RTC 2026

I don't think that you'd need to send both Black 5's all the way to Fort William unless you're actually going to run the train. My bet is that Tangmere will do the Coast to Coast (if it runs) and the Northern Belle will be diesel hauled due to "no available steam locomotive". I hope I'm wrong!

 

Looks that way, till Tangmere breaks down again!!

 

Railway Touring Company website stating low availability in std class for Coast to Coast

 

Eddystone with The Royal Duchy passing Brent Knoll.https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/55305178290/in/dateposted-public/

 

Times up for Coast to Coast 6th June, is it still steam?, if so which one?
Out
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U83874/2026-06-06/detailed
Return
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U83878/2026-06-06/detailed

 

34067 is booked for the Coast to Coast Express at the weekend.

 

Thanks, will see it at Manchester Victoria on my way to ELR
Neil

 

Sorry unsure how to upload a video direct from my phone to this forum
Phone cam video of 34067 Tangmere departing from Manchester Victoria with the Coast to Coast tour
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2026/June-2026/Coast-to-Coast-ELR

Neil

 

Decent bit of climbing between Woodley and Chinley, so not a bad run to scratch Liverpool and the Hope Valley for Bulleid haulage.

 

RTC have dropped their Christmas programme.

An Armistice Steam Express on 11th Nov to Canterbury
York Yuletide Express on the 14th Nov from Victoria (steam on at Leicester)
Kings Cross to York & York to Edinburgh 21st Nov

Interestingly there's two Christmas Sussex Belles for this year (25th Nov & 16th Dec)

Clan Line taking on the Sherborne trip on 2nd Dec, and a Cotswold Venturer on the 5th Dec

 

Three Sussex Belles in a year?! I must be dreaming!

 

I would anticipate that 34028 likely will be heading up the two Sussex Belle with any luck. She performed very well on the last one, could just about hear her from the third coach behind the loco!

Interestingly the Edinburgh trip is once again Steam from Carlisle, I assume they are still struggling with getting paths beyond Newcastle on the East Coast mainline. Also the York trip has the tour diverted off after Peterborough. Completely understandable due to how busy the East Coast mainline is.

 

I can't get their website to show me anything after September.

 

All visible here

https://www.railwaytouring.net/steam-day-trips

 

When I read "dropped" I thought you meant 'abandoned'...

 

Couple more Edinburgh jobbies added from Manchester (steam Carnforth) and York (steam Carlisle again). Reasonably tempted by Worcester as things stand, but not essential. There's a fair gap between early October and mid-November, so suspect a couple more may be on the way.

 

Me too

 

Speaking of abandoned. No sign of the annual Three Bridges to Bath & Bristol Christmas Express yet. Although there's a chance they still haven't got around to putting it on the site yet. Would be a shame if that didn't run, did seem to sell well last year, think pathing tho is hard on parts of that route.

 

End of Southern Steam paths all good to go for next months tour. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...9/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=WR

Interesting there’s times out for the tours in a months time but nothing for the Portsmouth Flyer in two days time