RTC 2025

On the Tornado thread

I'm quoting that here because RTC describe their Varsity Explorer three weeks later (25th October) as the first on that line. They do have something of a claim, as Pathfinder's does it only one way, Bletchley to Bicester, and RTC's does Bicester to Bletchley with steam, then diesel on the way back.

 

Church Lane is the point work at the country end of Millbrook Freightliner terminal. Water has been taken in Southampton Up Goods Loop before now.
That means a SWR set of stock often has to be moved and the locals in Cracknore Roads asked to move cars to get the tanker to the access gate.
Cheers, Neil

 

I wondered that but not shown as water in OTT either, which of course they usually denote as they have for Fleet.

 

Presume this tour used the 'new' flyover north of Hitchin which is quite a steep (but short) climb to get over the ECML. It's 50mph followed by a stretch of 55mph before joining the main line on the climb to Letchworth Garden City. The Black Five would have needed diesel assistance to help maintain reasonable speeds over this section and then accelerate towards the station and 45212 may have eased off as it was getting close to it's own maximum. Without being on the footplate it's impossible to be sure of course.

 

Tickets received for next weekends CME states that it will be hauled by Tornado.

 

Please excuse the cynicism but given the recent comments in the Saphos thread, and the weather forecast for next week (no rain) I suspect it will be "hauled" by a diesel, with another diesel on the back and Tornado on the front doing as little as possible. What a total farce.

 

Agreed - it is far from ideal and I'm praying for some rainfall middle of next week but thats looking highly unlikely - alas that is always the gamble taken with booking any steam railtour in the summer months - I could find fault with plenty of other things (coaching stock) but will overlook that as well.
Unfortunately "real" unassisted steam tours are now so rare and I fancied a mainline steam fix - I am booked on the proposed unassisted tour run by VT in September (and even thats weather permitting given its quite early in the month!) and travelled on 3 of their unassisted tours last year - but beggars can't be choosers - my son wiill be with me and our plan is to spend time at Crewe on the return on the longest day of the year spotting and taking plenty of photos.
So I already know I'm going to bloomin well love it!