West Somerset Steam Express 2016

UK Steam has posted cancelled next to 23rd July trip.

 

Cancelled due to no available locomotive, fireman on 46115 at Paddington did tell me the loco wasn't booked for the 23rd run, so expect a LE move from Southall Wcr to Carnforth soon

 

When is the next one?

 

13th August then the 17th September.

The 27th August and 3rd September are no longer listed on the RTC website, so I presume they have been cancelled.

 

A friend of mine spotted that the return trip on 13th Aug doesn't look like a steam-hauled train: timed for 95mph max speed and no stops long enough to take water. The outward trip looks OK: water stops at Theale and, perhaps, Frome. Is the WSR expecting a guest next week?

Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54596/2016/08/13/advanced
Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54508/2016/08/13/advanced

 

Return is now diesel hauled.
Galatea is returning engine and coach to Southall on 5Z69 14:35 Bishops Lydeard-Southall
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55055/2016/08/13/advanced

 

Steam enthusiasts short changed again!

 

I'm sure that we'll hear shortly of how this was the only way that the railtour to the WSR on Saturday could have run.

I can see that in years to come main line steam will be just a memory. This will be because there are not enough passengers who are willing to gamble their hard earned cash on a railtour that does not deliver.

The train on Saturday is yet another example of how main line steam charter participants have been short changed.

<BJ>

 

I can only agree. But only if the publicity for these West Somerset Express tours stated steam out and back. If it did, short changed is an understatement and further erodes confidence among passengers and potential passengers in the future.

 

It did in the 2016 brochure and still does on the website.

Dave B

 

Like myself and yes I do feel cheated all the more so as I have a rear facing seat probably at the back on the steam part!only booked because I thought I would at least be at front one way

 

Whatever the circumstances, it's like paying to attend a concert and learning that during the interval the band will be packing up and going home. Very poor. <BJ>

 

I hope someone can explain the reasoning for this - as far as I can see all it achieves is to get the loco back to Southall about 4 hours earlier than planned. I wonder is it a question of crew hours?

 

... or engineering works maybe ?

Edit: I suspect Southall depot may not be accessible after 23:00 Saturday. I see that 46233 is moving from Southall to Kings Cross early Saturday evening for Sunday's train from Kings Cross to York.

 

Will WCR diesel go with train to minehead or take over at BL for the return.

 

What a lot of rot you two talk,
It's easy to sit behind your keyboards spouting rubbish,
Should do like people like me do, Support the trip and enjoy the run back to London as best as possible.
But then again its too easy for you to be keyboard warriors then support what little Steam there is left at this difficult time for EWDBSc or what ever the name is now and WC,
They are trying their best and don't need you pair commenting from behind a keyboard, Wouldn't say anything to people in person would you, Sure RYTC etc would be interested to hear your views...

 

Don't worry about it, it's just another thread destroyed by ignorance again.

Remind me of the point of this forum again? I thought it was discussing railway preservation and main line steam?

Instead all we get is pages of nonsense (and it truly is nonsense!) such as the above.

The good stuff on here gets lost, and it just makes trying to be part of this 'community' a total waste of time.

 

As far as I can see, both sets of comments are filled with foolish polemics.

It is hardly 'nonsense' to express the view that a railtour using 'steam' in its title that is only steam for 50% of the time may leave some folk feeling a little short changed.

But it is hardly likely to be the cause of main line steam being a 'memory'.

No doubt there are reasons for the 'dieselisation' and the operator will make those plain if asked politely.

I am not directly involved in the railtour but I AM involved in operating the West Somerset Railway over the coming few days and we will be working to give our visitors, local and main line, the visit they expect.

Calm down chaps!

Kind regards

Robin White