryside in the car!

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I'm sorry but NR are right, there cannot be one rule for one loco and another for the others,
Fully support what they have done today, bet most who will complain won't have read the terms,
tbh more surprised they even allowed the steam to sit in behind

 

Why ever not. Tornado is an exception to all other main line certified steam.