VT - 5043 to Edinburgh - 26/27/28 May

After Thornton 47 was doing most of the work.currently at water stop.

 

Earl Of Mount Edgcumbe - 26/05/2012 - In 3D

[video=youtube;9UfrhhKD_74]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UfrhhKD_74[/video]

 

I feel really bad, a little emotional for the people onboard and the organizers who put this tour together. I'm blaming the weather. Does anyone agree about thi
I bet they can't wait to be back at Tyseley. Who wouldn't feel bad for them?

We are having the exact same type of weather conditions here where I live. It is terrible. The wind is blowing and the vegetation is just drying out.

 

If sunshine, nice temperatures, and long days are terrible, bring it on!!!!!

 

I thought that it was hot over in the Cumbrian Mountains and Edinburgh.

 

The Earl passed 46233 just south of Southwaite on a left hand hand curve my video that will follow soon Ralph .

 

This does appear to be an unfortunate set of circumstances.

Do different engines behave differently regarding their spark arresting? Maybe some locks like 46233 can remain active even if dry weather carrys on if it has a very effective system.

I am no engineer so not sure what makes a good/bad spark arrestor. Sure others know better.

SG

 

For once I agree with you!

 

We passed the lineside fire damage just past Greenholme with the returning 46233 tour and it did not look a pretty picture . Lets not hope Network Rail takes a dim view of this . The drivers on both legs of our tour were under orders not to start fires . Steve. Also video to follow of 46233 passing the Earl at speed south of Southwaite

 

Please come and see either myself, Bob or M.Whitehouse and we can discuss your refund.

Who's pocket do you suggest it comes from? VT. WCR, NetRail, etc?

Just curious.

 

The weatherman? The owners of the freight train loco? The grass for being dry? The list is endless.

 

Another video, showing 5043 on Shap and Beattock, and, at the end, the burned area at Greenholme. 46233's run is also shown, so for those interested just in 5043, skip to 3.51.

46233 & 5043, Shap & Beattock, 26.05.12 - YouTube

 

All this venting of spleens is understandable and probably good therapy for the disappointed passengers. However, what we want to know now is: what happens next? There were all sorts of pessimistic rumours along the lineside this afternoon, but no hard information. Everyone's expecting some (lots of) DL assistance, but wil the Cl47 lead or be coupled inside? One suggestion was that 5043 would be left at Bo'ness, which sounds unlikely to me.

We're still intending to get up early tomorrow morning in the hope that 5043 will lead the train over the Forth Bridge at 0701 - it will probably be our only "steam" shot tomorrow. Any advance info will be very welcome!

 

If I read it right, you're considering a refund for a keyboard warrior who's complaining madly about your tour whilst sat at home. Careful, or he'll want one next for all of your other tours that he hasn't been on either.

 

I am typing this with the floodlights of the Forth Bridge shining into the room and after a pleasant couple of days meeting like minded souls at the lineside and commiserating over the trials and tribulations of those who paid to travel on this tour. Nine days ago we were shivering on a cold damp showfield wondering if summer would ever come. It did - with a bang!


The plain facts are - like it or not - the customers have not got the experience they paid for - and the fault is directly down to - the weather. Next week I will be up here again in the West Highlands to sail on the Paddle Steamer Waverley. We don't do anything else. The ship either sails or we don't have a business. The promoters are in a similar boat - no fare box - no business.

Given that plenty of passengers will be down more than five hundred pounds, have been treated like mugs by the timings applied, then not got what they expected, it is no good promoters putting on the hard face and saying "what do you expect us to do?" Possibly the answer is to take on insurance against adverse weather imposing restrictions and offer it as an option to passengers, and if the same ever happens again then the claims industry could take the knock - at a price.

Would such a price be phyrric and a non starter - who knows? But what is certain is that after an experience like this the market is tainted, no-ones fault, but the customer is feeling short changed - has a very good reason to do so - and that can't be good for the industry.

Just an idea, possibly it will be a non runner, but if we don't do something, so will many steam railtours!

 

Day two report

That's more like it!, diesel on the back rather than front, 5043 doing some of the work rather than none and a very scenic route along the fife and forth coasts, including probably the most scenic water stop ill ever experience on the forth estuary at longannet, certainly needed a day like today after yesturdays debacle.

Hopefully someone can pull a rabbit out the hat for tomorrows run back to england and the midlands.

 

I should also add, I heard the opinion of someone very involved with the running of this tour ( I won't say who as I don't want to drop anyone in it) and he's pretty adament 5043 wasn't being worked hard enough to start that fire and suspects foul play, such as a photter having a fag.

 

What I don't understand is, as already mentioned, the weather has been pretty cold & wet up until around a week ago. Nationwide as I understand it, definitely here in the south.
Therefore I can't see how a week or less of dry & sunny conditions can make the landscape that tinder dry, especially as it must of been pretty damp/wet to start with.