The Fellsman 2013

His brother, I believe.

 

Wonderful piece of toadying Mr. Kerr. In the times I've ridden and filmed the Jacobite I've never found the WCR crews anything lest than helpful and quite how something as simple as "could you put steam on over the Loch Eilt causeway please?" can be construed as telling someone how to operate the loco is beyond me. Most loco owners seem to be happy with the attention shown their pride and joy and I think it's a shame that all are not of the same ilk.

 

Not toadying but simply expressing an opinion heard from more than one owner regarding the way their charges are used and abused on both main and heritage lines. I agree that many crews are very helpful in responding to requests and - having been the beneficiary of many - acknowledge that some owners are more willing to assist than others.

Unfortunately it appears that we may have to agree to disagree regarding the opinion of owners and their responses but I tend to have more sympathy with owners given the manner in which some requests have been made.

 

On reflection "toadying" was a bit OTT for which I apologise. Yes you can get some strange requests and not always delivered with politeness but I've never felt the need to hack off the majority just to make a point with a minority.

 

Apology accepted

 

Is that really what happened? Not what I would have expected on the 21st century railway, regardless of any possible "provocation" that may have occurred prior to the train running. I wonder if NR are happy with that happening? Could any railway staff have possibly interpreted it as having looked like a makeshift emergency warning sign of some sort?

 

Yes. See post 176.

 

Sadly Mr Smith does seem to like to play childish games with the press & photographers alike. BUT at the end of the day its his company/engines etc & as the owner he can do what he wants within legal limits.

No one has a right to tell him what livery to paint his engines in or how to operate them. I do think he comes close to biting the hand that feeds him, or does he? As already stated unless all the photographers are riding on the trains as much as they photograph them, then they do not contribute to the spectacle of WCRC mainline steam.

Having said the above he does seem to have a bee in his particular bonnet that no other operator has......?

My simple response is not to travel on any WCRC trains & photograph what turns & not moan about it.

He can't be totally anti enthusiast as he held a great open day at Carnforth a few years ago........?

 

Given the diesel on the front of the Scarborough Spa express today, are we likely to have the same situation with the Fellsman tomorrow? Anyone with any actual knowledge of what is planned?
Cheers
Duncan

 

I believe WCRC have negotiated with Network Rail to allow diesel traction to be tucked in BEHIND steam traction - further details at https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/railtour-news-this-weeks-fellsman.89621/

 

Same was supposed to apply to today's SSE - but the diesel was on the front.

 

This was an incident that happened nearly twenty years ago, so predates any internet gossip (and certainly several on this site). As I was there, I can relate that what happened and made David Smith see red was the blatent requests/demands/bribes to the train crew, right in front of him on the platform, to provide excessive effects for their shots - and when you are funding the whole operation (and one that was still in its start-up phase), that's hardly surprising. Good old David Wilcock subsequently enflamed the situation, through his comments in Steam Railway. However, as they say, it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, as it laid down the gauntlet to the photographers, who subsequently proposed and supported the highly-successful photo-charters in the West Highlands.

If one or two here feel they wish to boycott WCR trains, that's up to you - no one's forcing you to use them.

 

45699 leading with class 47 inside. Going to be around 20 mins late off Lancaster.

 

Just to confirm the class 47 is the br blue one with the union jacks on the side, clashes a bit with maroon loco and stock.

Still not left Lancaster at 0732.

 

45699 & 47580 at Oubeck loops this morning - http://philmetcalfe.zenfolio.com/p48649454/h686f06f4#h68301d5b

 

And here it is leaving Lancaster with 47580 tucked in and powering....:-



up Ripley bank.

 

Footage of 45699 at Birkitt with Gordon Hodgson on the regulator . Hope you enjoy .Not sure what happened with title at the start .