RTC 2026

34067 at Biggleswade this morning. Nice to see steam on the ECML and it not bloody raining! Good to see @Johnb later in the day.

 

Travelling to Doncaster today to see family so we were able to time the journey around three shots of 'Tangmere'. Bridge Road Stevenage, Peterborough and Doncaster...

 

Photos from Stevenage, Peterborough & Doncaster... https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/55095930087/in/dateposted-public/

 

This is very early but timings are live for the Sussex Belle on real time trains. Once again it's taking an alternative route via West Norwood before rejoining the mainline at East Croydon. Looking forward to this railtour as it's my first railtour I've been on in awhile. Can only guess that 44871 will hopefully pull the trip, should be out of winter maintenance by then.

London Victoria to Eastbourne
- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78986/2026-04-15/detailed
Eastbourne to Hastings
- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78989/2026-04-15/detailed
Hastings to London Victoria
- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78990/2026-04-15/detailed

 

Its a shame but enthusiasts are no longer wanted on railtours.

 

I wouldn't say not wanted. More that railtours are no longer geared towards them as the target audience much anymore.

 

The recent series of Shap/S&C tours that Saphos ran would say otherwise..

 

You been taking your happy pills again?

4 Saphos Cumbrian Jobs have ran in 5 months. All full. The Buxton and Whitby jobs had enthusiasts on in their number.

 

I am very much looking forward to Tornado over Shap next week - which should include many miles of 70mph+ running, 3 unassisted climbs and a full day out behind an A1 Pacific.
This enthusiast will be celebrating this is still possible in 2026.
It will be over 3 years since I last booked with RTC however...

 

How strange, as well as the recent Saphos Carlisle trips, are the semi-regular Vintage trips to Plymouth and Carlisle which make a point of advertising opening windows, unassisted steam (sometimes double-headed), and selling "Enthusiast Class" tickets guaranteed to be next to the locomotive, all figments of imagination?

 

Probably the most incorrect comments I have read from others on this forum and I have read a lot...

 

I've just received an email from RTC with this statement,

"The Edinburgh Flyer - Saturday 4 April
Highlights include:
Running through Morpeth at maximum speed".

Can anyone explain to me why this should be a highlight?

 

I assume it's a truncated version of what the tour page on their website says, which is: "we head northwards and pass through Morpeth, with our speed running at the maximum along this former LNER racetrack, the preserve of the A1 & A4 Pacifics up to their withdrawal in the mid-1960s"

 

Is there not still a speed restriction just south of Morpeth?

 

Exactly, that's why I questioned it as a highlight!

 

There is still a 50mph speed restriction through the curve on the Newcastle side of Morpeth station, 16m14ch to 16m56ch in the Sectional Appendix.
For interest - https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/11969/

Cheers, Neil

 

The problem of language methinks where the art of precis has never been taught; it's not a simple case of taking words out of the sentences but thinking what is meant and writing it differently (and shorter).

 

But if there is a speed restriction, then whatever that is the maximum speed for there surely?
Plus loco maximum speed would be different for Tangmere vs a Black 5.

Not sure the words are incorrect, certainly not to me anyway.

 

Yes, I agree. "Running through Morpeth at maximum speed", to me, means it will run at whatever the maximum speed is on that stretch of line. I wasn't aware of the 50mph limit when I first replied, but I don't think that changes the meaning in any way.