Main Line Steam - Possible ramifications of the WCRC suspension

No of course not. I must have got a bit overcome with negativity,particularly in the Rail Mag story! As everyone keeps on saying,we'll just have to wait and see.

 

Big Al is corect that NR are not vindictive. Likewise WCR are not incompetent but , as was seen in the East Coast fire ban saga are not really co operative with authority. They may well have all the corect procedures in place but arepossibly not assuring compliance, which is just as bad. One major question which will only be resolved publickly once the reports are published, did a risk taking culture develop at WCR which was not stamped on by management?

 

A friend has reminded me that GBRf do have a few steam drivers, so I suppose that suggestion is not totally impossible. Not sure whether any of them are based in west Scotland, though. If not, they could be in for some long "lodging turns"! One can see how the story may have started, at least.

 

I think, that's taken as read, Fred, in the case of tours being contracted out in the next few weeks. It's good that some of them have been picked up since it shows that other TOCs are prepared to do business with WCRC and help them out. It's perhaps disappointing that only a small proportion, even of the diesel tours, have been covered, but that's probably because there's no spare capacity to take them on. The telling point is that DBS have not yet been able to take on any of the steam tours.

 

Just worth noting perhaps that firstly the Cambrian WCRC operation and latterly pm JACOBITE services have both featured air braked stock hauled by one of the Riley 5s. Indeed the pm Jacobite was initially a response to the loss of the Cambrian and imported largely the same consist. It does seem however that recently SRPS mk 1s have been hired for Jacobite services. The SRPS vehicles may be dual braked (mk2s are either air or vac not dual I think), aiding flexibility in not restricting which of the normally 3/4 locos stabled at FW are able to do the diagrams.
The point is if it has to be an air only operation because of other TOC restrictions there is a precedent for air braked sets and suitable steam locos are the norm too. Whether WCRC would hire coaches out if they were no longer the operator is another matter.
Its conceivable too that GBRf could hire ex WCRC drivers on a short term contract for the duration of the season if they already have a steam safety case and procedures for appointing drivers for steam traction. This may be the means of covering the Jacobite for this year if WCRC remain suspended by the time the season begins.

 

And so say all of us! More than one railtour promoter has gone out of business in the past, and we don't want that to happen again.

 

In 2013 Tornado worked, I believe, the SRPS set to Inverness and round the Alloa circle so I am guessing DBS are OK with that rake.


Foxy

 

the srps set is dual braked and tornado has hauled them previously

 

I thought it was the other way around - they have some drivers with steam experience even though they do not currently operate steam. I may have misunderstood, though.

Good question. My friend did not elaborate. All we are really doing is puzzling over which rumours are vaguely plausible and which are total non-starters. Does anyone around here have experience of working with GBRf?

 

I think Marcus of Steam Dreams said the typical dining passenger did 2 trips a year so with the amout of days holiday people have these days not an issue , and I expect it is the same for other classes once you take enthusiasts out of the equation.

It was stated in one West Coast thread that the Southampton area is very busy due to container traffic and that paths might not be available in the future. The three regular short trips Jacobite, Shakespeare and the Scarboroughs are all on quieter routes, the later two only have hourly services while the former is only 4 times a day.

 

If I read The Royal Scotsman website correctly, the first trip this year is starting on Monday, unless there is already one running this week - any news on what will be happening with these trains?

Steven

 

Posted on the GB Thread

Email just received.

"We are writing to you with regards to the current situation relating to our train operating company West Coast Railways and Network Rail, and the current suspension of their operating licence and the effect this may have on our Great Britain VIII tour.


We have been informed by West Coast Railways that they have now completed all the points required to address the concerns of Network Rail, this was submitted earlier today.We are hopeful that there will be an early response to this from Network Rail.


As an alternative plan, should it be required, D.B. Schenker have agreed to operate the first two days of the tour using 70000 Britannia, part of the way from Westbury to Exeter on day one and then from Plymouth to Bristol on day two, with diesel haulage for the other sections on these days.Direct Rail Services have offered help with the remainder of the tour, this would then be diesel hauled.


David Smith, Chairman of West Coast Railways has informed us that he expects the Great Britain VIII still to run with steam, operated by West Coast Railways, following all the hard work that they have done to meet Network Rail's demands.


We are aiming to despatch the tour documents so that they are with you at the very latest on Wednesday 22nd April. We are very sorry for the uncertainty that there is over this tour and appreciate your patience. Please be assured that we are doing everything within our power to get it resolved as soon as possible and are working tirelessly to ensure other arrangements are in place to enable the tour to go ahead.


We will be also be sending this letter to you in the post today.


Kind regards


The Railway Touring Company"

 

Please..............let's hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Taken at face value, it seems there just might be.

 

From that it looks like all the stops are being pulled out.

Fingers firmly crossed WCR will be up and running again very soon.

 

,

I didn't say it was a permanent takeover. I simply mentioned that the train was still running but as a DB operation rather than West Coast. No speculation, just fact. <BJ>

 

There has been a lot of doom on this thread, however, this won't be the end of steam on the mainline. It could potentially come out of this stronger and more resilient. It was interesting GB Railfreight taking an interest. This is an exceptionally proactive company that has grown it's business from nothing to become a major player in the British rail industry in just a decade. They have a manager who is willing to think out of the box, do things no one else would think of and who is also extremely honest and open about his plans and ambitions. If they can run steam this would be another option away from the West Coast monopoly and possibly very good for steam as a whole.
West Coast need to take this episode as a massive wake up call. The contribution they have made to the Heritage and Railtour industry should not be forgotten and we have a huge amount to thank them for; but if they wish to keep operating on today's railways with technology from past they need a 21st century attitude to doing business and most of all safety. This should be paramount on a railway that is far more congested, quicker and demanding than it has ever been. There is a huge amount of knowledge, skill and experience within West Coast and it would be a shame to lose that. I don't think we will, but there needs to be fundamental changes to their management, safety regimes and the way they conduct themselves corporately. One things for certain, they will be watched like hawks and any small slip up will cost them big time.

 

To many vacuum only locos?