West Somerset Steam Express 2016

The positivity practically flows out of you doesn't it...

 

Not defending just trying to give an objective view of a complicated situation. Adheres to which gauge? There are many. Locomotive Gauge based on diesel/electric traction? W6 gauge? W10? The permanent way has of course been changed over the years and will continue to do so e.g. lines can be realigned closer together under an arched bridge to accommodate higher containers (paradoxically 'gauge enhancement'), gap reduction at platforms to cater for modern rolling stock or safety legislation, greater cant to increase line speed on curves (which in turn can affect clearance at bridges, structures etc) are some examples. None of which may suit the profile of a steam locomotive with its unique ride characteristics even if it ran over the route in a much earlier era when the railway was very different. The P-way should be done to a specific gauge for that line as published in the sectional appendix.
It was already an issue in the 1980s, one reason why BR restricted steam to a few mainly secondary routes. There seem to be few issues with gauging for steam on those same routes today, which is probably not a coincidence.
Personally, I think it's amazing that so much steam runs over so much of what is a very busy and fast changing national network in the 21st century and am very thankful for it and the folk who make it happen.

 

Did any of you who are upset actually pay to travel on the trip ??
My Brother in law traveled and wasn't upset by the Diesel and he paid the fare,
He paid so has the right to comment,
What's the excuse of the last few pages on here ?

 

I thought this was a discussion forum for members of National-Preservation. I didn't realise that a restriction had been placed on who had the right to make a comment.

As for the tour yesterday, I'm sure that all of the participants were perfectly happy after being informed that the steam locomotive that was due to haul them from the WSR to London had been replaced by a 'classic' diesel locomotive. <BJ>

 

look in the mirror and what do you see.
A keyboard warrior such as thee

 

188 miles from Paddington (via Bristol) or as near as dammit!

Here's the last milepost, out the back of Minehead carriage works.

Robin

 

As a brief discussion emerged on gauging, people may find the following RSSB Guide to British Gauging Practice of interest, which explains why steam locos are classed as 'out of gauge' loads. Sections 13 and 11 of particular relevance.
http://www.rssb.co.uk/library/group...ructure-sic-guide-to-british-gauging-t926.pdf

 

Read it. Its a tome written to justify a deterioration in standards.

 

It was, I believe, a timing problem, not a gauging one. It had to get back before lines were closed by possessions.

Robin

 

That would seem to be the case, as I saw return times for a 23:20 arrival at Padds, and then they disappeared, so assumed that there would be a possession or two putting the mockers on it - also saved me the bother of going out for some night time photography!

I had tried to get a word in earlier, but everybody seemed to have picked a particular bone up & wouldn't let it go, so there seemed little point.

 

Possibly both - one of the crew said they were returning via Bristol as it wasn't allowed back down the B&H

 

If the late arrival time at Paddington wasn't an issue, in theory the charter could have returned steam hauled via Bristol, Bath and Swindon. <BJ>

 

Surely WCRC should get some thanks for having made long engine and coach moves from and to Carnforth to get any steam on this trip. Looking at the negativity on here I wonder why they bother but maybe they and the tour organisers know the market and want do the best they can in difficult circumstances for paying customers.

 

If I were to try & make a positive suggestion, it seems to me that given that we are going to be catering to an increasingly 'non enthusiast' market and the comments about 'silly o'clock' together with the reality of trying to fit trains into an increasingly crowded network, number of available locos etc etc there must be some questions about how well the current model works and possible alternatives

 

I think that you sound rather like Ralph. The way the steam mileage on this tour was reduced was clearly a huge disappointment to many. The "rants" may have been irritating to the apologists for the present state of mainline steam running but they were not without some validity. As has been said many times, WCRC and RTC would be far more popular if they put a minimal effort into providing accurate information as tour paths and motive power changed.

 

Twas a pleasure seeing a jubilee class locomotive down yer in the south.

 

Well said Al