RTC 2025

Perhaps not lucky in terms of failures, but I think lucky to have such a good custodian in the form of Mr Riley and his team who know these locos better than most. I’m certain it’ll be back out soon.

Perhaps as mentioned elsewhere 2025 is not the year of the railtour!

 

And 35028 has completed the hat trick this week.

 

Did anyone get any more than three failures? Those of on the 100 mph run with 34013 will understand this

 

Always in threes... 70000 also has not had the best record, with its catastrophic failure down the road from me at Chilworth.

 

On the tender I hear.
I wonder if it can be towed away for repairs or needs to go by road?

 

Moving tomorrow it seems

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U60108/2025-07-26/detailed

 

1960s talk Don, not many here were around on those trains back then.

WEDGIE (aka Bryan etc etc )

 

In view of a tender axle running hot, I'm surprised it's timed for 60 mph!
Presumably it's 45212 and support coach as I can't see a WCRC diesel path coming down from Southall to do the towing.
Let's hope this path doesn't cause delays to Saturday holiday traffic.

 

Yes, they'll have to weave in between all those packed 'bucket-and-spade' extras!

 

Does anyone know what exactly is wrong with Tangmere and if it'll be back soon? It hasn't been seen since mid May, now with Tornado out of the picture, how on earth does RTC & WCR think they'll cope with one Black Five to do all the work.

 

I don't know the problem, but I've heard that the boiler has been lifted off.

 

There was a post on wnxxforum.co.uk before it went down stating the loco had been withdrawn for overhaul, so that would tie in with your comment. It doesn't seem to have been a happy loco since it came back into traffic four years ago.

 

It's never sounded right.

 

Oh Dam!!!

I mean I'm not surprised, Tangmere has sounded off beat for years and has had many breakdowns recently so not unexpected if that's the case.

Problem is that now the motive power issue is even worse then I thought. Three Black Fives, two of which are in Scotland and that's the whole of WCR operational fleet. Yikes.

 

When does 34028 come on stream?

 

Which makes the whole saga about Tornado more unbelievable, I just cant see reason behind any of it.

 

I agree it makes no sense.

But unfortunately the Tornado news does seem to be very well backed up to being true.

It's all a shocking state of events.

 

Not for awhile unfortunately the dry weather among other issues have prevented it's running in tests. I doubt it'll be on the railtour scene until the Christmas season the way it's going.

 

This has got to have an impact on RCT's tour programme surely, can their business sustain a period of either diesel only tours, or cancelations, there is minimal profit for them even when tours run, at best, I'm wondering will 2026 se a much reduced business for RCT? less tours with steam, possibly a decision to cut back, and look at other avenues?