Torbay Expresses 2017

And equally different parts of the country should be looked at in a reasonable degree of isolation, the fire risk is surely not the same on the east side of the country where it's usually dryer and colder compared to the wetter warmer west. If the Duchess managed to get from Birmingham to Somerset and back yesterday without problems surely Tornado should be given the go ahead, especially given its modifications previously mentioned.

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I always say before you leave home check on National Preservation to save a wasted journey, I wish I had listened to my own advice . Standing in a lovely field of wheat with good lighting what could possibly go wrong . I was in a reception black spot at Stoke Canon so couldn't check on progress .
It's silage and hay making time down here in the South West with fields of cut grass drying in the sun . Mrs May has had the blame for most things in the last few weeks so let's blame her !

 

I do understand the disappointment of the diesel haulage, but I do not see the significance of the Duchess ran yesterday so Tornado can run today. With this weather, and no rain forecast for at least a week in the South West there is always going to be a time (likely during this week) where it was OK to run one day but not the next, also the forecast today is for temperature in the low 80's so even drier on the way back. I know we are not talking forest fires (like that terrible event in Portugal) but think of the castigation NR would get there was a fire started that got quickly out of control and property was damaged, a large amount of farmland burnt or even worse people were injured. The public would want to know why they allowed it to run when they knew the risks.
I was amazed they allowed the Duchess yesterday, and suspect next time (which may be The Dartmouth Express on Saturday) they will want diesel only let alone a pilot on the front of a steam loco.

 

My take on yesterday is that the engine crews were taking it easy with the Duchess but despite this the lovely big engine cruised along with speed in the seventies when allowed to do so in the midst of the chaos that was the GWR yesterday. No rain for a week so borderline and I suspect No. 9 has tipped NR over into the summer steam ban mode. Pity they can't sort out their own problems so easily eg the utter chaos of the SWT main line last night following Thursdays debacle. We ended up walking the last 2 miles to collect our car from Soton Airport Parkway at 11 pm last night in the way home from the Duchess trip

 

Yea agreed, there is little point in the steam being on there. Except that it is largely a tourist rather than an enthusiast train, though I think even the average traveller would feel short changed by the diesel on the front. Anyway NR have to make the call based on safety concerns and I don't profess to have any insider knowledge it's just my personal view that it seems rather quick to instigate a ban following one of the wetest weeks of June weather followed by a few warm days. I hardly left the house last weekend it was so wet. On this basis we may see little to no steam down here this summer.

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Very much concur and would hope TBEL see fit to offer partial refunds or credit notes to customers. Would also expect communication to later customers if the situation prevails.

 

Tornado on the front on the return. Diesel tucked inside.

 

Why should they not like it was planned, if they decide to that's up to them, but I wouldn't not when you have covered yourself against such things.

 

Fantastic sight at Dawlish Warren. The 66 wasn't working!
So maybe an unassisted climb with 530t. What a treat!!
Ray Mason

 

This can only go well....

 

Why couldn't diesel be tucked inside like return?

 

Possibly needed time for someone at DBC to convince NR that the order the loco's take at the front doesn't make any difference to where the powers being applied ?, Even if Tornado isn't powering much I assume her driver would have control of the brakes if leading.

 

They required another driver,which they were able to do for the return.

 

You are an NR manager and I claim my £5.

 

The longish range forecast isn't looking good for the July 2nd TBE. No rain forecast for the next fortnight though temperatures should be lower. We're booked on that one as well. Could be another £200 hit. Shades of 2013 and Nunney Castle's successive runs with a diesel inside. Personally if there is a 'steam ban' I don't see the point of wasting coal and crewing costs on show pony steam.

 

Yea I agree, I really don't see many steam only runs in the foreseeable future given this weekends decision. If four days of sunshine is all it takes then we're all going to have to pray for heavy rain every Friday! It must be very demoralising for the crews. If the steam locomotive doesn't go at all then do they get paid? If not then better for them to run I guess? In fact if they're not working too hard I imagine they save a little on coal costs.

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Actually, I think we should take heart from the fact that Tornado was allowed to lead on the return trip and, according to some reports, to provide the main motive power much of the time. What we saw Sunday morning looks to me like an initial reaction from weekend duty managers perhaps not in possession of the full facts; Over-cautious but understandable precautionary principle.

The acid test is what happens today and for the rest of this week. Does The Dalesman run unassisted, or with some assistance in sensitive areas, or with a DL doing all the work? What about the SSE on Thursday - I'd expect that to be more likely to require DL assistance, since the east is often drier than the west and there have been quite a few instances of lineside fires on this route in the recent past. I wonder if any special instructions or reminders will be issued to FTR inspectors or loco crews? Will NR regions assess the situation in advance and give the TOCs and promoters a few days notice, perhaps reviewing the situation twice a week? All these things have happened before. The shame is that it takes a week or so for the corporate memory to kick in, by which time we'll have had some thunderstorms and be back to westerly gales and heavy showers.

 

A good summary of the situation, and the fact that today's Dalesman is running without a diesel suggests that common sense local assessments are now being carried out. As you say, though, Thursday's SSE may be a different matter.

 

Bless you!