Cathedrals Express to Minehead with 61306 on Thu 26 November

KentYeti · 29 Noi 2015

MellishR a spus: ↑

It would be very interesting to see what SD have said to the people who were left behind.
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Good....................b.........................y.................................e...................................................................................................... . . . . .

bakabung · 29 Noi 2015

hatherton hall a spus: ↑

Several years ago in the summer months, we were accelerating through Twyford on the up main, and we approached our booked stop to drop off passengers at Maidenhead at too high a speed under clear signals. The driver must have realised his mistake and the brakes were hastily applied and the train stopped but with only the last 2 coaches in the platform - eek!!
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Crossrail have installed a few of these at Maidenhead now

gricerdon · 29 Noi 2015

Big Al a spus: ↑

We can all produce a similar list. My most recent set, working backwards from the latest outing is:
1. Ran with advertised locomotive, to time and with no problems.
2. Diesel assistance added by TOC at the last minute (unknown to the tour operator). Steam then fails.
3. Ran with alternative locomotive and with no problems.
4. Ran with advertised locomotive but a coach problem resulted in a delay while it was fixed leading to a late return and a missed connection.

I think the above just illustrates the complexity of operating steam charters on the main line. I think it also explains the Trip Advisor pattern of between 15% and 20% of people rating their experience as terrible, for whatever reason. My guess is that the Cath Ex yesterday will pick up a few bad reviews despite the fact that the problems had nothing to do with Steam Dreams.

I'm sure that the market is becoming increasingly selective and why not, if you have spent a few hundred pounds on a dining experience that turns into a day marooned on a train with a short visit to your destination in the dark. The reality is, I think, that the regulars may be more forgiving than the general market who couldn't be blamed for saying "Never again" after a bad experience. But the reality also is that even if WCRC had brilliant rolling stock, Network Rail always managed to path the trains well and the fleet of locomotives available to West Coast (plus their own) were consistently reliable, there would always be an element of uncertainty about these trips. Do you know, I still admire the companies like the RTC and SD who take the risk, because that's what it is.
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I have been lucky, or maybe just very careful with the trips I have chosen but my last five trips:

1. Advertised engine and no problems .
2. Ditto
3. Ditto
4. Ditto
5. Ditto

Obviously there are some dreadful horror stories but so far I have avoided the worst days. Cant last I suppose.

SteamHawk216 · 5 Dec 2015

Hello All,
I have added a collection of photographs taken at Taunton and Minehead Station to my websites.
You can view, and hopefully enjoy them via these links;
http://railtractionphotosbyrichards...rals-express-thursday-26th-november-2015.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/myphotosrlsmith216/albums/72157661337381179/with/23167043099/
Sample photo -

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