Royal Duchy 2015

Oh dear,there you go again. I would take more notice if you actually checked your facts. 60009 failed at Newton Abbot. WCRC sent a rescue diesel and the train arrived Par 2 hours late. The return was retimed so the punters had 30 mins less than they should have done at the destination. Please correct me if I am wrong but according to RTT,no service trains were delayed in any way so what is all this guff about "feeling sorry for FGW and Cross-country"?

Yes,when Tangmere failed at Hemerdon,2 service trains were seriously delayed,however FGW have consistently had disastrous delays for many reasons,particularly due to signalling problems in the Thames Valley recently. Have you looked at the reliability of the Caledonian Sleepers recently? All trains will fail from time to time,have you any evidence that steam trains are any more likely to fail than others?

I cannot accept that it makes any sense at all to put a diesel on the back of every steam charter just in case the steam fails. Many will have a diesel on the back for other reasons of course and we have to live with that.

 

Imagine being the locomotive owner and/or operater when something goes wrong.

 

Whats the point, any reasoned suggestion would be thrown out by the know alls that are associated with your movement....

In light of the recent troubles the loco has had, this was an ideal candidate for diesel assistance if required, and I am surprised it was not a pre-requisite of the tour being accepted by NR.

However what do I know, I don't frequent tours at all now, because of these EXACT same problems, how can anybody have certainty what you pay for is going to happen.

For all the reasons NR withdrew a TOC licence, forgive me, but reliability is no better, its probably worse.

 

Brilliant. It really does look like that BillyR!

I'm laughing so much I've slid off my armchair.

 

Steady on, that first sentence looks a bit like a personal attack. There are some on here, (not me), who would hit the report button over such a comment.

 

Well,well ,well where to start,

1. I know that, but because of this an already busy interchange station had more people milling around getting in the way because of the failure, yes they sent the diesel but your missing the point it should have been on the rear which would have been able to save such a delay, its not all guff, but I guess you don't care about anyone else , when you cause issues for them,

2. the signalling isn't a fgw issue, its a network rail issue,
3, thatrs because of a lack of locos, which with more coming on stream won't need to be covered by hired in locos.
4 I've never said steam is more likely to fail.
5. you may not have a choice but to accept diesels on the rear in future.

 

its not rubbish,Its my opinion.If you don't like it don't read it simples.
I won't keep quiet just to suit you or anyone else on here.
Just because some of you are too blind to see the light of whats really going on.

 

Don't involve me with your rant. It's not my movement and most of the movers and shakers in the heritage rail movement don't bother posting on forums such as this because people who think they know it all are only too ready to shout down those that do know what they are talking about. I well remember somebody telling Bob Meanley that he didn't know how to run a railway business. It's pearls of wisdom such as this that keep people like Bob from committing themselves on social media.
Finally, if you have an axe to grind with WCRC, grind it with them not me. I'm not involved with them in any shape of form.

 

In fairness I think you've totaly missed my point.I'm not surprised.

 

He's got a point, the steam only no diesel on the rear group are just helping put more nails in the coffin of steam on the mainline.
don't start complaining when your stuck trundling at 25mph on a preserved line.

 

Another reasoned response I see, you should get a job as a politician, I have no axe to grind with WCRC, you kindly made that assumption.

I know they have been badly treat by the ban, I was fully aware of all of the facts, but did not hang it out on here for people to froth about, out of respect for the job they do.

Maybe you should remember that, instead of acting the forum mouthpiece again....

 

I must say that I'm very grateful that we have an expert on National-Preservation that can enlighten us on the true operation of mainline steam.

Thank you 34098.

<BJ>

 

So what's wrong with trundling at 25mph on a preserved line. Not everyone can afford main line steam trips.

 

Heritage lines are the life blood of the steam movement. More locos appreciated by more people than will ever happen on the main line. Not everyone can or wants to pay to travel on the main line so light railways fill a real need. What's more there are types of loco and rolling stock that will never be allowed on the national network so the only way to enjoy them is on a heritage railway.

 

My shot of the A4 earlier in the day seemingly going well at Creech St Michael.

 

The failure of 60009 yesterday was not the fault of the TOC, WCR don't own it, or maintain it, there is only once the Duchy has had a diesel with it and that was 2 years ago when there was a possible fire risk and on that occasion the diesel failed and was taken off at Newton Abbot on the return, and NR didn't make a request for a diesel to accompany the tour yesterday, and contrary to what someone else posted saying they felt sorry for FGW and Cross country trains inconvenience, no service trains were delayed yesterday.

 

Well now that everyone has finished being right and trying to out 'right' each other....

Sept 6th will be my first mainline steam trip...ever!

Very much looking forward to it, and I deeply hope that my day out won't be spoiled by members of the enthusiast community that whinge and moan about everything!

I'm 33 years old and I already feel dead excited about the whole experience made even better that I am going with my father who last travelled by steam on the main line when a standard class 4 was taking him to school!

My aim on the day is to live blog the trip on this thread (possibly a new one) and get some pictures! Oh and to enjoy the ride!