RTC 2023

While the new series of Winter CMEs has already been commented upon elsewhere, a few more day trips have been added to the 2023 portfolio.

https://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-2023

 

The Chester and Manchester trips in March offer pickup at Watford, rather than the usual service train connecting at Milton Keynes.

 

Interesting to note that all the current non CME trips shown will have an "allocated steam locomotive from the Carnforth based pool" until Duchess comes back in March. Be nice to have a different loco in the south for a bit!

 

Reckon BIL would be the most likely as well as the most suitable.

 

Just about a year's worth of tours now available to book.

 

Looks as though Bahamas is working trains from London again next year !!

 

I presume there are some tours which will feature Flying Scotsman yet to be added.

 

All we need is 34046, 34067 and 35018 and you can keep your Stanier stuff oop North.

 

If one of the Carnforth-based Bulleids does come down to Southall to work the trains on 4th and 18th February, it's a shame that RTC hasn't organised something else that would give it a chance to re-visit its old stamping grounds.

I have previously expressed regret that the only regular runs on former Southern metals - the Dorset Coast Expresses - are all scheduled for the summer when the fire risk threat in the New Forest is at its greatest. Mr Gladiator5076 of this forum, who lives in Swanage, has pointed out that resorts like Swanage and Weymouth are not ideal destinations in February or March as so many attractions are closed at this time of year. Fair enough, but what about a run down the West of England line to Salisbury and/or Sherborne? Or a straightforward Canterbury circular? Besides the issue of loco shortages down south, I believe that there aren't many WCRC Drivers passed on for former SR lines although apparently one or two have been trained up recently. (Others may know more??)

In summary, however, apart from Clan Line on the "Atlantic Coast Express" in May it's another less than inspiring 2023 programme from RTC as far as those of us who live south of London are concerned, sadly. I know that we should be grateful that we can still enjoy the spectacle of main line steam at all and hopefully next summer won't be quite as hot and dry as 2022, in which case it finally might be possible to run at least one "DCE" as advertised i.e., with 45596 as the man engine and 31806 doing the honours from Weymouth back to Southampton. I've been waiting to do this for three years now.

 

I think 4498 would be a useful addition!

 

Well 44932 was the "go to" loco at Southall for a couple of years and it is back now.

 

Are Weymouth and Swanage closed for business in early June and mid September? Surely those would be attractive dates for a DCE?

Will the ACE be a WCR run or a DB run? If the former, perhaps that opens up some opportunities for 35028 which weren't there before.

 

I seem to recall that 34067 spent much of its previous ticket based at Southall. And the earliest steam-hauled "Northern Belle" trip isn't until 25th of March...

One can only hope.

 

Swanage Belle normally runs around the 8th to 13th of September and the DCE used to finish mid September when there were about 6 or 7 rather than the 3 of previous years.
I have not checked what dates are down for 2023 or if the Belle is even happening.
Even in September though by the time the Belle arrives a lot of the eateries have stopped serving lunchtime meals.
I thought there was an ACE this year that WCRC operated.

 

I see the NWCE for Sun 16 July 23 in the itinery, makes no mention of using the Halton Curve, does this mean it is it is both ways via Warrington or will it be changed later?

 

ACE - Saturday 20th May 2023 pencilled in for 35028 Clan Line
The End of Southern Steam - Sunday 9th July pencilled in for 35028 Clan Line
DCE currently planned - Wednesdays 26th July, 2nd August and 17th August (perhaps latter date should be 16th) pencilled in for 45596 Bahamas
Swanage Belle currently planned - Wednesday 13th September pencilled in for 45596 Bahamas
There were certain times of the year when Swanage Railway operated a two train service which would be caused serious disruption by a long rail tour arriving - especially if it ran late. Therefore, it has been the railway's policy to refuse access during busy timetable periods.
During the basic Blue timetable there is normally some 'wriggle' room for rail tours as happened last month with this year's Belle.
Weymouth has reasonable siding space, especially compared with Swanage, but still gets congested as happened a couple of time this year with more than one tour turning up on the same day. One rake had to be taken to Yeovil Pen Mill sidings to get it out of the way but fortunately it was top and tailed diesels..

 

Scotsman tours now up. Not very many of them which I find surprising as RTC could well be it’s only tour promoter. Could well be involved in the Great Britain but no loco allocations have been decided. Nice though to see its programme take it to other locations such as Par, Portsmouth and Cardiff.

 

Looking at the Scotsmans tours for next year its surprising that their is only one trip out of Kings Cross which goes to great yarmouth. Would've thought they would do a trip to York instead