WCRC Licence Suspended

Nothing official yet, but this has been posted on the Wansbeck thread and at least one other forum, plus there have been mutterings in other places.

Not good if true. From a quick look at www.railtourinfo.co.uk, WCRC have 12 tours between now and next Saturday.

 

Seems to be appearing all over the various Facebook groups as well but still nothing that seems official though!

 

I've heard the same story from a well-informed friend.

The preliminary report from the RAIB investigation is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dangerous-occurrence-at-wootton-bassett-junction-wiltshire. I leave you to read it and draw your own conclusions

 

O

If it's all over faceache it must be right!

 

Not just Faceache - judging by my in-box, it's all over the railway industry.

I'm told that WCRC have until 16th May to put "remedial measures" in place. I won't speculate what those might be. Hopefully it won't take that long, given a calm, professional response from Carnforth.

 

Tangmere ugh

How long will this last?

 

This is awful news, but, from comments elsewhere, not unexpected. Ouch

 

Bad luck for Tangers to be involved in two reportable incidents in a relatively short period. The report doesn't mention any faults on the loco this time.

 

I find it strange that people insist on blaming the locomotive, as the preliminary reports seems fairly open and shut on this aspect of the matter to me. However, suspension is probably the right thing to do while RAIB get to the bottom of what happened, as the circumstances of the incident look a lot more serious than previously reported.

 

It would be naïve to expect WCRC themselves to say anything publicly, but I hope and expect the tour operators to communicate the position to their customers ASAP. Perhaps not over the Bank Holiday weekend, but maybe by Tuesday next week.

I guess that tours where a similar itinerary is offered later in the year will probably be cancelled and passengers offered places on later trip. Those with more unusual routes, such as The Wansbeck and The Buxton Spa Express, will likely be postponed until later in the year. I wonder what VT might do about 5043's trip around the Cumbrian Coast? Postpone to September would be my guess.

I imagine RTC will be especially concerned about GB8.

 

Having just read this thread I was in a way praying that it was written on 1st April and that this was an April Fool - but considering the recent incident I fear it is not. Lets hope for all of us that love steam on the mainline that this can be resolved quickly without major dispute.

 

Sad to say, but following the report into Olton Hall's lineside fire last year this doesn't come as a surprise.

 

It is a bit of a coincidence but we shall see...........I may be gardening this weekend!

 

Plus the two incidents with Tangmere.

 

A pity that DBS aren't more active in the steam charter market.

 

Oh, it is official alright. It's just that you haven't been told about it officially..

 

I've never been on a mainline steam tour and I was about to book WCME on the 11th, and just wizzed over here to check to see if there were any updates - glad I did, will hold off for a minute until things are officialised...

 

There's always the chance that this might have ramifications for the whole sector, particuarly if it is decided to look into the adequacy of existing safety systems on steam locomotives used on NR. Based on current evidence, it is quite possible that we are about to witness the enforced retreat of steam back into a 1980s mode of operation. So March 7 might well have been the day mainline steam as we know it died. But put into its proper perspective, we must all be grateful that a potenatial calamity was avoided.