Bristol St Philips Marsh open day 2nd May 2016

Were the steam loco ever going to be in steam or static.

 

Shame kinlet hall couldn't be sent

 

I suspect that if you want a 'main line' passed loco, a Bank Holiday may not be a good time for an event like this

 

We apologise to all who were looking forwards to seeing 5043 & 4965 at the SPM Open Day. We were looking forward to attending. It is unfortunate that the routes from Birmingham to Bristol are closed this bank-holiday weekend. Via Didcot is closed. Via Cheltenham is closed. Via Worcester Forgate St is out of gauge. Via Shrewsbury is out of gauge for the Hall. We don't send our mainline locos via road, so all in all, we simply couldn't get there!

 

is 47773 still going ben

 

Thank you for the explanation.

But, presumably, the blockades were known about in advance and the move to Bristol could have been brought forward by a day or two?

Robin

 

David, if you are implying that this has anything to do with 10A, you are completely and utterly wrong.

 

Yes. We could have taken the locos down on Friday and brought them back on Tuesday. You are assuming we have the staff who are willing to volunteer their time and sleep in the support coach for 4 nights instead of being at home with their families for the long weekend, not to mention the disruption to our engineering business losing two full days of operations.

As I said, we are disappointed too; we were looking forward to attending ourselves.

 

That's a shame, and I understand the point about work disruption.

However, there are plenty of experienced, responsible Railway volunteers based close to Bristol who could have looked after the locos for you.

Robin

 

Would you honestly trust multi-million pound assets that are critical to your core business to strangers with no supervision??

 

Unfortunatly Ben many people on here just don't get it at all.

 

Well, as it happens I have had responsibility for just such assets at times throughout my working, voluntary and reserve forces service, and have found ways to overcome such problems.

You have obviously found them insurmountable on this occasion. It remains a shame.

Robin

 

I'm sure it is disappointing that the Tyseley pair aren't at SPM but its no good moaning about it. A perfectly fair and reasonable explanation has been offered and should be accepted in good faith. I can entirely see Ben's point that with mainline locos that presumably are safety documented down to the last rivet, allowing some well meaning unknown local to steward its boiler etc for a prolonged period isn't a starter. If they let the fire out its an additional stress cycle on it and if they don't maintain the pressure right so it drops below certain levels I beleive that also counts as a cycle. Its not just a question of making sure its still present and untagged by the Bristol youth grafitti squad by the time its due to leave on Tuesday.

 

It is to Ben's credit (unlike the open day organisers) that he offered an explanation for the non-attendance. And VT are, of course, entitled to make such choices about their assets.

It remains a shame that solutions or substitutes were not found when (presumably some weeks ago) the difficulties caused by the weekend's blockades were identified.

That is the open day organisers' problem not VT's

I will, of course, be at SPM tomorrow....blockades permitting.

Robin

 

Having just read these posts & I didn't even know it was being discussed here, here are some more facts from the organising team. Tangmere was unable to attend due to repairs not being completed in time & trust me WCRC did all they could to try & get it repaired & down to us. As Ben has stated the Hall was ruled out of gauge on Wednesday last week & Friday Tysley also informed us the Castle could not make it due to lack of staff with most of the lads coming down with sickness all at once. We have tried to source other main line registered engines but as you are all well aware there is a big shortage of steam locos down this part of the world. Yes I understand some of you may be upset but trust me not as much as the team at SPM who have done such hard work in organising the event. I know we will never please everybody but don't forget it's all about raising as much money as possible for the fantastic charity that is spring Board. If your coming tomorrow pop in & see what Ann & her team do for these young kids and it's truly amazing. We do have a special unveiling but it is diesel but you will be impressed. I will be there all day so come and have a chat as we will all look forward to seeing you all. Martyn.

 

Just hope I can ticket on da. No problem with no steam, royal scot enough for me. I'll go to steam gala I want to see steam.

 

Is Worcester Foregate out of gauge for one or both of the Hall and Castle? Its a real shame as both have passed through Foregate in the past (plus 6024). Clearances on the network seem to be getting ever tighter.

 

Sadly a number of posters on here double guess and criticise the folk who go to so much trouble to put these sorts of gala, tours and heritage events together. Thank you for the explanations and hopefully the public will understand if suitable arrangements are made to inform them.

Good luck with the charity fund raising and lets hope the weather is kind and everybody has a great day. It is after all a gala marking 40 years of the HST arguably longer than any steam type managed in front line everyday service.

 

I think it's an amazing collection of locos and stock that will be there. Given its to celebrate 40 years of the HST, what's a few steam locos here or there.

 

What route via Cheltenham is closed? I'm going that way tomorrow and trains have been running that way today.