RTC 2014

Because only a black 5 was available to work this train
meaning one direction would have to be Diesel
Clan Line offered to cover but they are now out of Gauge around Yeovil
Everybody on this tour was sent a letter

For the new date we can offer 34046 and 34067 with steam banking between St Davids and Central
Its very unfortunate but the choice of locos available west of Salisbury is very limited
ND

 

Speaking for myself, as the person who quoted that bit from your website: I don't have any bad feeling towards RTC, but I do feel dismay when such nonsense is allowed to appear. As individuals we all make mistakes, but organisations should have systems to prevent most such mistakes from reaching the outside world. Mistakes of any sort on your website (whether nonsense, as in this instance, or misleading information) can put off potential customers. If you can't get the information right some won't trust you to get the tours themselves right. You do some things very well indeed and I enjoy your tours, but that doesn't mean that things you do wrong should be ignored.

 

We're meant to be on the same side! I, for one, appreciate that the path of true steam doesn't always run smoothly. In fact the postponement of the Atlantic Coast Express gives me a chance to do this trip (if there's a spare seat!) as I am not free on 6th April - son's birthday and he isn't a rail enthusiast!

Good luck.

John

 

Just to confirm no letter and no email/ phone call and also I booked a hotel which won't refund

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Steam banking between St Davids and Central will be (for some people) a major plus point for this tour, but it isn't immediately obvious from the description on the website. I had until now failed to perceive that, if the train came the easy way out of St Davids to go via Taunton, the only way back to Waterloo without a reversal would be via either Reading and Wokingham or something round West London, either of which would prevent setting down at Basingstoke.

The questions now are whether Tangmere will be available by then, and if not what Plan C will be. A further postponement might be best.

 

Deleted


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So if Clan Line is out of gauge on its old stomping ground where does that leave Steam Dreams and their ACE?


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Good question

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I have received no letter or e-mail regarding the postponement of this trip but Nigel is to be applauded for taking this action given what he was left with. This means I will now be able to do the Central Wales trip on Saturday 5th, as well as the re-dated ACE. Like others I have a lot of time for R TC , without Nigel our hobby would be much the poorer It is mainly their adverts that is letting RTC down. As has been said before RTC require a proof reader who knows about the railway industry and mainline steam to vet adverts before they go to print. I'm sure most comments are meant as constructive criticism to help not for him to take umbrage at the remarks.

 

As I said in another thread, and this comes from the Gee Gee's mush (so to speak) you aint going to see Tangers on the mainline this year - unless the RAIB says otherwise, they have their hands full of tests and and analysis to determine the cause of last years almost catastrophic (for mainline steam) failure.........................

 

I received my letter on Saturday and it's dated Thursday so they are on their way.

They even tried to use Clan Line but it's out of gauge...

 

Thanks for your help

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I wonder if Clan Line has been measured and found to be foul of something (probably, as you say, the A30 bridge), or just that she hasn't been re-checked recently and there isn't time to make certain before 6th April? Either way, the net effect's the same for RTC's ACE, though it might give SD time to get her cleared.

Although the line-side shrubbery will be in full leaf by late June, closing off a few video options, the light evenings should make it possible to get later shots. Grateley about 9pm?

 

It does take time for Royal Mail to deliver things. I only found out about the change on RTC website on Friday, and it can take around to two to three working days for first class mail to arrive on the doorstep. I am booked on this trip; I am disappointed as I have also made London-based commitments around the trip, but I also realise that steam on the mainline is a privilege and not a given, so have sympathy with RTC on this as they are once again at the mercy of NR's arcane gauging policy.

 

Sorry not to reply /post earlier as I did know that thaACE was in trouble and v shocked that 35028 was out of gauge beyond Yeovil.
I was travelling up North for the Whitby and decided to leave all laptops etc at home. Nigel had to travel at short notice and is away.
There are a number of changes to GB7 but I was keen to confirm Seaford a as running!
I don't have anything to do with the website of RTC but do try to tell Nigel of any real howlers IF I notice them.
Maybe NP members pm Meltonnorth with any important errors that need changing but Nigel isn't one to be constantly online as he spends a huge amount of time arranging locos,coal,water,catering and ESP the v complex arrangements for the many overseas trips
I hugely sympathise re hotels. I now pay more so I can cancel as I have had so many many wasted nights due to trips changing. No easy solution to that one . To attend the Neustadt bash in May I have booked fully cancellation allowed hotels in case of a problem(fire ban,)but the £400+air tickets for 2 would have to be chucked or else used for a holiday in the Frankfurt area!!!many European trips change at v short notice with Italy and France resulting in many lost ticket bookings for myself but that can be the nature of our hobby and I know Nigel is very aware of this and did everything to try to keep the ACE running

Nigel was absolutely gutted at postponing the fully booked ACE and refused to consider a black 5 option with a diesel back or a re routing as he wanted to recreate a semblance of the old SR ACE.

This post doesn't really address Alistair's concerns but the number tech types who understand railway junctions,routes,geography like many of us are hard wired to do are maybe limited. At least more enthusiast trips are running with Boulby and Seaford v v good news as is the plan for Falmouth,Shotts and Bathgate on GB7.......

Personally,I am still high from Whitby. 2LNER locos,fab scenery,and a lot of track ticked with LNER traction. I highlighted the change in Esk Valley service to Nigel some time ago and said it may be now or never for Whitby-at least with a good path. We did it!
I am sure the ACE will run but maybe book any hotels v v late or try to stay with a mate(or take out cancellation insurance as a last resort)
Ray Mason

 

In view of comments here concerning hotels, I'll put in my two penn'orth. When I need to book a hotel I nearly always do so through booking.com, which usually offers various options: different grades of room; with/without breakfast; and cancellable or not. It generally costs a bit more for a cancellable booking but not a great deal more.

Going back to that mistake on the website, I can see how it happened. The website would originally have said Euston - Camden Bank - pick up at Watford Junction - Watford Tunnel. Then the route is changed and someone is told to update the website: "Start from Ealing Broadway instead of Euston. Pick up at St Albans instead of Watford." They make those changes but, being new to the job with no knowledge of railways round London, don't realise the need for the other changes. What was missing was someone else checking the revised text before it went up.

 

I hope to be booking this trip and praying that we don't get a long, hot June.

 

Thanks for coming on and posting. Appreciate the points you have made. Its good to have communication from you and Nigel.