Winter CCE with Scots Guardsman 28th January

Is there any news on this as yet ?

 

According to the RTC brochure it will be hauled by 45690 Leander.

 

This one is now also via Shap both ways, presumably due to gauging.

Times are here: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t17/t0128a.htm

I guess that there is a possibility that the steam leg may be extended south of Carnforth.

 

Let's hope so, an hour and 6 minutes sat in the DUGL at Carnforth doesn't quite match the scenery of the Cumbrian Coast

 

Wow. That's 15 hours plus on the train for London-joiners,and 2hr 50m actually running with steam,and presumably every chance of a diesel on the back. Can't see CME's surviving much longer on that basis.

Would it not have been more sensible just to cancel until the S&C is with us again?

 

What and miss the chance of hammering another nail in the coffin of customer confidence?

 

That's not going to make any difference unless there are Class 7 & 8 locomotives available. Otherwise like today, there will be little chance of them being diesel free. So what's the point of running these trains?
I'd be very interested to see what the loadings would be if they were advertised as almost 60% are run i.e. 'The train will headed by Steam Locomotive ***** with a Class ** Diesel at the rear. We apologize for passengers in the rear coach(es) for the vibration and noise from the assisting diesel locomotive. We can assure you it is there for a genuine reason'.

 

A comment from Melton North and/or Ray Mason would be welcome! I am not holding my breath.

 

Was going to book the trip on 25/3 but have got zero confidence on this route at the moment.

 

I booked for 4th March on the basis of the Cumbrian Coast route - just Shap both ways would be a disappointment.

 

Well if it is a very significant change from the product that you bought, the ask for a refund. If they refuse the full refund raise it as a dispute with the Credit Card company that you hopefully paid by. They have joint and several liability under s75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

 

I raised this on another thread before. Yes it may be considered to be a sledge hammer by some. However many do not know that the sledge hammer is available to use. Customers power!

 

Sorry Alastair but have no inside info!

I messed up big time on the Bham Cardiff trip having apparently misunderstood a conversation
Several posters on NP were understandably upset at my " duff gen"and I decided not to travel as well.
My feeling was that I wasn't assisting enthusiasts in their decisions to travel and as a Hard core basher myself was uneasy at having encouraged friends and fellow enthusiasts to travel when it was unlikely that my info was totally correct.
Thus,for 2 months I haven't posted but couldn't refuse to reply to Alastair who is a 100% enthusiast and major supporter of steam.
I will now resume posting but only to say "how good 75014 was at Paignton"type of post.....!!!
I apologise for all misinformation in the past- NONE intentional.

In my company,Crystals(UK) we try to follow very high principles of conduct.We fail sometimes but carry on doing our best so that customers recognise that we try to behave with integrity

The present mainline scene sometimes makes me uneasy but being ever the optimist still look forward . I'll be at the S C for all 3 days with my wife,Ros, and will happily buy anyone a drink who I've previously misled with wrong or misleading gen.

2017 will be a difficult time for all tour promotors AND also for N R and many of the TOCs.
NR /TOCs are under huge pressures and some trips only run with their goodwill and support .(GWR sponsored for example)
I suspect there will be some v good trips but many others will continue to essentially be diesel shoved whether for sound reasons( rail conditions perhaps)or much less sound( saving a LE path/excess load)

I was planning to remain silent but couldn't decline Alastairs' request to comment......

Best Wishes Ray Mason

 

*Sarcasm mode on* Yay! I want to make tour promoters go bust, drastically reduce the amount of work available and thereby slash the amount of income received by locomotive owning groups! That'll teach 'em for putting a diesel on the back and not advertising it. Oh, hang on... *Sarcasm mode off*

 

Ray, thanks for your candid post. I hope you did not cop too much flak for a genuine mistake. I have read your posts and always regarded your intentions as helpful.
All I will say is you hit the nail on the head when pointing out how honesty and integrity are such vital ingredients for sustained business success.

 

This train will be hauled by 46115 Scots Guardsman Via the Cumbrian coast

 

repairs to 46115 have been completed
we will try to run this one with steam heat on the steam section so may be no diesel
We now have the use of a generator car but it is air braked only no good with vac braked steam