Scarborough Spa Express

Forgive me, but not too many moons ago you were saying how no diesel on the back should be assisting, etc. But now it’s a necessary element?

 

Alan he does not say that he didn't assist, he says that he didn't do all the work. What he was responding to we dont know.

Peter

 

Just a voice in the wilderness from WCR is a bonus,the way forward perhaps.(apologies to Cliff)

 

Indeed: what Al has consistently argued for is not absent or shut down diesels but transparency about whether they will be there and if so what they will do. There have been some instances recently (including this Scarborough trip) where the diesel has made up for problems that would otherwise have spoilt the trips for the paying passengers, but the steam locos at the front have still done their fair share of work.

 

John, isn't it 83.7 plus 88.0 (171.7 miles) from Waterloo to Exeter, unles the wr grabbed some of the land when they destroyed that route in the 196os Maybe you were thinking of Waterloo - Sidmouth Junction?

I'm not aware there was ever any turn that did Waterloo to either Sidmouth Jctn or Exeter non-stop in steam days. The furthest I can think of on that route were the 1960s railtours than ran Waterloo-Yeovil Junction 'non stop' 122.60 miles, and the incredible Exeter flyer that ran Basingstoke - Exeter non stop, 124.00 miles. I'm still in reguar contact with Dave Wilson, the fireman on 35022 on the non-stop train to Yeovil Jctn, and I'll try and remember to ask him how much was left in the tender at Yeovil - if he noted that down. His driver that day was 'Spot' King, nick name from him asking firemen to spot certain of the signals best seen from the firman's side of the loco!

Bryan B.

 

Except to the pigeon that looked to get in position on the tree (from 5.53) to view some of the sequence - maybe a need to employ pigeoncam for the next steam hauled train over that route.

Bryan B.

 

This was the full post I put on Facebook

I went on the Scarborough Spa Express yesterday Thursday 29th August
Checking the progress, or lack of it at departure time 07:52, my worst fears were confirmed from various posts it had failed in Carnforth Yard, then over an hour later it was confirmed the problem was sorted and Tangmere was a runner.
Anyone know what the problem was? i was told it was electrical of some sort
Departed 78 minutes late from Carnforth i was getting on at Church Fenton where there was a water stop, more of that later!!
checking times on RTT it missed out the Hellifield water stop, so now 45 minuteslate, i crossed over to P2 at Church Fenton to get some photos of the water stop, asTangmere approached it was going too fast for the scheduled water stop under the roadbridge at Church Fenton and shot into the station for pick up only, i managed a few photos then got across the footbridge as fastas my knackered knees would let me and boarded, phew!!!, so now it had missed both water stops!!, diesel must have been doingall the work, nothing new there!! Pick up atYork and finally arrived at Scarborough 7 minutes late on scheduled arrival time!!
34067 Tangmere Church Fenton
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2024/August-2024/-34067-Tangmere-/i-h85cgdp

 

And said transparency has been shared… yet those not at the sharp end are still refusing to accept. Can you blame the frustrated response?

 

I just find it daft that people want to know what the diesel will do. Do people think Tour Promoters are Mystic Meg? “Yes we can tell you that in exactly 6 months time when this tour happens the diesel will be working in X,Y,Z locations”. Sounds daft.

Nor should they have to justify when there will be/won’t be a diesel on the back. They may not even know that till the day before, granted with WCR this year it’s been a given.

 

So how are railtour operators supposed to provide all the information you need, before you decide to buy a ticket?

Do you need a mile-by-mile summary with the likelihood of assistance, together with a breakdown of the additional help which may (or may not) be provided if the trains running 10, 30, 60 or more minutes late?

Your principled stand is one thing, but these doesn't appear to be a way that the operators can fulfil you information requirements - even if they had the time or inclination to do that.

 

Yes but according to you my English Riviera trip with Mayflowet the other week would pushed all the way, “might as well be doubleheaded”…..When actually you were about tas far from the truth as possible. Mayflower did the vast vast majority.

Your “rocket science” method of working out what will happen on a trip must be very very good, since you’re clearly able to predict the future. I’m sure you’ll be providing accurate information on just how much pushing there will be on my next trip too!

 

Diesel wasn’t assisting on Whiteball to the extent you portray it. Who was on the train me or you? Given I was 2/3 of the way down the train, I’m almost certain it would have been noticeable.

What is tiresome is your changing your mind more than a Tory minister. One minute you’re for something, 2 weeks later you’re against. You don’t give it a rest, so why should we? Or is it because as a “mod” you set the high and almighty example we should all follow?

 

Are we getting a Stevie Wonder on the forum?

 

What Al said was "the diesel would have helped on any gradient of note such as Whiteball."
He said nothing about the exact extent of assistance, only that there would have been some.

So you're not entirely certain.
How fast was the train going when to reached to tunnel? Would that speed be possible with that loco, that train and the diesel taking no more than its own weight?