West Somerset Steam Express 2016

Sounds like an enjoyable day out.

You need to ask yourself why there is so little steam. OK there is a shortage of locos at present but also there are far less planned charters. A few years ago in the Bristol area we had the Bristol to Weymouth trains, the Poole to Bristol trains, a multitude of London to Bristol trains, the VSOE/Belmond Pullmans and a multitude of Torbay Express and Royal Duchy trains.
The public aren't booking to travel on steam charters in the same numbers as they were. Sadly one of the reasons for this must be because they increasingly return home after a day out on a steam charter with a feeling of disappointment and frustration. <BJ>

 

Any evidence for this statement?

Main-line steam charters are not really 'my thing'. (You would be more likely to find me on the Hastings Diesel - see you at Ardingly in September?), and the only anecdotal evidence I can give is of two friends who have recently traveled on steam charters and enjoyed themselves no end.

Robin

 

I speak to many people who travel, or used to travel, on steam charters. Sadly the general consensus is that far too often the product is not what the customer ordered.

That's fair enough Robin but if you ever get the chance to experience a very good run behind steam ie. the folk who travelled behind the mighty Duchess on Sunday, then you won't forget it. My hope is that the Duchess railtour at the weekend will be typical of main line steam in the future. <BJ>

 

It is planned that the WCRC diesel on the rear of the train will be detached on arrival at Bishops Lydeard, and will not accompany the train to Minehead. 2-8-0 no 53808 is diagrammed to haul the charter from BL to MD and return to BL. Other locos in steam on the WSR include 7828, 44422 and 53809.

 

So on this tour the only pure steam looks to be BL to Minehead. Can do that whenever. I and many of my friends have taken the decision to avoid WCRC operated tours. The DBC model of a diesel shadowing works so . Overloading a steam loco and putting a diesel on the back is disingenuous so our money is staying in our pockets.

 

free2grice said: ↑
''I and many of my friends have taken the decision to avoid WCRC operated tours. The DBC model of a diesel shadowing works so well. Overloading a steam loco and putting a diesel on the back is disingenuous so our money is staying in our pockets''.

Misquote. I take it that someone else must have mentioned that. <BJ>

 

Apologies. Look like my comments merged with yours. More speed and less haste on the keyboard.

 

Is that a regular DBC thing or something recent? I'll have to look out for the shadow on Saturday on the Tornado trip then.
I assume you know that WCRC have done that with most of the Great Britain tours since they began.

Dave B

 

My brother and I feel the same. Some people underestimate the negative impact of a diesel tagged on the back of WCRC tours. You Tube and NP exposes the inaccurate claims that the diesel is "not doing anything" when clearly it is. There is an excellent article in the new Steam Railway received today where DB Cargo was asked "To be clear though - in terms of a diesel actually assisting the train from the rear, it is general policy that it won't"? DBC responded by saying "Correct. Unless specifically authorised to do so in an emergency situation, That is our policy and we like to think that wherever possible, we will not have a diesel". West Coast Railway Company take note.

 

Must be getting to the stage where we need a 'Pure Steam' What's going On Section of NP.

 

Somewhere on NP either @The Man or @Wayne explained very clearly how having a diesel on the back on DB charters worked.

Bear in mind that WC use classes of diesel that were built in the 60's whereas DB's are less than 20 years old and have different operating procedures.

At the end of the day diesels on the back of WC trains for whatever reason will probably become more regular and no amount of moaning on here will change that.

Dave B

 

Don't worry its too easy for people to sit behind a keyboard spouting rubbish.
They wouldn't say any of what they say online, In the real world,

 

On the other hand VT seems to manage a rather attractive range of tours without diesel assistance. Perhaps the question might be how do they make this possible

 

Low loads and their locos have a 90%+ completion rate on their operations.

 

Galatea returns from the WSR to Southall via Bristol, Bath and Swindon.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55055/2016/08/13/advanced

Excellent news !! <BJ>

 

You have to admit, this is a weird one. Steam out, diesel back, steam gets back home on its own before the diesel, via a different route.

 

Galatea and diesel RT away from Paddington at 08:06.

Blue, large BR logo diesel 47.580 reported to be the motive power for the return leg. Nice.

Update:

It'll be an emotional moment for a number of senior steam enthusiasts at Bristol this afternoon as Galatea passes close to the site of it's old home depot of 22A/82E Barrow Road. <BJ>

 

Galatea taking water at Frome. Arrived and departed on time. Diesel was only ticking over on departure so no pushage .

 

Midgham. If watched all the way through, something there for the purists.