5043 - The Seaside Flyer -23-05-15

Let me get this straight, your slagging a tour company on the basis of what someone else wrote, without knowing the truth or background to it, over personal experience ?, you keep going on about your experience with SD but we are talking VT here, if people do have a genuine greivance for whatever reason, they can take it up with the people concerned, if you believe Ralph's comments are invalid for being "in the trade" then yours are equally if not more invalid for not actually being on a VT trip, SD issues are SD's problem.

 

5043 powering along the WCML in both directions plus the 47 got in on the action too. Good to see VT back in operation

 

OK folks. I was on this one and there seem to be a lot of very short memories on here. This is one of the first trips to run since WRC-gate and we were left in no doubt that ORR were paying it close scrutiny, in fact they were riding on board. After boarding there was a PA announcement explaining the situation and requesting that passengers did not lean out of windows, and did not stray down platform ramps at stops etc. I found this perfectly understandable in the circumstances and have no issue with it. We live in different times right now, and I'm just grateful that VT ran the trip at all, as I understand another trip today down south with Clan Line was less fortunate?

 

Picture from the return run this evening.

 

A very short video of the Castle climbing Madeley Bank on the return leg:

 

Another great effort by our friends at Tyseley to keep every passenger aware of what was going on. They went ahead, ran the tour successfully despite the situation.

 

Have you a personal grudge against me or something?
Getting a bit tiresome now.
You've already caused problems for me on here recently.

 

So it's alright for you to single Ralph out, but when someone makes valid points about your comments, it's a grudge ?, right....

If you thought about how the tone of some of your posts come across and the kind of reply they are likely to generate, perhaps you woulden't have so many "problems", certainly post #18 reads to me like it's deliberately to get Ben and VT's backs up, if coming from an actual passenger with a complaint, fine, but you say you can't and won't travel with VT, can't you see why people would not be happy with such a view ?.

 

I did not single Ralph out. I did not even mention his name, he was the one who had a poke at me first. I live in Reading so I think travelling with VT is a bit out of the question anyway.

 

Footage of 5043 blowing off past Pensarn on the return leg running close behind a service train.

 

I just cannot believe some of the attitude being displayed on this page towards VT. Only a few days ago this (or any other) VT trip was simply impossible as a result of the suspension of WCR from NR & not in any way the fault of VT.

A huge amount of work has gone on in the background by WCR, VT & other operators to be able to resume operations. Luckily it seems that the various operators have been able to weather this shutdown period. Understandably there is now close scrutiny to ensure that the WCR operation is in fact fit for purpose.

Those purporting to be mainline steam supporters need to adapt a little (or perhaps a lot in some cases) if they want to continue to be able to travel on or simply view/photograph such workings.

 

I live in Bedfordshire but have managed to travel on trips starting in Bristol, Doncaster, Crewe, York and Liskeard to name but five. All a lot further than Tyseley is from Reading.

 

Hearsay and thus inadmissible as evidence. You weren't there so you don't actually know if it's true or not.

 

I think I know who you mean, in fact "terriers" could describe them quite well as well,

 

Not the word I'd use. I particularly enjoyed a run in with one of them when I was behind 60009 on its epic dash down Whiteball. I'd received permission from the train manager to set up my sound gear in Coach X - the SLOA admin vehicle - only to be told "you can't do that here." He even tried to countermand his "boss" during the subsequent exchange but with the manager's backing I stood my ground and the steward retreated with his tail between his legs.

 

Hopefully, Ben or Bob, can clarify the reasons for yesterday's issues. If the O.R.R, was on board and that was reason for passengers being told window access was not allowed, then that's fair enough. But, having traveled with VT, numerous times, I found that the stewards were accommodating, though, I, could think of at least two of the stewards who were less than accommodating and plain miserable. Regardless, I will still travel with VT, as long as the issue with the windows was a one off.

 

A few images taken from both the loaded test run on the 21st and The run up to Llandudno at a dull morning at Grendon near Atherstone.
Follow the link to view my images....

http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p985423872

Regards to all..........Rick

 

10 shots in one day, yesterday !!

 

Have to say the logic of having a "window ban" because "ORR are on board" seems a bit absurd. ORR,NR,WCRC,VT and everyone else are presumably aware that most coaches on railtours have opening droplights and people have been known to look out of them!

ORR might turn up on any WCRC-operated tour in the near future so I wonder if this policy is a VT thing or it will spread to other railtour companies?