VT Christmas Lyndum Fayre 3/12/2016

E - mail from VT this morning. Train cancelled. Engine declared out of gauge.

ian

 

Apologies for title. Predictive text again!

 

Ian, you beat me to it!

We were surprised to find that 5043 is now prohibited from multiple platforms in Nottingham. Last year we passed through Nottingham with 5043 and had no hint of a restriction, so this is all incredibly frustrating.

We were offered the option of taking 47773 instead, but decided that as the majority of passengers had paid to ride behind steam, it was not a viable option. I have to say that NetRail train planning tried to be as accommodating as possible and did offer us an alternative plan, but it was nothing we considered workable given the offering sold to the passengers.

We do have space in Standard and Club classes next week to York and we hope to accommodate as many passengers as possible. All passengers have the option of transferring to another tour, a credit note or a full refund.

To say we are disappointed and frustrated is an understatement.

 

You couldn't make this up. NR are not fit for their purpose of maintaining the National Network. I truly feel for Vintage Trains and their passengers.

 

If this was a Scotsman trip there would be uproar !

 

But it hasn't been moved in that time at Nottingham. It seems a case of NR not checking if it's been creeping in the night when no-one was looking.

 

Didn't intend to steal your thunder, Ben! I suspect you had other things on your mind this morning. Once again, full marks to VT for their honest and straightforward response to an unpredictable situation.
Ian

 

And they want to overhaul another gauge-unfriendly loco. Curiouser and curiouser. They may want to consider making an offer to the 73156 shareholders if they want to develop the steam business.

 

Castles aint that bad compared to some other GWR types, I do wonder if it's physically out of gauge or another case of lapsed paperwork where no one has been to check for a while ?.

 

I suspect that 5043 has been on the bacon sandwiches again!

Seriously though it adds further credence to the RERPS aspirations to get the Train from Spain running ASAP, the way its going in about 10 years only locomotives on the 15" gauge will actually fit on NR?

Question if 5043 and say a Class 158 fitted 12 months ago, does the 158 actually fit now, I know NR gauge every steam tour, do they do the same regularly with modern stock which is built to the same loading gauge?

 

According to a post on WNXX, 5043 is only gauged for a few platforms at Nottingham, and the station is very busy that day due to all the extra Lincoln specials running.

 

And NR didn't know that when they accepted the tour.....makes their competence even more questionable

 

Makes you wonder whether Tyseley might be better restoring something more loading gauge friendly than a third Castle. Perhaps a Jubilee for example.........

 

Ben did say that they were given the option of using the 47.

 

Hasn't helped WCRC with Leander/Galatea being out of gauge in a number of area's, how NR handle gauging procedure is what's at fault here.

 

Did anyone notice that RTT for a short period had two outward paths, which I thought, err, unusual! One was at Nottingham 0937/0938 and later at 1037/1039. I think the latter was a 'Q' path. Issue may have been how early does train start if is to get through Nottingham.