West Somerset Steam Express 2015

And 70000 is booked on the Torbay on Sunday


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Seems unlikely 60009 will be ready for Saturday, is there anything to replace it with

 

With Britannia already in Bristol in preparation for Sunday's TBX, and Mayflower commited to the CathEx to Stratford on Saturday, it looks like Tangmere is the only possibility - unless Carnforth send one of the "northern pool" south for the weekend, which would be unusual, though not unprecedented. If they do, I'd guess it would be 45231 as the most likely to be in gauge. In another thread, there was a quote from a recent RTC e-mail implying that Tangmere would be ready before 5th Sept, but that's not much comfort for this weekend's passengers...

 

Apparently, 46233 Duchess of Sutherland's next restored trip is now until September 3rd's trip to Bristol where she'll be based at Southall. So maybe, if the PRCLT are willing to move to Southall to stand in some railtours leading up to September, she'll be the perfect replacement for The West Somerset Coast Express this coming weekend if Union of South Africa or Tangmere aren't ready.

 

No doubt all will be revealed in the next couple of days, but we can be sure that quite a few people are working as best they can to sort out the problems with 34067, 60009 and 61306 ASAP and there is a lot of comminication taking place between RTC, WCRC and various loco owners regarding both the WS Steam expresses and one or two other trips booked to run in the near future. We can be sure that every effort will be made to ensure that a steam loco is available for the tours booked to run this coming weekend. If it isn't, it won't be through want of trying.

 

There are a few common problems with drafting in new locos at short notice which, I suspect, are likely to apply to the Duchess in this case:
1) Raising sufficient support crew - most of 6233's crew likely live around Derby, will need to take extra time off work, and excuse themselves from family life - again!
2) Getting gauging approval from NR - if the loco hasn't used any part of the route in recent months, it needs to be recalculated and recent engineering works may need to be re-measured. The Duchess is just about the biggest active mainline loco, in all dimensions, and she hasn't worked in the south for several years. I expect WCRC and NR are currently working on the routes she's booked to work for Steam Dreams in September.
3) Maintenance between rostered work - having just finished a few weeks away from home, working CMEs from Crewe, there will be a list of things to do before heading south next month, some of which will need the tools at Butterley.
If RTC and WCRC have been quick off the mark, and already made an attractive offer to the PRCLT, then they may be able to help out. The chances look slim to me, but I've been wrong about such things before, and no doubt will be again.

 

I'm trying to be positive about the charter on Saturday to Minehead as the timings are now available.
..... yes, I realise it can still be cancelled or diesel hauled. <BJ>
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50659/2015/08/22/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50660/2015/08/22/advanced

 

Looking at the return times that isn't a steam path.... No water stop that I can see.

Andrew

 

Agreed. Under all the circumstances and if that works it does seem a good compromise to get out of a rather difficult situation.

Now what else can get in the way? Supposed to be a belt of rain spreading all the way over the country from West to East today, like it does. So shouldn't be any fire risk.

OK. Fingers crossed for all booked on it who are OK about the essential diesel involvement now if that described above is what happens.

 

UkSteam has the Brit on the Paddington-Bishop's Lydeard leg.

 

The WSR Ops Notice has just been received. This is what we are planning for;
1) We are expecting loco 34067 to arrive at BL with the train, and a class 47 diesel on the back.
2) 34067 and support coach will detach at BL, take water, run to the Norton triangle to turn then depart directly to Bristol.
3) The class 47 will remain at BL.
4) 3850 will work the train to MD and back.
5) The class 47 will return the train to London from BL.

 

This should be 34067 which is also working the Pembroke Coast Express on Sunday.

David

 

Let's not say anymore at present. <BJ>

 

I have to correct you. Tangmere is the locomotive booked Paddington to Bishops Lydeard. It is also booked for Sunday's Pembroke Express.

 

Shame Kinlet Hall can't do rtn run isn't mainline certified

 

Yes, it is mainline certified, but probably not in the correct pool of locos for RTC to use. It will be required on the WSR on Saturday as 4 steam locos are needed to run the timetabled services plus excursion, and 4160 is currently undergoing a washout and maintenance.