Review of 2009
2009 was when a decision needed to be made whether to continue with the 3rd party charter business. The move to Barrow Hill near Chesterfield at the end of 2008 had created the foundations of whether to stay in the business. However, the first tranche of MkII vehicles outshopped in blue/grey had been decimated by 5 vehicles moving to a contract with DBS in December 2008, so RBC had to look at bringing in extra vehicles to cover for their loss.
Examinations at Long Marston and MoD Kineton saw a number of vehicles picked out in good condition that could be returned to service after recommissioning had taken place. However, RBC would be unable to operate charters with MkII vehicles until sufficient vehicles could be reactivated. Indeed, Retro's 'Retro Avon Grid' operated with the Cargo-D MkIII set which at the time was covering a thousand miles per day on Euston-Birmingham diagrams! We won't forget the large shunt round before and after the job to get the set ready for the trip to Bristol and Bath. However, the sound of 56311 and 56312 in multiple climbing out of the Severn Tunnel will never be forgotten...
The aforementioned MkIII set was being looked after by DB Schenker at Crewe 'electric' depot and therefore we started operating charter trains with DBS's Network division. A number of jobs entailed, but the strangest has to be 5 days of filming in Wales with 67005/6. This relationship had developed from DBS hiring coaching stock for TOC work through RBC's parent company Cargo-D, for Great Western and Scotrail operations.
RBC also began operating trains with Direct Rail Services. DRS had intimated that they would be happy to 'hook and haul' trains for RBC. DRS carried out training runs initially to trains drivers and guards using Cargo-D stock and RBC ran their first charter with DRS from Chesterfield to Paignton with 2 DRS Class 47s. It was a great day and the spirit of the DRS crews and staff was very apparent. Further charters were operated for RBC customers such as Retro with a pair of Class 20s around the Oldham Loop and over the Cumbrian Coast. This was a truly great day with a lot of laughs. More charters followed, such as Morpeth to King's Cross and back and culminated on the 30th December with a pair of Class 20s around Kent and Sussex which turned into an incredible day and just what the doctor ordered as one enthusiast quoted! We look forward to operating more charters with DRS in 2010.
Cargo-D also completed the purchase of 23 MkII vehicles, some of which entered the RBC fold towards the end of 2009. By this time, Nemesis Rail had completed the reactivation of more MkIIs to create a complete charter set. This work is still ongoing into 2010!
Other 'quirky' jobs reared their heads in 2009 such as a request for a MkIII carriage at Okehampton for TV series 'Doc Martin'. The day was spend trundling up and down being hauled (or propelled) by a 'Thumper' unit! We also operated football trains with the MkIII set - that stock certainly was busy in 2009, hardly getting any time off, even at weekends!
So what does 2010 hold in store. Well, much of the same, but the MkII fleet is just about complete and this will allow us to operate all-standard class trains as well as mixed class specials and dining services. Some of the MkIII fleet also moved to Barrow Hill and this will help supplement the requirement. There will be a real mix of trains going out from Barrow Hill this year - watch this space as they say!
Finally, we should take this opportunity to thank all our suppliers, customers and all those who have supported us in 2009 and continue to do so in 2010. Without them, we wouldn't continue as we have done.
The RBC Team
