Steam hauled tours and the fire risk.

As long as it's not "Too much rain", as the SVR would probably agree

 

Glad I didn't offer a prize!

Here you go:-

It might as well rain until September

But having just seen the Countryfile forecast for the week ahead, Carole is not going to be singing that about Southern England for a week or more yet!

 

Next Saturday July 10th The Heart of Wales return with Ian Riley's two locos will run without assistance from a box never any intention of having one 'assisting' I asked this of Ian on the other side. He says thats the case unless there's a knee jerk reaction takes place from the authorities.
I haven't booked was thinking of it but I have the same thoughts as Kent Yeti.
As for a day out I probably would drive or catch a timetabled train. I choose a day out by Steam for that reason to be hauled by a lovely Steam loco.
I'm a window hanger usually returning home looking like I was on the footplate ! many more on here share the same enjoyment as me of seeing and hearing a Steam loco at full cry. All thats taken away by a box pushing hard and Steam just simmering and going round for the ride.
I'll wait for the wet season.
Brian

 

.....'It Might As Well Rain Until September'. <BJ>

Edit: Damn. Beaten by the clock again. Oh well, how about ......'It's Too Late'. <BJ>

 

Which song, written by Carole King, (along with someone else), will box fans start to sing when we get back to pure steam trips again?

 

Box fans? "Wasn't Born To Follow" would seem to fit the bill, and I vote for that.

On the other hand, for steam TOC's, right now it could be "I can't make it alone" !!!!!!!!!

However, for the linesiders, "I Can't Hear You" would be new in at number one.

 

No. Title much more relevant to the thread.

 

"Fantasy" that a kettle will make it on its own
"Its to Late" when half a dozen trains are held up behind a stalled kettle.











Cant find smilies, so its in jest guys ok........................................

 

So we have eleven pages in this thread and so far with the exception of David1984 who suggested that tour operators could maybe think about shortening their trains so that booked locos didn't have to work so hard in this very dry weather. No one has managed to come up with a solution to the problem.
All you people demanding that refunds be given, if the promoters gave in on this one what would your next demand be? That if a loco advertised to haul a tour didn't appear for some valid reason then you should get a refund for that because the loco's livery isn't to your liking or because it's a Castle instead of a Black Five etc.
It's time you gave the people who work damn hard to get the show on the road a break.
Tours don't just happen, they take months and sometimes more than a year of planning and lots of cooperation between the different parts of the rail industry, and to start getting on peoples backs because of the vagaries of the British weather is to my mind ungrateful at least.
Remember no one at the sharp end of our industry is in it to get rich quick, even the tour promoters are fans at heart and use their knowledge and expertise to give you a good day out and if they manage to make a few quid profit then fair play to them.
As for the loco owners, well if as someone suggested earlier that a steam ban should be brought in during July and August that would make a pretty big hole in their revenue streams. Don't forget people don't buy locos because they think it will fatten their bank balance quite the reverse is true and they need the constant income flow to pay for the day to day upkeep of the loco and hopefully put a bit aside towards the next overhaul.
All in all we should be thanking the tour operators and loco owners for giving us some of the best mainline steam in the world and not slaying them because it hasn't rained for a while.

 

Well said Kevin, I'm 100% with you.

 

Well, for you, once you arrive at Victoria to find a diesel humming away to itself, it has to be "(I think I'm) Goin Back" - which is just one of my favourite songs ever

Plus it has the words:
"Let everyone debate the true reality
I'd rather live my life the way it used to be"

As we all would!

 

On the musical side of rain and fire I offer you this........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOErZuzZpS8

 

That is going a little bit over the top, no one would go that far. Some of the rest of your post is a bit below the belt as well. No one is blaming the tour operaters because it hasn't rained.

 

Even if no-one's blaming them, there are plenty who want them to accept all the risk and the financial punishment. That's not viable.

 

"Crying in The Rain", by the Everley Brothers!

 

Down came the rain. Mitch Murray, 1965..........Brilliant

 

I am not having a go at the Tour Operators in the Swange Belle thread about the diesel use. It just seems to me that the definition between diesel "assistance" and haulage has got a bit confusing. Doesn't the steam loco have to be doing something too to make the diesel use qualify as assistance? 30777 was certainly not doing anything on Saturday.

 

Well said kevin i dont think our passengers know how much hard work goes into running a steam train on main line .no one likes a box on the back of a steam train i for one hate it but sometimes need's must, i just hope that we have some rain soon.

all the best
jane

 

A mate of mine is booked behind the King on Saturday. Whilst he understands the situation regarding the dry weather, he is not looking forward to being dragged around by a diesel that just happens to be pushing a steamer at the same time. He'd rather it be cancelled and rearranged if possible. I've a few August tours on my "to do" list but will hold off until the situation improves. If I want a modern traction tour I'll book one but when on a steam tour I like to hear it working hard. Not a lot of chance of that in dry conditions so I'll be doing a rain dance too.