Capital Christmas Express - November 21st?

I just noticed that this tour has been taken off the rtc schedule.

 

With both Tangmere and Britannia currently hors de combat, the RTC December programme for the southern half of the country may need re-jigging. Still, with SD relying on 61306, this means that Riley International Rescue might be available to step in for RTC if neither of the pacifics are fixed in time.

44932, solo, with no diesel on the back did a brilliant job on the corresponding tour in 2010, although it ran from Swanage on that occasion rather than Weymouth. Its 60mph top speed didn't seem problematical. We also got up Parkstone bank with only one minor slip.

 

It's been cancelled, I was meant to be travelling! Looks like I am destined never to do a main line steam tour at this rate!!!

 

You must be gutted. It seems that it has been a case of "go north, young man" as far as main line steam in 2015 has been concerned - so many cancellations of trips scheduled to run in the south. I just hope RTC sorts something out before December. The 8th December "Sussex Belle" is the nearest main line steam gets to my neck of the woods and it would be most disappointing if it too bit the dust.

 

Now looking like I am going on the Christmas white rose 12th December. In a way, that's very exciting as I could get the Duchess if all goes well

 

lets hope its not cancelled!

 

Just received an e-mail from RTC. No further cancellations and some trains are fully booked or almost so. It will be interesting to find out what hooks on to the Poole-Bath train on 26th October - the first of several still advertised as being hauled by 34067.

 

I was wondering whether to book one of the tours, but my wife will be furious if there is a diesel on the front instead of a steam engine, I won't be too impressed either.

Quiet frankly I don't want to see her money going to waste if the tour ends up being diesel hauled.
What is the problem with Tangmere?

 

So long as they have a bit of notice, RTC prefer to cancel a train than run it with a diesel on the front

 

Well yes ok but are we going to see it before Christmas?

 

Well with 34067 and Mayflower now "penciled" in to cover for 70000, one would like to hope so.

 

It's a Bulleid...

 

Blimey, I was expecting a nuclear holocaust after that comment.

 

Spamcan's presumably in the pub or bed

 

And the Yeti is owl hunting. As for me then I don't need to comment. 90,000 miles of Bulleid haulage since 1960 says it all

Don

 

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Is John Bunch nothing to do with it then ? Also there are, or certainly WAS a bunch of LMS lads from Haworth, me included, that readied and maintained a certain other mainline Bulleid !(with not many complaints, I may add)