RTC 2025

Isn't the flipside of the in house TOC model that actually the risks to independent loco owners of the Ian Cameron or PRCLT type of going main line with no order book have increased? I can recall off the top of my head 34027, 34046, 70013, 60009, 60019, 61264, 62005, 76079, 76084, 45231, 45305, 5972, 46100, and 46233 being hired in and operated by WCR. Bahamas, Tornado and FS are possibly the last in a long line and none of these three are available to WCR for one reason or another.

 

I think WCR seem willing to still use Bahamas if it were to be air braked. I believe it was WCR who provided it's crew move to Greatest Gathering (either then or another locomotive move recently), showing they are still on good terms, so if that gets air braked I'm sure they'll welcome Bahamas back.

 

Bahamas is being fitted with air brakes in the overhaul that starts later this year at Tyseley

 

The sad thing is folks are losing faith in the charter business. Those who have spent hard earnt cash on a dream day out with family behind a steam loco only to find out their dream day out and memory maker is diesel hauled. Appreciably there are loco failures and other deciding factors such as fire risk ban but its a poor show when the item that folks have been sold is not delivered and once bitten twice shy.... customers simply wont return.

 

Yes, the market is changing. This was reflected in Michael's recent comments in the VT thread, where he talked about how the future of Tourist Class is still under review. With the demise of Pathfinder it is UK Railtours now primarily flying the flag for the track-bashers. Even my own tastes are changing. As I get older and start to earn a bit more disposable income, I find myself getting used to the more sophisticated experience that the likes of LSL offer. Norther Belle etc is still out of my price range but LSL offer a good middle ground. Even the last few track-bashing tours I did with Pathfinder I went First Class as I didn't want to spend a day cooped up in Standard. Younger me 10 years ago would have found that notion incomprehensible!

 

I can't see it having been mentioned so far, but 'Railway Herald' shows the 'Christmas Sussex Belle' being hauled by 35028 this year (19 November). It's usually a 'Black Five', so is this is a first (I think). With the Portsmouth run a few days earlier, '28's travels will certainly widen!

 

The RTC website has 35028 rostered for the above trip on the 19th Nov and the Sherbourne Christmas trip on the 3rd Dec.

 

What hard numbers do you have to substantiate a claim that any perceived pax drop off is due to diesels and not other factors such as a poor economic climate and death of much of the past market?
Because at the high end where people have a lot more disposable income these things seem to sell out almost for every trip according to the websites of the tour operators.

 

But this only mentions the Sherborne/Yeovil trip.
https://www.clan-line.org.uk/diary/

Admittedly this didn't mention any RTC jobs a couple of days ago but buyer beware at the moment!

Andrew

 

Generally true but just bear in mind that if you're looking at the website just 1 or 2 days before the tour then it could well show as Fully Booked due to it being too late to book on it. Once they've started ordering in the ingredients for the kitchen coach and planning how many meals they have to make, having some extra bookings in the final 24 hours could really throw a spanner in the works. Simple solution is to set the website to no more bookings, to prevent that.

 

Maybe but as an example of the 11 tours on the Statesman site through to March only four do not already show limited availability.
From an RTC perspective when I used to steward a lot, we had the odd pay on the day Dining passenger or couple. Do not remember them ever being turned away.
I do not know, but I would hope like any full service airline that a percentage of extra food will be loaded for those that for example are vegetarian and have not bothered to mention it on the booking or do not eat whatever the meat may be. Not sure say a dairy intolerance that my wife has is accommodated for, but likewise I would not expect her to be left with say just vegetables (as long as they were not cooked in butter).

 

That Limited Availability message gets triggered when just one class of travel falls below a certain threshold. As an example, look at the one to Bath on 29th November. First Class is down to 15 seats - that is what has triggered the message. Standard and Pullman Dining have no such warning so are still above that threshold. And the one on 21st Feb next year is showing the message purely because Standard is down to 18 seats. Other classes are fine.

 

Yes but still implies a good booking profile I would argue.
The more interesting thing will be the Christmas trips which RTC seem to have an even bigger list this year. Some of the destinations seem to have been waning in popularity recently, I wonder how they will go this year. The destinations can be less than pleasant weather wise, and the markets often a disappointment talking to pax on the way back.