Sell-out success for RTC’s July tours

AS WE reported last issue, the Railway Touring Company experienced a much-needed demand for seats when its first four day trips this year, booked to run on June 5, 12 and two trains on the 19th, were – much to the promoter’s delight – fully booked while observing current social distancing restrictions.

Taking advantage of the public’s desire to get out and about, managing director Kelly Osborne laid on 11 excursions this month: The ‘Bournemouth Express’ on July 3; ‘End of Southern Steam’ on July 9;‘TheWaverley’and‘Royal Duchy’, both running on July 11; ‘The Cheshireman’ on July 15; the ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ on July 17; the ‘North Wales Coast Express’ on July 18; the ‘Welsh Mountaineer’ on July 20; the ‘Kentish Belle’ on July 22; and the ‘West Somerset Steam Express’ and ‘The Hadrian’, both on July 24.

Ten of the 11 trains were fully booked, the only exception as we closed for press being the ‘West Somerset Steam Express’.

Apart from the ‘Bournemouth Express’ and the ‘End of Southern Steam’, which feature Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 35018 British India Line, the remaining trains are booked for haulage by Carnforth-based locomotives.

One of RTC’s favourite trains, the ‘Dorset Coast Express’, will run to Bournemouth and Weymouth on August 5 and 19, and September 2.

The last two trains are expected to be worked by ‘Black Fives’, the first by ‘Jubilee’ 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas.

RTC operations manager Rachael Jackson said people are booking days out with the firm because of restrictions on overseas travel.