VT Scarborough Flyer, 12 July 2014

reported Duchess coming off at York due to fire risk
(Please don't shoot the messenger)

 

The Duchess looking in fine nick in glorious morning sunshine. No fires down here, though the fields were bone dry.

 

on its way back engine and coach.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O12956/2014/07/12/advanced

 

How disappointing for all concerned.

 

it's chucking it down now in West Yorkshire

 

next will be due to floods

 

We had the 47 on the rear of the train anyway at the assistance of NetRail due to an alert by NetRail LNE earlier in the week. By the time we reached our second water stop at Baghill, we learnt that another train had caused some delays (assumption was 5972 due to a fire) and hence NetRail LNE had declared a total steam ban. 46233 was to come off at Holgate sidings and we would continue the day with the 47 only. It took a few minutes to accomplish this as we had to get the Duchess' support coach off the rear of the train and run the 47 round.

To the best of my knowledge, the Duchess did not cause any fires.

Most of the passengers (I spoke to) were disapointed but understood...taking a look out the window you could see how dry it was. I have to say that the attitude by a few passengers was shocking and I will not be disapointed if I NEVER see them again. I have always found is is more effective just to smile and make them look like the idiot they obviously are....

Bottom line is we got all the passengers to York and Scarborough safely...maybe a few minutes late and a bit hot....and got them all home again exactly on time.

Not the best day for steam, but....

 

We have stopped supporting any Steam trips after June now after the problems and wasting our money last year.
If I wanted Diesels I wouldn't waste my money on these trips, just use normal services much cheaper.
I know that it means 4 less passengers on each Steam trip but you can't expect customers to support you when Diesels are used. (Slightly different when steam power has broke down before trip, but even then we don't travel).
Perhaps best in Summer not to run Steam on main line. If an engine starts a fire ban it from use!!

In fairness you could see how dry fields were so should have been cancelled once known/seen.

 

Most interested in your comment that when steam has failed just before a trip you "don't travel". Do you mean that you just write off the fares, or did you manage to get a refund,and if so what railtour company was involved?

My last experience of this was an SD trip to Exeter last summer when Clan Line failed its FTR. We were handed a letter on the platform offering a £10 or £20 credit off another trip. It was made very clear that cancellations or refunds were not an option and we "enjoyed" the purgatory of a 67 all day!

 

I am not sure if this is directed at me or not, but I will answer anyway because I'm in that sort of mood today.

If you can find me someone who can predict the weather 3 months in advance I will gladly schedule trips the day after rain. Just an FYI....on Friday afternoon it showed Scarborough as having a 67% chance of rain Saturday afternoon....how inaccurate was that!

How late should we leave it before we cancel trains? 1 week, 2 days, 2 hours? What about the passengers who have prebooked non-refundable hotels, connecting trains, etc? Should we refund them also? What fantasy world are you living in! Obviously one where we have unlimited funds....why not just run the trains for free and have unlimited seats so you can just show up on the day!

It is ridiculous comments like these that really made all our hard work worthwhile. Thanks!

If you do not want to travel in the summer months, then don't. But do not say that we should examine the line and surrounding fields the to see if it is dry or not and then decide to cancel the train.

Do you think for a minute we relish the chance to put the 47 on the back? For once and for all; to take a diesel on the back yesterday from Tyseley to Scarb and back it would have cost an additional £4>5k at commercial rates including fuel, drivers and loco hire charge. Money that could go towards the overhaul of 7029.

I love these armchair experts who are all big and bold on the Internet but when they are on the train, sit all meekly looking out the window and refuse to make eye contact.

 

...and it wasn't even our loco that caused the fire...it was another miles away! How are we supposed to predict that! if I was that good I would have gotten more that 2 numbers on the euromillions Friday night!

Now where did I leave my crystal ball and tea-leaves?

 

The idiot who started trying to push me around obviously doesn't realize that 1) the guy in the chef jacket is most likely cooking his food later and 2) the guy in the chef jacket has a ready supply of very sharp knives within reach! But I have always found is is more effective just to smile and make them look like the idiot they obviously are....
Careful bonny lad

 

Best ignore them Ben. I find it hard to believe there are any so called steam enthusiasts who don't realise that any form of summer weather, even before the first lineside fire, can cause immediate cessation of steam haulage in full or in part at very short notice. Often if not always imposed from "above" on those promoting etc the trip.

We have to live with that. It's part of our hobby. If it's not acceptable to anyone then I would suggest they find a different interest. Like sitting in their armchairs at home watching repeats of East Enders?

Been away for a week studying up to 43 Short-eared Owls in 12 Territories on a five mile stretch of moorland road in SW Scotland , and come back to a load of nonsense on Nat Pres. A long attack on Ralph for just reporting what Joe Public said about a passing steam trip. And now Ben, just about the best communicator we have here from the coalface, having to put up with those who think we never get any consequences from dry spells in the UK.

I get more common sense out of the Owls.