Steam Dreams 2013 & 2014 Archive

All OK this morning. <BJ>
http://www.steamdreams.co.uk/execut...press&DB=SteamDreams&Division=A&ActionCode=HP

 

Lovely, Thursday's to Salisbury, Bath & Bristol calls at Twickenham not Chiswick or Brentford
http://www.steamdreams.co.uk/executables/GT410WebContent.exe?ActionCode=Timings
Nice to see Steam Dreams show the platforms the train will pass as well as those it calls at.

Edit, seems the Diesel returns to Southall rather than stay for the ride. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/VIC/2014/07/24/0840-0850?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

I'll start a new thread for this train rather than continue under the 'Steam Dreams' topic. <BJ>

 

Timings for August 2nd Cathedrals Express KGX to YRK & SCA - 4464 'Bittern'.

'Down': http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55030/2014/08/02/advanced

'Up': http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55031/2014/08/02/advanced

There doesn't seem to be a lot of timings for water stops? Without the usual Holme, Grantham, Newark, and Ranskill, and neither on the return. :/ Diesel tucked in perhaps? JUST Diesel Haulage? Second Tender?

 

I was under the impression (anything that comes near York) all steam was banned either solo or with a diesel, as per Scarborough Flyer & Scarborough Spa express workings

 

No water stops booked so I think you can guarantee there won't be any steam haulage on Saturday. A shame really as this week is the 50th anniversary of starting my trainspotting career and I started it at Arlesey.
It would have been quite fitting to mark it with a steam departure from the station even if it isn't the original.

 

Arlesey still saw steam that summer but only just. Begrimed B1s and 9Fs worked freights to and from Hitchin where the change to/from diesel took place. Can't recall the countryside being ablaze.

 

It's a real shame, I was planning to film it at Arlesey too. Might still go for the diesels.

 

Just found this at the bottom of the Steam Dreams' timetable including the timings for Saturday.



'As you know we have been enjoying a lot of hot and dry weather of late and over the last few weeks Network Rail have sometimes placed a steam ban due to the extreme fire risk. The timings for this trip have been done in the hope that steam is allowed but it is a decision that is made by Network Rail on an ongoing basis in the light of the prevailing conditions at the time of the trip.'

 

I suppose the second tender could be used but with York banning all steam moves, I'll be surprised if it's not diesel hauled.

 

Paul Hudson the Look North weatherman said last night the outlook for the first couple of weeks of August here is very unsettled. It really is dry, especially east of York, but a couple of weeks rainy weather could be enough to tip the balance.

 

Confirmed by the 4464 Bittern Facebook page that it will not be working this trip on Saturday, due to the proposed fire risk.

 

I note that the timings are now on the SD website,note that the loco is still shown as Bittern. There is a note at the bottom saying that "the timings have been done in the hope that steam is allowed",surely that is a blatant lie given that there are no water stops! It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that SD are hoping to give the impression that the absence of steam is some last-minute decision by NR whereas as has been pointed out here there seems to be no chance of it happening.

It is interesting to speculate what effect this will have on the economics of the trip for SD. Of course they will have to pay out their nominal "compensation"of £10 or £20 per person due to the absence of steam but not having to pay the steam locomotive hire fee could mean they actually do very well from this trip.

I can't help feeling that the whole affair does not seem right. To charge premium fares(with a very small refund)when you know at least 10 days ahead that there is a minimal chance of steam operating seems to be a high-risk decision. Maybe the "normals" will keep coming back for more,but for how long? RTC cancelled their Scarborough trip the previous day a while ago. SD should surely have done the same.

 

I wanted to book a Dorset trip this summer, but then the steam ban keeps coming to mind. Worrying about it either being cancelled, or diesel-hauled throughout puts me on edge. Although for the last 2 weeks have had steam, I don't know whether to take the risk and book the 27th August run...

 

Richard Corser of Locomotive Service was quoted in one of the mags that the hire costs for one of their locos was in the region of £7k. If the cost was £7k and there were say 500 people on the train, that would be £ 14.00 per person before the deduction of cost for the diesel.