The Great Britain VII

Once again, i fu

Once again i fully understand the efforts by the organizers to get a late replacement, and all i was stating, that it was a disappointing scenario with the late loco change. Are linesiders not allowed to have a opinions on loco amendments on the GB Tour ?

 

My apologies if I have missed the answer to this, but as the line between Newton Abbot and Exeter is "closed" all day Sunday 27th, is GB7 being given special dispensation ?

 

Just be grateful it's not a diesel
(Though if Mr S. wants to turn out one of the class 33s from Southall for the supporting role on Saturday at least one person will be very happy )

 

I refer you to the comments of our learned friend Mr Shuttleworth to save him having to repeat himself:

Steven

 

Yes but probably best to keep it to yourself if you can't find something positive to say publicly. In the circumstances your opinion about the organisation of the tour are utterly irrelevant, as are mine, because we ain't punters. No pay, no say.

 

Can you explain to me in detail, how a comment from a linesider about a disappointing itinerary change, puts the forum on potentially bad terms with RTC or WCR ? It's just a opinion and not a criticism.

 

Fully understand " The no pay, no say comment. Just voiced a opinion and people jumped down my throat.

 

What possible purpose is there in you voicing a negative opinion of the outcome of others efforts and decisions? You are either seeking like minded comment or deriding the organisers. In either case it's unhelpful at best.

 

O.K ,didn't really answer my question, and as for seeking a like minded comment, i could think of a whole train load of like minded comments and opinions, which are all frowned upon here. Will leave it there.

 

Shall we join the dots?
This forum is predominantly a forum for sharing information and insight.
RTC, WCR et al are likely to be less inclined to do so if their work receives negative comment. Simple enough?

 

Come on Mr Marsh, in your efforts to dampen down WC's efforts for a replacement loco you've completely missed/forgotten that WC don't operate Tornado and haven't done so since it's introduction on the mainline.

Just a quick pat on the back to WC & NR in making 44932 available at short notice and also getting the signal block lifted too.

 

It seems to me that all that LMarsh1987 said was to the effect that it's sad that nothing better than a Class 5 is available, and sad that RTC have had to make the best of a bad job at very short notice. I can't see what's to disagree with about that, whether one is a paying passenger, a lineside photographer, or just an interested bystander.

 

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Again, the right to hold a personal opinion is entirely respected but it should remain just that. "Nothing better than a Class 5" - how rude.
Reminds me of the time a fireman arrived for his turn at ELR expecting 60007 but found 5407 awaiting him. He turned round and went home. Words failed me then and it beggars belief people feel it appropriate to suggest 44932 is unacceptable in the context of this staggeringly complex tour. You may think so, your view, but please don't add to the organisers troubles by voicing it.

 

As a full fare paying customer travelling with my partner we are absolutely delighted that 44932 is rescuing the situation and,with Nigel away,learnt of the changes via this forum!!
I'm anxious that RTC/WCRC DO communicate via NP
I adore Duchess pacifics and was thrilled it was booked from Bristol to Carnforth.
However,44932 is a very good substitute being "authentic"over much of the route and reminds me of a Black5 run on the Barrow to Euston train in 1967 when steam haulage was v sparse(no return passenger duty IIRC). I stand to be corrected by others but suspect a Five is MORE authentic south of Crewe than a Duchess ESP South of Shrewsbury!

Locally,FGW staff have been very impressed that this charter is being allowed through Dawlish when every HST is banned and EVERY passenger not on one of the 2charters is on a bus/coach!! One asked me if RTC had special connections. The answer was that extremely important negotiations were of course handled by WCRC.
WITH HOTELS IN Falmouth booked the alternative(coach to Exeter on Sunday??) was not a pleasing alternative. This alone puts this years GB in a special class. We stop specially at Teignmouth and my very own Dawlish Warren due to the (lack of!) signals.
When these are fully restored our local services can return to normal without needing the very long block to clear as at present.
Falmouth to Mallaig /Kyle with steam. The longest trip with steam at the head ANYWHERE in the world in 2014
Oh,and a diesel /electric on the back is commonplace in many countries on heavy steam hauled mainline trains whether or not enthusiasts agree or approve at the insistence of the operator/track owner
Ps and a LINE or two with steam for the first time in over 50YEARS
Ray Mason. ( Packing for a long steam bash of England,Wales and Scotland)

 

... and Black Fives are the salt of the earth. They look fine anywhere.

John

 

It is very difficult to guarantee locomotive availability. Though the pool of available traction can appear to be quite sufficient, even generous, it only takes one or two events for problems to arise. Tie in the all too frequent loading gauge headaches and you have to be a brave man to even think about running a GB tour. I can understand that some might feel disappointed with the forced changes to traction but modest mixed traffic locomotives were always being pressed in to cover for locomotive shortages - all quite authentic when you come to think about it. And what other options were open so late in the day? As has been stated WC do not deal with the A1, the A4s are all otherwise engaged, the K4, not gauged but smaller than a Black V, is otherwise occupied. That is just the bulk of the LNE players. It is not just about the engine either, spare a thought for the support crew.
An engine has been found, so make the most of it. You could have ended up with "inappropriate traction", be happy.

 

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