Steam Dreams 2016

It is not a new trip. Based on the outline times, and the Hampshire trip being a circular, I think it is via Westbury. I chose to book on the Bath trip ( When I travelled on the Stratford Upon Avon trip in October) instead this one because you could end up being at the rear all day.

 

Some of the Scotsman trips have started filling up quickly as I discovered this afternoon. Rather frustrating to find the only trip we could go on has sold out in premium standard :'(
I wonder if there will be anyone to crew the A3 though?

 

Does anyone know the loading for the Salisbury and Hampshire trip? Is there going to be a diesel?

 

I really can't remember when a WCRC operated train ran south of the Thames without one,so I would say almost certainly,yes.

 

I hope they will have to detatch it at Salisbury for some reason

 

Update on the SD website with engines rostered for all trains up to 10th September. Mainly Mayflower with three trips for Britannia.

 

As the leaflet received a week or two ago except TBA for 24/9 which on the leaflet was 70000.

 

Well, I have buggered up our chances of going on a Scotsman trip with SD by waiting too long as their website now shows all but one of the runs as being full (or they have been postponed/cancelled?) as they say refer to booking office. Didn't want to book up yet because of the WCRC situation but I am kicking myself now :'(

 

They seem to have updated the engine rostering again with all trips having a confirmed engine, and the addition of Braunton on one train.

 

Steam Dreams' trips with Scotsman are all but sold out:
http://www.steamdreams.com/Executab...cotsman&SS=SDSVR01\&DB=SteamDreams&Division=A

 

That's an awful lot of money to have to refund if WC lose their licence!

 

It will be pretty embarrassing too when they have to explain why the trips couldn't run. Customers will be pretty peed off if they found out that SD knew that they were selling tickets for trips very much in the balance with the WCRC situation. If the outcome is what we fear and WC lose their license the press would have a field day about the Scotsman trips being cancelled.
Some of the papers have already been putting out stories about the non-appearance of Scotsman at the weekend.
Vintage Trains have made the best decision so far about whether to sell tickets or not at the moment.

 

According to an article in Steam Railway both Steam Dreams and RTC both claim to be in a different situation to Vintage Trains.

They both says that as they aren't relient on vacuum brakes they aren't full relient on West Coast.

There is also a comment about the NRM making contingency plans for 60103 which I can only assume means registering the loco with DBS as well.

Andrew

 

The next question is whether DBS would have enough crews to cover all of the FS work.

 

If last spring is anything to go by, the answer is "no".

 

Agreed. Another issue would be how much DBS (even if they could do it)would charge. If it was more than WCRC, then presumably,the trips would probably have to be cancelled,unless SD have very deep pockets. Having accepted peoples money they could hardly go back to them and ask for more.

 

I received an e-mail frm Steam Dreams this morning announcing a couple of trips with 6201 on Thursday 21st April, the Queen's actual 90th birthday. Surrey Hills lunchtime followed by an evening trip starting in the Windsor area. I wouldn't mind dong the lunchtime run - after all, an 8P shouldn't need a diesel on the back, but with the current uncertainty about WCRC, I'm not going to rush to book just in case.

Will be a good one for anyone liking noise, that's for sure. Bulleids aren't the noisiest of engines, but some forum members have posted some lovely videos of Clan Line on the climb to Gomshall with the Pullmans. Lizzie may not have such a heavy load, but will certainly make a good sound.

 

Would it not be sensible for DBS to consider training volunteer crews to handle steam charter work?
The company has lost a lot of work transporting imported coal around the country . <BJ>

 

What about volunteers from preserved railways? Just teach them to go a bit faster and have someone with the route knowledge as the inspector.