Return of the Cotton Mill Express

Cool it? Cool it? I'll have you know I could be in big trouble later today when I meet up with my 18 month old grandson. Grandad couldn't take him "linesiding":mmph: to Brighouse yesterday so his father took him. I am reliably informed they waited........and waited quite a while then went home. It was me who suggested his father took him so I've got it to come this lunchtime.
The young un likes to do a bit of linesiding with his grandad.:thumb:

 

I would imagine West Coast will bear the cost of this as they provide the rolling stock not sure about the loco. Is there any insurance for such happenings or do the operators just take it on the chin so to speak ?
Hope a new date is announced soon.
I understand the tour was fully booked so maybe 2 more dates will be announced ?...

Brian

 

And I believe that in each case RTC have done all they could to rescue the situation by offering refunds or another tour. What more can they do?
Does modern traction never break down with far more serious consequences. How many passengers were put in a far more stressful situation when Eurostar 'lost' 5 trains in the Channel Tunnel. What recompense have they been offered or received. Lets not blow a few single incidents out of all proportion.

 

I think palace gates just meant it has been a run of bad luck for RTC. He wasn't criticising them, just saying they could do with some better luck with their upcoming tours.

 

I don't think anyone is criticising RTC but we must be carefull not to escalate the issue into adverse publicity for a well run and thoughtfull business. I think that because the rail tour business is comprised of a small number of TOCs who run a relatively small number of tours on the mainline. When one tour hits a problem it seems out of context. Some people seem to forget that the steam tours are using very old technology that is at risk of potential failure. Most times corrective action can be taken. Compare that with say the West Coast Mainline where cancellations are far from uncommon utilising 21st Century technology. Those cancellations can happen at a moments notice too.

Lets support our steam TOCs. I've recently booked two tours with RTC and look forward to more as the year unfolds.

 

A very unfortunate turn of events for 46115 and for the people who had booked a seat to travel on the train. I gave up when someone at Lydgate (where I was waiting to take my photo) that the train hadn't reach Manchester Victoria and ruinning approx 2 hours late. When I arrived back at Todmorden station, I heard from a chap who had rang the Power-Box at Manchester to be informed that the train was cancelled.

I also find it quite odd that 46115 had issues with it's vacuum brakes? Why didn't the lads at Carnforth give it a thorough mechanical check-over to see if there was anything wrong!

 

Oh come on do you think that proper checks were not carried out. Anyway going by reports from the sprint from Lancaster to Preston, the brakes were working OK then, and she didn't actually crawl into Preston.

 

There are some sparkling comments appearing on this thread

At the moment dp266 is well in the lead in the comedy stakes!

 

T Bird Frank,
Yes I am enjoying them as well.Don't some people get hold of the wrong end of the stick.

 

I was just making a suggestion, I wasn't "having a go". But obviously, you didn't read my post......DID YOU??

 

"Why didn't the lads at Carnforth give it a thorough mechanical check-over" does not sound very much like a suggestion...

 

It winds me up that people
a) turn up lineside then rant the train was cancelled,
b) people complain about freeloading.
not everyone can afford to travel on these trains, things are tight in this current financial climate, also not everyone wants to travel on a train. I consider myself a photographer, I have no interest in travelling on a train at all. I will pay for galas and the like but dont to travel.
I would however condemn those that do turn up just to watch, then complain it was cancelled, I myself made two fruitless trips just south of Preston, its all part and parcel. at least these trains do run, and I thank those who make these excursions possible.

 

again, another request to try and keep this thread civil. It's already been tidied once. It's unfortunate that these things sometimes happen, and it's most probably no one's fault. Making assumptions about what has or hasn't been done without knowing the facts seems a bit pointless....

 

Even carrying out a pre-run exam can sometimes not discover hidden faults - I remember early last year when I was due to go out on a test run on the Jubilee Line that the train passed it's 'prep' exam and when the LU driver did his standard emergency brake test 2 minutes later it failed! I think given the problems at Carnforth the night before WCRC did their utmost to make sure this trip ran, but were undone by an unfortunate failure on 46115.

It's a shame as the descriptions of the section that 46115 did manage to complete indicate that those on the tour and lineside would have been in for a special performance.

Regards,

Dan

 

Try a 400 mile round trip !!! Never mind, at least we got a nice shot of 'Eddie the engine' at Greenholme on the way home. More importantly, lets hope RTC run this again with 46115, too good to miss over Copy Pit.

Steven
http://steven-crozier.fotopic.net/

 

I read your post and came to the same conclusion as Cambrian55. You are naive to suggest that 'the lads at Carnforth did not give it a thorough mechanical check-over to see if there was anything wrong!.....'

 

Can you check for this sort of problem in a fitness to run exam.
I understand that all trains have to perform a break test whilst on the move,not sure if this is the first run of the day or on all legs.As I understand it,they have to reduce speed by least 5mph.Can anyone with the knowledge confirm?
Just trying to understand why something like this can happen.

 

Nice to see how easily some people rise to the bait!

 

A brake continuity test is also required before the train commences its day's work. This is the same requirement for both air and vacuum brake. With vacuum brakes, at its simplest, this involves creating a brake, checking that the vacuum gauge in the rear most vehicle is showing at least 21 inches of mercury and lifting the brake setter to observe the inflow of air. If the rear vehicle is not a brake (quite rare on the mainline), then the brake blocks must be observed to be released, the rear vacuum bag is removed, the in rush of air as the vacuum is destryed observed and the blocks oberved to tightly apply.

Before the first journey of the day, a "full" brake test will usually be undertaken by either maintenance or operating staff. This is part of a periodic examination, so the Opertaing Staff will not need to do it where it has been recently done by maintenance staff as part of that exam. A "full brake test" involves checking the appllication and release of all brakes. This identifies any brake cylinders that are sticking either applied or released.

What palace gates describes is a "running brake test" undertaken by the driver once the train has started its journey. This checks that the brakes continue to operate correctly, whereas the brake test in its various forms ensures they work before anything clever like starting moving is attempted!!!

Steven

 

Well, we read here that the train entered Lancaster station fast and braked unusually hard. It only needs one connection in the vac brake system to be compromised by the pressure stress or jolting thus caused, and you have a failure waiting to happen. So that could have been the trigger, but I hope they find out quickly which part of the system failed.