West Highlander

Well they updated their website tonight to reflect the new itinerary.

I do feel a bit short-changed now, given that Fort William to Mallaig was a big part of it being the "West Highlander Steam Express". And that the same TOC will be running The Jacobite on that very route on that very day.

The dates changed by a day (understandable, forgiveable), but dropping part of the itinerary and one of the steam loco's is much less so.

 

I think your feelings are quite understandable and mirror mine.

 

Let's hope they do the right thing and at least take off the standard or first class fare which is easy enough to find Wcrc's site. Can't do otherwise.

 

Or maybe offer us the option of a ride on The Jacobite with a service train back to Glasgow......

 

Good idea, but how many coaches can a black 5 take on the extension? The standard formation would, I'm sure not have many spare seats early in September.

 

Although the loss of Mallaig is a disappointment, I, for one, much prefer the option of a Scot over the West Highland line proper to a service train!

 

Wassup Peter??

Don't you like accurate comment? - Distrubing the Peace - Pah!

 

I agree with Pete

 

Frank, if you have an issue with a mod bring it up with the owner of the forum, dont start re-posting private messages. If anything, it proves him right.

Chris

 

I like Frank's opinions because they don't pull any punches and the forum is better for it. However going over the same topic time and time again begins to look jaundiced and prejudiced. Anyone with meaningful criticisms will know that they make them in short, effective bursts rather than dragging out topics forever and ever.

 

I see your point Malc. The reason I made my suggestion was that we will have done that same route northbound behind 46115 on the Sunday, and for me, the reason for booking this tour was as much the routes and destinations as the specific loco's (which odds on would change before the tour happened).

So if RTC were to offer us the Jacobite option for the Monday, we'd get to do the famous Fort William-Mallaig route as well as all the rest, presumably at no more cost to RTC than was figured into the original itinerary. I for one (well, two, actually) would take that option.

I think that would generate a lot of goodwill for RTC - and I wouldn't have thought they'd have any trouble getting Jacobite bookings at this notice.

Edit: re my last comment, it seems they would have trouble unless they could add coaches to the train

 

Now can we take a breather from the RTC and Frank discussion please?

I had a brief chat with frank at Horwich this evening about Blackpool, MOSI and the transport festival, Ford cars, well behaved dogs and pain in the backside kids amongst other things....

1, I am in the middle of a BBQ that my son made when we got back from Horwich and my missus got in from work about half an back.....

2, See above.

3, If you have decided to read this far, I am sure that RTC, NR and the loco owners will do their best to run this as close to what has been asked for and advertised nevermind the caterers, hoteliers and others involved.

I am looking forward to see how this tour runs and the news that will obviously be posted here and elsewhere, whether it be on the day or otherwise.

Thanks, Neil.

 

I see the RTC website is now updated without any reference to Mallaig. I'm sure we could all guess which bit has not been changed.

 

The times for Sat 10 and Sun 11 September are now available at www.uksteam.info:
www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0910a.htm
www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0911a.htm

David

 

Hope they have more luck getting into Cadder Yard than we did with the 'Belle' this weekend. Was a total non starter.

 

according to these timings posted by David it is now steam from Crewe [46115 presuming it is repaired] rather than Preston. Maybe this is a little compenastion for the loss of the Ft William - Mallaig section.

 

Several years ago the prospect of Oban with steam would have been very unlikely. Enthusiasts would be excited. I still am VERY excited at Oban let alone Queen St. Both v difficult/impossible in 1966. Personally I never thought this would happen + I am grateful to N R / WCRC /RTC to even TRY to make it happen.
The train is a lightweight.(7 + POB ?). 46115 is rostered. If unavailable another loco will be found. Together with locos at FW,Carnforth + Crewe there are more working steam locos in the N.W+Fort W. than currently passed to work on the mainline in Austalia,India or the whole of Africa. Overseas enthusiasts are very envious of the UK at present. Few would worry about getting to Crewe at 07.42 on a saturday for extra mileage. No enthusiast I know would worry in 2011........

 

Steam to Oban has happened in recent years; 1999 - 48151; 2001 - 61264 + 62005; 2003 - 62005 All on WCRC directly operated workings into Oban. Last year's seven coach train with proved to be overweight for 45407, which was then rescued by 61994, was provided by them on contract to RTC.

There had been no steam on the West Highlands since 1962 and the ill fated Jacobite steam finale, except for the final poignant working of the Std tank from the Killin Branch, isolated after the 27th September 1965 landslide in Glen Ogle. The Highlands were to remain steamless until Inter City brought it back in 1984. In 1966 the emphasis was on the very end of steam, the A4s etc, elsewhere in Scotland.

I'm not sure where the correlation with practice in other countries comes in. The UK market has reacted to demand, and if the market for steam continues to exist, then so will the supply.

Whether it will continue to tolerate days of nineteen hours or so is entirely another matter. Enthusiasts may tolerate travelling around in the hours before dawn two days running on the same day's excursion - I don't think many members of the public find it so enjoyable - and let's be honest - its the public that are the majority fare payer nowadays.

 

If they don't find it acceptable they will vote with their feet, but long days aren't new and trains continue to sell well. As you say supply and demand, and currently despite all the locos in ticket, we are struggling to supply demand and have been struggling for a few years now.