The Steam Ban around York

The line from Richelieu to Chinon used to run with a fire truck (rail-mounted) behind it to put out the many trackside fires it used to cause. I have video of it somewhere.

 

Of course the stop could have been for the same reason that Woking got the name of "Stop All Junction" back in steam days. Us timers were convinced the signalman was a gricer but only had a Brownie 127 with a shutter speed of 1/25th of a second. So got much better photos if the trains were stopped.

 

RTC have confirmed to me today that if the dispute isn't settled then the Jubilee Requiem will be cancelled and not run DL hauled. Good for them though its in my railtour list. May book anyway now as I hope it will be rescheduled if the dispute isn't settled.

Don

 

Notice the change of recent pattern is to cancel, not reschedule, or run diesel.

Reschedule will protect that revenue and has a low cost impact to demonstrate.
A cancel, loses guaranteed revenue, and all costs associated with selling, organising and running it... It is a much bigger figure to demonstrate...

Sad but another indicator of where things are going....the longer it drags the closer to The Strand we get...

At some point the discussion may flip from what the problem is between parties, but change to a more generic one as to the costs of the whole thing and who pays what...

 

Do you think that Steam dreams are regretting swapping to wcrc now, and bet Rtc are wishing they had someone else to provide the trains now, as they must have lost a great deal this year.

 

Doubt it, at least they are not cancelled because there is nobody to drive them at a moments notice.

 

Nevertheless they can't be happy with the current situation.

 

What's happening with this one? Goes back to York.
http://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/hadrian-11-10

 

But at least with WCR doing the ACE we did get steam to Penzance and back, and double headed too, that would never have happened with DBS

 

If theres no talking going on between WCRC and NR(NE) - time to get the latters overlords to take note. How many names on a list does it take for a debate to be suggested at Parliament? 10,000 - I dare say we could manage that if enthusiasts got their act together...

(Just for the record - this is slightly in jest and I know parliament has been recalled over Syria and Iraq, which puts this into perspective).

 

100k

Simon

 

Probably easier to Petition York's MP to get involved.
But I'd suggest letting WCRC take the lead on that.. I'm sure if they need support they will shout

 

Off thread I know, but isn't it such a shame that that lovely line no longer operates.

Her indoors and I have happy memories of sitting at the open door of the 'buffet car' sipping beautiful Chinon rose wine whilst the loco crew stopped the train to stand on the loco side tank to prune back an overhanging branch.

 

Yes a great shame, we went twice the first time we had a great time; the second we arrived to find it shut :-(

 

While this is understandable for a steam only tour I find this unacceptable for a tour that is advertised as partly diesel, and while some steam enthusiasts might cancel their bookings if it was to be Deltic only, you would certainly gain some extra diesel passengers

 

But legally it carries less weight when fighting for costs.. better to cancel and sue for the whole amount.
If its all seen as flexible, then the other party can argue that costs don't apply because they can "run it again another day".

If it is going down the legal route, railtour passengers are going to become currency pawns in a legal trading game.

If making a railtour phrase based on Arnaud Amalric's quote"Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius", it would be "cancel em all, let the judge sort em out".

 

The same seems very likely for The Easterling, which is only two weeks away.

 

Still think long term that the no steam on York area and indeed whole of ECR should be permanent and run from October to March only. (Be handy on West Coast to).
It's not a level playing field with all other TOCs that cause delays and hold ups. They have no limit to the fines where as these Steam and owners/companies runs are limited to a maximum fine (can't remember exact amount without reference, but think it's only £10k).
I know a couple of TOCs that either want the level playing field or get rid of steam, for the amount of delays and fires and other disruptions caused.
It isn't really a one way thing at all. If they want to play with the big boys on the main lines, then learn to play on it properly and pay full fines etc, or sort themselves out. Not a lone voice in Rail Companies now, many are saying similar I'm afraid.

The comments are how I feel and that of certain TOCs. I have no problem with Heritage Railways or Steam locos in general. Fines effect shareholders big time if a problematic motive power is taken on then problems discovered, why should steam have any benefit or extras on the 21st century Railways.

 

What a load of old drivel. Plenty of disruption and delays on the ECML without steam being involved. Usually dewirement down our end so do we ban the electrics?