The Great Britain VIII

Just on your point "where did the optimism come from?" this excerpt from an email sent by RTC to a customer on 15 April:

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.

Can only agree with the other points you make by the way.

 

I note the train arrived at Carnforth at around 1515 this afternoon I suspect there were a number of accusing looks westwards from the station whilst awaiting the buses to wherever the hotel is?

 

Coverage of day 1 & 2. The only positive, was the climb to, Whiteball, with some great chiming from the footplate.

 

From a passenger on the train.


Fri. am - Lake Windermere. Diesel Boat!
Coach to Oxenholme.
pm - Oxenholme - Edinburgh. Class 67 diesel.
Overnight Edinburgh.

Sat. Explore Edinburgh
16.33 to Inverness on Virgin Trains Highland Chiftain.
Overnight Inverness.

Sun. Scotrail train to Kyle of Lochalsh.
Coach return to Inverness (or
vice versa)
Overnight Inverness

Mon. Scotrail service train to Thurso and Wick and back.
Overnight Inverness.

Tue. VT Highland Chieftain to Edinburgh.
Edinburgh to Grange over Sands - Diesel.
Overnight Bowness

Wed. Grange over Sands to London - Diesel

 

does that mean everybody has to pile into a dmu?

 

Judging by other posts, there might not be so many passengers left by then

 

Yes, with their three course dining meals, in a doggy bag !

 

My contact on the train says some baled out at Bristol, others are going at Carnforth and Edinburgh. Reckons there will be a maximum of 50% left.

 

My footage from days 1 and 2. Crofton on day 1; Hemerdon and Pugham Farm on day 2.

 

The point made about how well resourced the chairman is is a matter if fact by reference to the various company accounts submitted.
Also gwr4707 is the first poster to suggest Mr Smith might be remote from WCRC operational management. He is the only person to speak on behalf of the company but perhaps GWR4707 is better acquainted with WCRC structure and accountabilities therein?

The latter is the key point, surely? It may appear to be critical of an individual but if its the way the company is run where else can questions be properly directed?

 

i thought that a mr james shuttleworth was in charge at carnforth,if so he has posted on certain forums in the past,his silence is possibly because he has been told not to post?

 

I really feel for all those involved with the GB VIII. RTC were in a Nightmare situation. What could they do? With the future of ML steam uncertain at the moment perhaps they decided against postponing the trip as they wouldn't have any real idea of when they could postpone it to. DBS have done their best in the difficult circumstances and it has been a great reflection on them. They don't have so many steam crews anymore which explains the diesel haulage. Most of all I feel sorry for the passengers who after the high of Day 1 were faced with a somewhat disappointing remainder of the tour. Very sad times for Main Line steam.

 

If hes in charge nobody can surely tell him not to post( Baffled of Carnforth)

 

I think his mind is more concentrated on other matters at the moment to be too concerned about posting on forums.......

 

Ah sorry didnt realise

 

UKsteam.info has been updated today, to show that days 5, 6 and 7 (Edin-Inverness, Kyle, and Far North line) have been cancelled: "[Cancelled due to WCRC operational restrictions, passengers travel by service train]". Day 8 is truncated to just Edinburgh-Oxenholme. Day 9 is shown as Grange-KX by diesel all the way.

A friend has sent me a quote from the Scot Rail gen site: "Indications are it terminates Edinburgh - passengers put in hotel overnight, with the weekend itinerary covered by ROAD COACHES."

Edit - just read laurencew's post more carefully - it all stacks up!

 

Overhead at Carnforth:
Receptionist: "Mr Smith: I've got the ORR on the phone"
Mr Smith: "What?! Tell them I'm busy. I'm posting on the NatPres 'Tap Room' thread"
Receptionist: "But Mr Smith, they say they're going to stop you playing trains ..."
Mr Smith: "Oh, OK then. Put them through. NatPres will just have to wait."

 

You've got the wrong man - Shuttleworth, not Smith.

Anyway, getting BACK to GB8............... given this tour is RTC's premier UK Steam hauled rail tour & folks have traveled half way round the world to be on it, and the farce its degenerated into (no fault of RTC - they were damned the moment WC were suspended) I'm left wondering just how much all this will have damaged their business, and will there be a GB9 next year?.......

 

Mr Shuttleworth - as General Manager - will be directed by the Board of Directors (3 persons IIRC) as to what he can say AND where he can say it. As noted by others this is the "Waddling Duck" Syndrome in which the calm surface does not reflect the activity going on behind the scenes. Given the seriousness and complexity of the current situation I believe it's a case of "Those who know owt say nowt - those who know nowt say owt" and I do not think present discussions augurs well for any resolution.

I accept there is no harm in reporting consequences (e.g. the GB8 situation as experienced by the travellers) but to disseminate possible causes and responsible parties is tantamount to acting as potential "Judge & Jury" which AIUI is what both NRR and ORR are looking at with the RAIB report of 34067's misadventures being part of the evidence under consideration.

But before anyone thinks this is a specific WCRC action this comment by Tony Miles on WNXX may be worth bearing in mind - especially the note that other operators are equally under constant monitoring :

NR has been compiling evidence /notes since the door fell of the Mk2 coach at Wolverhampton many years ago. It is felt that some people were just waiting for the pile of notes to get high enough. That isn't to say that notes about any other company are being kept too... its just a case is getting to a point when something has to be done. It's fair to say that the industry does share concerns well ahead of anything becoming public. The demise of Cotswold was known well ahead of it breaking on any forums - enough internal discussion going on to ensure all concerns were shared.