The Great Britain VIII

WCRC being involved would represent a remarkable turnaround but stranger things have happened

 

As far as I know, WCRC appear to be back in business - for the time being, at least. One can infer that from the suggestions that 46115 will haul GB8 on at least 2 days, and I have heard other comments to support that, though nothing that one could call "official".

I mentioned earlier that we must expect the plan to evolve while the tour is under way. For example, I gather that efforts have been made to get steam haulage from Edinburgh to Inverness. It's too soon to know whether they will be successful. As in previous years, the problem may be finding a steam path, and a 60mph path at that, on the Aberdeen line on a Saturday.

 

Really? On what basis do you say that, given the noises from ORR etc seem to indicate investigations are continuing ?

 

I'm not one of those who paid a fortune for a tour that will now be missing many of its original selling points, so I can't tell anyone how they should or shouldn't react to those circumstances, but I do have to say that the quoted post is the one that chimed most with me. Unless I'm missing something, RTC has been trying to find solutions to a situation not of its making rather than being the party causing the problem in this instance. I haven't got any previous history with RTC in other instances so I'm just judging it on its response to the WCRC problem for this particular tour, and I can only admire what it's tried to do.

Should it have just pulled the plug as soon as things looked dubious three weeks ago? Given the cost of the tour and the size of passengers' logistics, maybe it should. But I think if I'd been in the RTC's position, I'd have pressed on to try to salvage an approximation of the trip. Still, I appreciate that it's a far bigger situation than a prized loco not turning up for a gala, and people have spent thousands not tenners. Nevertheless, not convinced it's RTC that the wrath should be aimed at.

On a brighter and selfish note, I'm heading to the Bluebell on my day off on Tuesday and was wondering about timing travel so I could see the Great Britain's departure from London in the morning. I'm guessing it's not easy to get departure shots from Victoria these days (especially amid rush hour) as with barriers, photography restrictions etc you can't just walk onto an adjacent platform? So I'm guessing I'd be better off heading to somewhere like Kensington Olympia to see it come through? Any advice appreciated. I'll be using public transport and then want to get the train down to East Grinstead for midday.

 

Like I say, that's what appears to be happening. Two different sources, who are usually well-informed, have said that 46115 will work the Grange - Edinburgh and Grange - Doncaster legs. That could only happen with WCRC involvement. Furthermore, a different source tells me WCRC are "back in business" from Monday.

I am surprised by this turn of events, and I could quite possibly be misinformed, but I don't think these different sources are all just repeating the same duff gen.

 

You can get on to the platforms at Victoria if you have a suitable ticket which will activate the gate. You can also, sometimes, find a friendly member of staff to let you through, but no guarantee.

 

I hope you are right. It just doesn't sit well with news from elsewhere and the lack of any statement from NWR or WCR. Or even the original deadline to have put certain things right and to have made progress on other matters.

 

ORR investigations are continuing, but they can't do anything before 15th May, when their consultation period expires. So it is possible that WCRC have resolved their issues with NR, which would allow them to run GBVIII, but they could still be clobbered by ORR on 15th May.

Just speculation on my part, but I am hearing the same things as Steamage, so trying to fit theory to the evolving picture.

 

Agreed. It does seem odd. However, it is a weekend, so PR people are only on-call for real emergencies, and everyone else with any involvement with running GB8 will be too busy getting everything ready for the passengers. There may be some "official" statements on Monday, but I suspect we will just have to wait and see what turns up and who's in the cab. All eyes on Shrewsbury on Wednesday evening...

 

Any statements from orr or nr will need to be as positive as their earlier ones have been damming. Otherwise there will be a sense that WCRC is operating without the full confidence of the authorities

 

Ah thanks Simon, that's easier than expected, I'll just make sure I've got a ticket to somewhere.

 

I can't believe some of this stuff, it seems now that even meeting the requirements of NR and or the ORR are not enough, we now need a beauty parade and a ceremonial crowning?

 

Every time I have departed from P2 at Victoria,I have noticed a few photographers on the platform opposite,across some tracks,I think it must be P9 but I can't be sure. There must be a fair chance of another train blocking your view at the crucial moment of course. There should not be any "photography restrictions" at Victoria as presumably they sign up to the standard NR photography guidelines.

Incidentally,there is no LE path showing in RTT for this one,so it looks like the diesel required for west of Exeter will be on the back?

 

i find it difficult to see how DBS will operate 46115 unless 11th hour negotiations have sorted the 'we do not drive vacuum brake locos' issue - hope the pax do get more steam than just 70000 though.....

London victoria staff are usually more than happy to let you on the platforms as an enthusiast, just ask nicely never been an issue - dep is off plat 2 or you go on the oppo platforms for a side on view mind you don't get bombed by a SEastern unit passing!

the ramifications if RTC had cancelled this trip were far reaching due the amount of non-UK pax flying in for this tour - its still a nice 'land cruise' even with diesel
but RTC no doubt will have to fairly compensate for lack of steam.
Yes its not RTC's fault but it is their 'supplier' thats messed up

 

I'm sorry that I didn't make my point clear enough for you. The original statements from orr n nr were fairly explicit in their criticism. The industry including WCRC will expect to see equally forthright statements when the matters have been properly dealt with permitting the suspension and/or investigations to conclude. That better? No flamboyance required.

 

You wont get forthright statements, the authorities are not in the business of singling out any operation for praise. Simple conformation of conformance with requirements will be sufficient.

 

Ergo, it should be WCRC that picks up the tab for that, not RTC!.........

 

As I understand it, the RTC volunteer staff get a free tour, so in one sense they are being "paid", and certainly at a far greater rate than the average volunteer on a preserved railway. Nevertheless I do not envy their role and they certainly earn their "pay". Indeed, I suspect, they will particularly earn it on this tour.

However, as I have said in previous posts, it is irrelevant whether it is a commercial organisation or a volunteer, not for profit organisation, that is running a tour or a railway. When you charge customers good money for an advertised service you are obliged to provide it. If circumstances beyond your control prevent you from doing this, then you should offer a reasonable reduction in the price to compensate for the shortfall.

I have had a reply from RTC as to whether the tour will be going to Wick as advertised and as shown on our tickets. They have said that it will be truncated at Helmsdale, claiming the time honoured excuse of "operational reasons", with no indication of what these may or may not be. What is particularly galling is that RTC have not been up front in announcing this. It was only by looking through the details of the steam and diesel sections that I realised that the tour might not be going to Wick. I am sure there will be many who still think that they will be doing a "Land's End to John O'Groats (almost)" tour.

Another insult from RTC came when I checked my luggage labels and found there was only one for two people. The RTC brochure states that "All luggage transfers from Penzance to Oxenholme Lake District will be taken care of by RTC". There is no mention of size restriction or number of pieces per passenger, or couple. On reading the attached circular it transpires that they will only transport one medium size suitcase per couple or one small suitcase per single passenger. Other luggage must be carried in the passenger carrying coaches. As we do not have a medium size suitcase, and I had especially bought a second small suitcase for the tour, I am particularly annoyed. This is another example of RTC not carrying out what they have advertised.

I have travelled on several RTC day tours in the past and have been satisfied, but I am fast coming to believe that the arrogance of RTC management is comparable to that of WCRC. We all understand that the lack of steam is beyond RTC's control, but not going to Wick and the luggage issue is within RTC's remit.

 

Who mentioned praise being necessary? The same style as the publicly issued condemnation suffices.