VT - Marylebone Flyer (Inter-City) - Re-scheduled for April 6th

Oh without question it's the right decision, doesn't stop it being hugely frustrating mind.

 

47245 on the front. I left the train at marylebone as I'm not keen on having a diesel doing all the work, plus my car is at Wycombe.

Such a shame on vt and wcr for all their efforts put into this run.

Now.... I need another fix to pick

 

Its times like this, I think ' did we really have widespread lineside fires in steam days'. The answer is probably 'YES'. I remember frequently the Royal Scots setting fire tracksides just north of Luton, in the early 60's, thats when i was really starting to take note of events rather than just numbers ! Great shame for todays trip. Pete

 

Something with no fire risk perhaps? White water rafting maybe........... ;D

 

47245 and 5043 pass S. Ruislip 17:38, 47 doing all the work.

James at SVN

 

Right, I now hope all those who had a dig at me are eating humble pie! I am not so green as cabbage looking.
I might of got the finer details wrong like loco no's, but.............
Take note King Stephen & james111983, perhaps doom & gloom is the way to go.

Just hope & pray the weather is different by May 11th.

 

We could get a fleet of those water-spraying helicopters that they have been using in Australia; they would fly in pairs just behind steam specials and immediately douse fires. Of course, fares would go up but that would be the price of your favourite pleasure!

 

May 11th... what about April 20th.. The Great Britain is the one that could be the Great Tragedy..

If an offering was to be made to the rain gods.. there's 5 trips that could be sacrificed before then to protect that trip.. but if they didnt and those 5 sparked up the countryside.. well thats a lot of high revenue high reputation customers that would unhappy should a imposition be placed on the steam charter market this trip.

 

I did think about going down to Kings Sutton but glad I haven't bothered. Shame because its a lovely evening and could have got a good shot, but not with a 47 on the front.

 

That could work, I move we sacrifice Michael Fish to appease them

 

I'm not, living in Reading means travelling to a starting point & back. Less likely now with the current situation regarding steam tours for various reasons.

 

I was thinking more of the very high profile VT trip.

 

Somewhere I have some video of a French preserved line we went on a few years back where we were followed by a rail mounted fire engine who's purpose was exactly that.

 

Seems my hunch was right. Pity really because I drove back from Wokingham all the way to High Wycombe to see it, only to be told a few minutes before by a de=training passenger that he saw a diesel at the front and back at Marylebone.

And yes, through it came with 5043 doing absolutely nothing and a very bored looking fireman hanging from the cab. Anti-Climax - I should say so. But I feel sorry for those on board.

I am wondering if this will impact on the trip to Exeter with Tangmere tomorrow which I am booked on. If a diesel is attached to the front of the train, I will DEFINITELY cancel.

Nick

 

It'll teach me not to check my emails about diesels being put onto trains! I have to admit I did wonder why no-one else was out there, but never mind.... My effort of it is below...



Hopefully we'll get some rain soon to at least try and dampen any dry undergrowth before May 11th's run with 5043 (preferably long before!).

Cheers,

 

The SVR had lineside fires on Good Friday and had a few today. Since the snow, it's actually been very dry and the wind is drying so if there's any dead vegetation, which there will be tbh, it will go up given a spark or cinder.

 

One must ask... Were 5043's spark arrestors proven to be doing their job properly or were there sparks flying from the ash pan? If 5043 was OK in these respects were there vandals starting lineside fires after the train had passed? There was no talk of fires after the 'Bristolian' in May 2011!