WCRC 2018

WCR 2018 Jacobite, Dalesman, SSE and special trains (eg Shrewsbury 28 Feb) now on website. Similar to 2017 but season extended a bit. Some fares up but £65 for the Dalesman still seems reasonable---- especially if 35018 is on the front!

 

Beware of the Fellsman ! Although a good day out with mix of diesel and steam traction, the 8f is still favoured given that it's BIG and makes a lotta noise - as a proper steam engine should - and it's happy on the S&C hence its frequent visits.

 

Two more steam runs on the Crewe--Chester--Shrewsbury--Crewe circuit added to the one from Scarborough on 28 Feb. The first originates Barrow on 21 March and another planned for 13 September originating Dumfries.

Edit--- both the Statesman and the Dalesman to Carlisle are on Tuesdays. Interesting!

 

Today's "steam beano" reminds us that June marks WCRC's 20th anniversary of running trains.

Obviously there have been many highs and some terrible lows in that time but I do wonder where main-line steam would be without them.

 

Interesting tour offerings from WCRC greeting me once home tonight.

The Citadel Express, Manchester to Carlisle return via S&C behind double headed Black 5’s on Thursday 8th and Saturday 10th November .

The Pendle Dalesman, 10th (starting at Bedford) 17th (Bangor) and 27th (Doncaster) all in October, usual Steam on/off at Hellifield to Carlisle return.

Really fancy The Citadel and the double headed 5’s...hmm a raid on the piggy bank not long before Xmas maybe needed!

 

So the Citadel is the Ian Riley promotion (not sure if that word is exactly right) being marketed through WCR. Thursday out via Shap back via S and C , Saturday the reverse.
Manchester 0730 Bolton 0750, and pick up at Preston/drop off at Blackburn is possible. Attractive, tempting, not cheap.

 

No doubt there will be a diesel on the rear with a Manc start. I wonder if they'll drop it off at Carnforth ?

 

The dates might be slightly awry but these trips look like the most fitting commemorative trains marking the 50th anniversary of the end of BR steam.

 

...or possibly the dawn of a new collaboration that might give Saphos/Vintage Trains something to think about? We are certainly blessed with tours starting 'up north.' Can the market support all this activity I wonder?

 

Probably a fools errand to try to compete but establishing a specific market / type of operation would work alongside whatever Saphos / Statesman / LSL and VT grow into. There is room for all I think but RTCs long term UK future has to be questionable.

 

All part of natural consolidation is how I see it, IR/WCRC already work incredibly closely together and have a great pool between them and with associates to run some interesting stuff, despite what the media like to portray there is cash up north plus the model of running electric from Euston has shown itself to work and also removes the ever emerging ball ache of steam paths out of London.

Likewise VT have for many years cultivated their market and I see that little changing in the coming years bar consolidation and measured growth if the market allows, just with themselves as TOC and possibly opportunities to operate others locomotives, the most obvious being GWS (Pendennis/Saint etc) and Thornbury. Birmingham starts have a great catchment area, likewise to avoid the bottleneck is there scope for trains on Brunels Billiard Table starting diesel out of Paddington with steam possibly on at Didcot or Bristol?

Saphos are the interesting one as they are possibly the best opportunity to run trains from London having their Southall base (whats the state of play with WCRC and Southall?), based upon pure speculation I wonder if they will start to take over the mantle from DBC as they are already using DBC resources and the south is where most DBC work seems to be, if nothing else someone needs to operate Tornado?

I would be inclined to agree that the time of the independent promoter is probably coming to its natural conclusion.

 

As a South of England-based enthusiast, things have definitely gone downhill during the last few years in this part of the world as far as main line steam is concerned. We have Clan Line running round the Surrey Hills with the British Pullman train a few times each year and the recent introduction of a few day circulars by UKRT (using Clan Line) has been a welcome initiative, but there has been little other good news. RTC doesn't seem to run as many trains down here as it used to, especially given the number of cancellations this year and its only South of England-based repeat itinerary, The Dorset Coast Express, has long abandoned its unique selling point of the steam banker up to Bincombe Tunnel. This, or course, could be reinstated if 31806 could be used between Weymouth and Southampton, but I'm not holding my breath. Steam Dreams is not as Southern-based as it once was although the new supremo, David Buck, has said he intends to change a few things. We'll have to see.

Unquestionably, there is a market in the south for Saphos if it so desires. Yes, some routes out of London are very busy, but by no means all. With HS1 now handling the only really fast trains in Kent, there is plenty of scope here for main line steam, with Canterbury a great destination and not too long a day out. There are limitations on which locos can be used, of course, but 70000, 34046 and 45231 of the current operational locos would all fit nicely. The LSWR routes have potential, with destinations such as Salisbury, Sherborne and Bournemouth which are definitely do-able. True, there doesn't seem to be much alternative to the crawl round the Windsor Lines, but even now, some lively running is possible particularly on the return stretch between Basingstoke and Woking. Even the Brighton Main Line sees the odd steam train, but it usually requires two hours to reach the South Coast, which isn't everyone's cup of tea. Even so, I'm sure I'm not alone in being put off by the time it takes to endure 150+ miles of electric haulage before steam comes on - as with the RTC's Cumbrian Mountain Express trains. This turns a long day out into an absolute marathon. There must be a market of more than just myself and my wife for shorter days out in the south with steam haulage out of London Victoria. With its 2019 programme no doubt being announced soon, I shall be watching the Saphos website with some anticipation!

 

Mr Buck is likely to reinvigorate Steam Dreams and usefully has access to an in-house loco, 61306. It has also been rumoured he may be the new owner of 44767.

 

In other WC related news, apparently the Branch Line Society has organised a trip within the confines of 10A on 8th December. Proceeds to charitable causes.

 

Interesting! Note the photographic restrictions!

https://www.branchline.uk/fixture.php

 

Spotted that, wee bit of overkill, but obviously the only terms to negotiate access. Not quite sure how it will be enforced but the organisers deserve to be respected so that any future prospects are not harmed.

 

I heard, yesterday, that David Smith has bought 4767.

 

According to Mr Smith in SR Jeremy Hoskings has bought her........