No. 46233 'Duchess of Sutherland'. Rugby to Bristol. 3rd Sept.,2015

What happens to a motorway road overbridge when it is built or updated? Do the contractors simply guess the height of the bridge and hope that a tall truck will not strike it? Can you imagine the uproar if the tallest of HGVs were stopped from passing a under a motorway overbridge because the contractors had failed to gauge the bridge to the correct standard height?
A preserved steam locomotive is gauged to a specific maximum height so that it can run in safety on the national network. This is a waste of time if the railway is not maintained to the same exacting standard. <BJ>

 

Was talking to the staff and train manager, they said we could have gone via Swindon on the down leg too, but, according to network rails books, she won't fit into Bath across the bridges over the river at either end of the station aswell

 

Quite heavy, everyone's been stropping all morning in coach J.

 

If so, that is quite worrying - it implies that Network Rail are allowed to reduce network availability without going through the network change processes. My simplistic view is that if this had just been a like for like replacement, I would have expected that anything that could go through before could go through now. As an objective was to increase route availability, that goes double.

 

Do you think NR are trying to Gauge Steam off the core routes? and onto secondary routes after all if you make it difficault to gauge anything but the day in day out stuff, then rail tours will only want to try to run what they know is not likily to change at the last moment, once the wires go live will steam be squeezed off the GW route anyway, as i would imagine FGW will want to use every availible path, to increase services, ?

 

No, I don't. I think it's a sign that NR have lost sight of their role within the network, and that they are in crisis.

 

A short clip of the Duchess scaring the sheep at DIRFT this morning.

 

I understand that it's not just steam tours that are having trouble with the current NR gauging rules. One friend in the business said gauging has become "a monster that's out of control" since the 6-month rule came in - which NR imposed on themselves, let's remember. The only people that benefit are the gauging contractors...

 

I believe that is exactly what is going on.

 

I am really worried about next weeks Sapperton jaunt after today's debacle. Swindon - Kemble is a section that has seen MAJOR loading gauge changes since the last time the Duchess went that way. I have absolutely no faith that NR have checked and certified that she will fit.
Next Wednesday could be interesting again, but not for a good reason

 

Its very odd, one would expect a contractor to be working to a specification that was laid down in the contract documents and that this would be checked before the completed project was accepted. So either a) NR are being allowed to change the envelope with little control or b) the contractors are not working to contract and handing back sites which do not meet the standard they did prior to works?

Either way, WCR got a rightly deserved kicking about their systems and I hope that the new liaison process that is being led by ORR on the back of that issue provides the suitable forum for NR to get a similar shoeing (or at least explain publicly what they are up to?)

 

Yes, there was a rather heavy throb as the back of the train passed the camera.

 

A diesel assisting a Duchess - how stupid can you get?

 

Not sure any of us have got firm evidence that is what is happening for sure? But could you blame them? My old view, "running 19th century technology in the 21st century".

From where I sit I see the main line steam "industry" as rather fragmented with no obvious concerted voice.

If there was a concerted voice maybe now would be the time to concentrate efforts to keep such as the Settle and Carlisle route permanently open to all steam operations. Have it "red lettered" as such in some way.

And any other secondary routes where normal traffic levels are light.

Don't know the network well these days so I can't name any others. If they exist.

Can't see much alternative if "gauging" issues unchecked will eventually end most if not all main line steam.

 

A friend of mine is an former NR project manager and has gone to a similar role with one of NR's contractors. From the tales he tells me you could write a book regarding NR and "specifications."

 

I wonder what excuse NR would use to prevent the Duchess running via Badminton and Bristol Parkway today.
I'm sure that they would think of something. <BJ>

 

Yes, that was rather a shock to me as well!

Pity it's not a VT train as we would most likely get an explanation here.

Maybe the fare paying passengers today were given an explanation on the train? They are the ones who deserve it of course.