WCRC Licence Suspended

well there you have it, from the horses mouth, sorry Wayne, not saying your an old nag lol, DBS are not able to pick up many of the steam charters, the only other option is they run with diesel power as some DBS drivers are still current on 37's and 47's i think that the outlook for many of the tour operators looks very bleak,

 

Having said that, I know we have been asked to look at some steam charters, one not too far away. But there is a lot of logistics involved, so don't hold your breath.

 

Agreed. In the short term there will be a significant problem. The big question is how many tour operators will be resilient enough to survive until if and when WCRC has its suspension lifted. Unless the operators get business interruption indemnity of some sort they will be in a terrible position with reduced income and liabilities to meet.

 

how did you cope when running the steam dreams tours Wayne? i assume the same crews worked the surrey hills ?

 

Thanks Wayne - that's probably the most informative posting on this subject so far.

 

Strewth, got some reading to do here to catch up. Just back from ten days on the Scottish moors for Owls. Heard this news on the BBC radio 4 news at 6pm, presumably the day it happened.

If anyone can recall any particular post on this 35 page thread that adds any detail or summarises the reasons for the suspension I would be very grateful for the post number.

 

Post No. 35 on page 2. is as good a place as any to start.

 

@KentYeti the first few pages give a quick rundown on the specifics of the ban.

After that actual factual news is notable by its absence, so there is about 30 pages of speculation, which broadly falls into one of two kinds: either "aren't WCRC numpties" or "maybe [XX] could enable the tours to continue", where [XX] includes everyone from West Coast themselves, DBS; DCR; Chris Green ex of Network South East; Adrian Shooter ex of Chilterns Railways; a collection of North Yorkshire Moors Railway drivers and Nicola Sturgeon of the Scots Nats.

The next verifiable fact is Wayne's post above.

There's also a North / South spin off thread elsewhere in NGC which might be a better read!

OK, slightly cynical, but after about day 1, there have been essentially no new facts to go on, and there probably won't be until at least mid May or when the RAIB report, whichever is sooner.

Tom

 

I know we haven't got a lot to "talk" about with next to no mainline steam but wouldn't it be a good idea to "suspend" this thread until NR or the ORR publish something tangible? The thread is continually going round and round the same issues from every angle. In the immortal words of JP Gumby, my brain hurts!!

 

Just catching up on latest posts to this thread. I'd say that's a very good summary, and includes all the significant detail.

 

Very much so, great post from Wayne, not to mention revealing.

 

Generally there wasn't many problems, except for the really long ones which may have required four crews. It's these that DBS had reservations about. Any tour that has its steam portion that would not require more than two crews would be looked at, even now. Such as diesel, steam, break, steam, diesel.
The Surrey hills circuit has not been too much of a problem either. We have had enough crews from Hither Geen & Hoo to do the work, to the point that I have not done a Steam Surrey hills for a very long time. Not been required. Likewise the Torbays are relatively straightforward to resource. Tours such as these are looked at more favourly. But steam drivers do not grow on tree's, it takes along time to train one up. And that is from full time diesel drivers.

 

Either that, or make it a Mod only thread perhaps, but on the understanding they unlock it again once there's a major development, and include a post with details of said development. Just a thought, but I do agree the thread is beginning to form a circle, and as the subject matter is close to everyone's heart it's natural we are checking for updates regularly, which can of course be distracting when it's just more speculation.

 

Pointless locking the thread. Someone will just start another with perhaps a slight variation in emphasis. The "Diesels on the back" thread went round in circles for months and still does.

 

Great post Wayne, and many thanks for taking the time to compose it and share the information and thoughts you have. Just one question though if I may. You've cleared up the question about whether DBS Drivers need to retire at 65/66 by making it clear they don't, but what if they wanted to continue until 70, or even beyond ? In other words, is there an upper age limit for Drivers employed by DBS ?

 

Just seen this on the Pathfinder website:


For the operation of our excursions we only use reputable train operating companies, who have a proven record of safety and reliability. These in the main are DB Schenker and Direct Rail Services.

Therefore, customers can book with Pathfinder Tours knowing that their safety and enjoyment is paramount.



A little "cheap" and unnecessary maybe?

 

thats asuming Tangmere will be chosen engine, if theres a Bullied at the head, it will most likily be her big sister, if she's availible failing that one of Rileys black 5s ?

 

Given the current situation, can you blame them?........

I don't, after all. they're just trying to distance themselves & reassure potential customers that should the book a tour it will run.........

There will be casualties in all of this in terms of tour operators, unfortunately, which one(s), who knows.