VT - 'Pannier Rambler' and 'Pannier Preview'

Not much time could be clawed back because the pannier is only allowed to run at low speed (45mph??)

 

If its a hot box. It could just be a pad that's slipped. Test run or not, it can happen at anytime.

 

A VT loco failing, whatever next??

 

My footage of The Panniers before the failure of 9600. Filmed at Earlswood and Blunts Green Crossing between Henley-in-Arden and Danzey. Despite the weather being absolutely grin and damp, it was worth seeing the Panniers back on main line duties. Enjoy.

 

Passing Five Ways about 40 mins ago...

 

quicker to get to 45 with the duff powering through....

 

Steams Dreams running without a diesel !

 

so if you go away for the weekend by car and the car breaks down on the motorway en route you simply abandon the weekend and go home - even although the AA man says he can fix it within a reasonable period of time to allow you to carry on the journey ? Whilst I congratulate VT who used a diesel substitute as back-up (and noting WCRC's use of diesel yesterday when 6201 suffered broken side-glass) to point out that diesel traction may upset the customers, it has minimised delays and allowed the trip to continue. As one who enjoyed the Paired Panniers to Melton Mowbray I feel it is an insult to both VT and the owner of 9466 to complain at the failure of 9600 without considering the continued appearance of 9466 on a rare main line outing which continues to operate.

 

Whilst there is no doubt the diesel had to provide assistance, I thoroughly enjoyed the efforts of 9466, who was by far the most vocal of the pair.

Today was the first time I've been on a rail tour that suffered a failure and was able to continue, albeit behind schedule (been turfed out at Westbury in 2007, Weymouth in FM Rail days, Weymouth again in FM rail days, all back on SWT or FGW).

. Still enjoyed the day, and the excellent efforts by VT, but hey I'm one of the diners that doesn't actually care what's happening appearently.

 

Problems on a journey for the purpose of getting somewhere and on a journey being made for its own sake are hardly comparable. The VT trip was primarily about a pair of panniers, albeit having other aspects.

Presumably nearly all the passengers were disappointed by the failure, some of them enough to abandon the rest of the trip, but who has complained about the failure itself? Failures happen and decisions have to be made on how to proceed. In this case the trip continued for those who wished to stay aboard, and those who didn't were able to get off. Surely that was the right decision.

 

Gutted for the pax but this was an honest attempt to run a 100% steam hauled train that didn't work out. I suffered that in July when Royal Scot failed FTR on Torbay Express.

Totally different scenario from tours when there was never a cat in hells chance of proper steam haulage, despite being advertised for such.

 

Problem is, most people who get upset about a diesel, dont read the terms of the trip, where it says the toc may decide they need to use a diesel at short notice etc etc, even if its not pointed out before hand,

Today didn't work out for what many reasons and instead of caping the train and giving up they made the most of a bad hand, for which wc, vt need to be congratulated for, as well as the people who stayed and didn't give up because things didn't happen how they planned,

 

But had it been a WCRC loco failure, these pages would have been full of people giving them all sorts of flak over it.

 

The way I heard it was that the 47 would be in front of the pannier from Tyseley so that when they turned at Worcester the pannier would lead. There was no mention of splitting them and putting the 47 at the rear of the train.

 

That may have been the case in your coach but it certainly was not in ours. We were clearly told that the 47 would pilot 9466 to Worcester. For the return we were assured the Pannier would take up position at the front and the 47 would be at the back. Maybe a loss of detail in passing the message on. Begs the question of why bother with a tanoy system if there is a reliance on word of mouth and the inevitable chances of the message being diluted? In the end we had a diesel, REG and support between the Pannier and the paying passengers. The Pannier had to be taken off prior to reaching the platform at Tyseley as, even then, only Coach A could be used for alighting.

 

Morning,

Couple of photos from yesterday's run. Despite the problems, a thoroughly enjoyable day out was had, despite the issues. First time I was in club class for any charter, would definitely recommend and book again in the future.

Thank you for wcr and vintage for organising. Big credit for the unfortunate replanning and no doubt frantic calling around with network rail control on getting the 47 onto the network and re pathing to Worcester.

 

Come on, the national network isn't a 6x4 hornby trackmat, things can't just be run round and shunted on a whim, what may have been the original plan as hoped for and described in the loop at Tyseley may have had to change for many reasons, Inc the hour or so less stop than originally intended in Worcester. Whilst it all sounds ands seems so easy sitting in a coach or from home, on the ground the reality is somewhat different. Again, full credit to VT for keeping the show on the road by whatever means possible, we enjoyed our day out even if it wasn't quite what was hoped for.

 

The Pannier Rambler IV - the short version

Dawn broke - and no-one fixed it. The drive up the A40/M50/M5/M42 and A41 had one thing in common -rain and wind, lots of it! It eased towards Tyseley and we watched 9466 shunting around from the comfort of the car having a coffee and chocolate croissant. At the appointed time the panniers escaped the confines of Tyseley and joined the mainline with 9466 leading to Stratford-upon-Avon. We did a new bit of track which the bear was happy about - the Tyseley Up Through Sidings with the steep noisy climb up to Tyseley South Junction which was topped at 13. We were middle of train and heard plenty of noise as the little ones set off down the North Warwickshire Line in the now heavier rain on a 1 in 200 to Spring Road(24) and onward up the gentle 1 in 502 to Hall Green(32). Signals slowed us to 18 through Yardley Wood after which the panniers climbed the 1 in 183 to Shirley(32) noisily. She waved as we passed through her station. Speed fell slowly on the gentle grades to Whitlock's End (30). We missed Whitlock's Beginning. Must have been the rain. The line climbs gently through Wythall(35) where a mile of 1 1/4 of 1 in 230 saw speed fall from a max of 40 to 27 through Earlswood. Then it's pretty much downgrade to Stratford; Wood End(31); Danzey(39); Henley-in-Arden(42) and RT; Wooten Wawen(43); Bearley Jn (37, the Bear's favourite); Wilmcote(39); Parkway(25). We were held for a service train to clear P2 and arrived 5 down.

It was still drizzly and rumours of problems with one of the engines spread. No-one looked that troubled but we didn't leave at our booked time and there didn't seem to be any particular hurry to. Information wasn't forthcoming which was a pity as we could have headed off to The Old Thatch Tavern for a couple of beers. Finally we were told there was a problem with Tyseley's own, 9600 that would be checked further at Tyseley Down Through Sidings where we were due to layover. The return would be 'speed restricted' was all they wrote.

We left 57 down and the panniers scampered to just over 30 by Parkway, the bottom of the 1 in 75. Both engines were working hard and over the mile and a half of the noisy and very smoky climb speed didn't fall below 28. I'm not convinced it would have been different had there not been a 'speed restriction' imposed on 9600. We passed Bearley Jn(38) and held that speed to the foot of the 7 1/2 miles climb, mostly at 1 in 150 to Wood End. Again it's doubtful that this would have been any different. It was a noisy smoky climb - good video links on this thread. After the first mile we passed Wooten Wawen at 28; 2 miles on over the lesser 1 in 714/246 we passed Henley-in-Arden(30), a speed held onto the final 4 1/2 miles of 1 in 150. Speed only dropped to 28.5 minimum just after Danzey Station. With both engines working hard we roared into Wood End Tunnel at 29 and the station at 30. The remainder of the climb is half a mile of 1 in 264(30) followed by 2 miles of 1 in 181 through the Lakes(30) to the summit at Earlswood(32). To my mind the panniers did a superb job on the climbs. The characteristic chatter from them was good to hear again

It was just a trundle back to Tyseley Down TS where unfortunately the decision to remove 9600 from the train due to a cooler but still too hot 'box' was made. The panniers came off and 9466 went to water - where there was another problem with the hydrant that delayed us further. As it was a Tyseley Operation the diesel was correctly put on the front though passengers were promised it would be inside 9466 for the return from Worcester via the Lickey.

As you know this is not for us. The bear and his minder had already dived back into the rucksack and wanted out of there!! An announcement was made that there would be a set down at Moor Street for those who didn't want to continue with the ramble. We left with quite a few of the enthusiasts and other standard class passengers who didn't do diesels either.

As Big Al had been keeping readers of NP up to date with the news from the train we were expecting to see a rush of the diesel assisted steam lovers to join the train at Moor Street, one of note, but nope, no takers. Don't know if anyone joined at Worcester.

We only had to wait 20 minutes for a train back to Tyseley. It's only a short walk down to the car park where Henry had got back to open the main gates. Thanks for that.

We were actually passing the Worcester Junction on the M5 in light rain when the train was approaching the station. The rain got symbolically heavier. It was good driving back in daylight and we had an excellent meal in the Beefeater at the end of the M50 near Ross-on-Wye. They had Sharp's Atlantic Pale Ale on too, a bonus.

We were home just after the train left WSH. It was nice to see 9466 on the front from the comfort of home after watching a couple of the autumn rugby internationals.

OK so it was basically an expensive Shakespeare Express and it was s a shame that 9600 ran a hot box, but on the day things do happen. 9466 was excellent and Bob and his people came up with a solution to complete the tour for the diners and everyone else who were happy to stay on board. Even 45 miles behind a pair of panniers was enjoyable for a 'valley boy'. Hopefully next year will see a rerun. Our last train with VT this year and we've enjoyed them all, even the short ramble.