The Midday Scot 19th March 2016

WCRC could have bent over backwards, forwards and sideways but if DBC had said "no" then it would have been to no avail at all. If Mr. Smith's company hadn't cocked up big time then main line steam wouldn't be in the parlous state it is at the moment.

 

The Yeti's SR steam runs make for more interesting reading than the bickering that's going on in some parts of this thread.

 

No bias there then..

 

The Brohitabahn in Germany ,a 1000mm gauge line just south of Bonn, used Polish coal when their large 0-4-4-0 Mallet , 11 sm was put back into working order about a year ago .Due to complaints from locals about large amounts of smoke they sourced their coal from South Wales. It was found to be nearly smoke less ,used a lot less ,and there was very little ash at the end of the day, and of course gave plenty of steam. Cost ins when all was taken into consideration worked out about the same for both types of coal.
I believe it is mined at Frosy Fran the large opencast quarry/ mine near Merthyr Tydfil ,I've seen this advertised for the domestic market ,in bags ,for £350 a ton. It can't be collected from the mine as, by local agreement , all coal has to leave by rail to Cardiff.

 

None at all, I'm an LNER man at heart, but if you'd prefer to read endless messages bickering on about what did or did not happen on the footplate of 46233, be my guest.

 

BUT, DBC said YES! They provided an excellent crew. WCRC opened the gate in the middle of the night to release the train and honoured their contract to provide stock. They could have been awkward but no. The bitching and wailing about WCRC, primarily because they keep their own business to themselves, is getting tiresome. All who ride and photograph mainline steam have a huge debt to WCRC.

 

I think the only way to guarantee good coal is to use opencast from a well run site where you know what seam it comes from at the very least and preferably where it has been regularly sampled. In British Coal days opencast coal didn't even have to be washed, seams were actually swept with a brush before being dug under the eyes of a Coal Inspector. Any minor faults, washouts etc were removed before loading (not possible of course in deep mined coal), and samples were regularly taken and tested. Poor seams were blended for power station use, sometimes with deep mined coal at Opencast Disposal Points or collierys. People might be surprised at the quality (or lack of) that power stations are designed to use.
The best solution would be for all heritage users to get together and form a buying consortium, ideally with a small central distribution depot to create a stockpile. A scheme the Lottery could help with?

 

One interesting aside from Saturday was that DBC had a trainee fireman on the footplate. What an experience for him. Talk about learning on the job!

 

Really appreciate knowing that.


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I know DBC said "yes" and yes WCRC did let the stock out but I doubt they provided the stock as a freebie. Perhaps there would be less bitching and wailing about WCRC if they hadn't gotten themselves suspended.

 

Well they would not have let the stock out for a freebie if they had been driving 46233. They had already contracted with RTC for the tour so they actually retained some income from the job. But they could have been obstructive and were not. They could have let the loco out and told the organisers to source stock as well. Pragmatism won the day.

They were suspended because some of their employees did not follow procedures and they did not have a robust structure to prevent it. Regardless of structures, if an individual decides to ignore procedure, what can an employer do? They now know what needs to be done, but any individual can take matters into their own hands.

 

Do you get paid as a WCRC cheerleader or is it just a hobby of yours?

 

Quite unnecessary really. I have no connection with WCRC other than I have ridden on their trains when used by tour operators. I respect any business to operate as privately or as openly as they wish. Just because WCRC don't give a running report on their activities, choose to paint their assets as they wish and keep their gates closed doesn't bother me. How many businesses give a running report, allow strangers to dictate specifications and demand access to private property?

I trust however that the depth of your commitment is such that you never ride on any train that has WCRC involvement or take photo opportunities of the same...

And it does not detract from the fact that RTC, DBC, WCRC and NR collectively pulled off a great day on Saturday!

 

Do calm down young man.
I have ridden on many WCRC tours and I look forward to their ultimate return but that doesn't blind me to the enormous pile of do-do that they've landed themselves in.
As for the rest of your defence of WCRC, what colour paint they use and what level of news they choose to publish or not doesn't bother me in the slightest so you can direct that tirade elsewhere.

 

Well said Ian It seems that the 10A support on here should listen to Ronan

 

Under normal circumstances, this thread would long since have been archived with focus on new tours. The fact that it is lingering on like a terminal disease is because there is no other mainline topics to discuss. I suggest we draw a line in the Midday Scot sand and contribute to the many other parts of NP to stimulate our postings.

 

At least he will have seen decent coal after Carlisle






Sam the sham likes this lol

 

I have the impression that it was the employer himself who was unable to follow agreed procedures.

 

Fair point but on the occasions that got them into trouble he was not on the footplate.

Come to think of it, my Chairman is not in my company vehicle when I ignore policy and laws...