Torbay Expresses 2017

Plus Swanage on their own metals are not liable for delays minutes which I suspect is the clincher.

 

No, I've heard nothing, but then again I'm not expecting to. I was as disappointed as anyone last Sunday, but the reasoning was explained quite clearly several times over the PA at each passenger pick-up point. Right or wrong, NR's call was 'diesel or cancel'.

 

Err Dainton enroute to Paignton?

 

Anyone know Network Rail's fire risk status for the South West Mainline currently? The Scot had a diesel in the consist over the route last Saturday but then again all RTC Dartmouth Expresses have for years, regardless of the weather and month. As we're booked on Sunday it could be another £210 wasted if it turns into a second show pony steam TBE. TBEL ran all the trains in 2013/14 with show pony steam in 'fire risk' conditions and ran with a diesel when no steam loco has been available. Can't remember them ever cancelling one.

It will be good to know what's happening beforehand as it will save us further costs in driving to BTM, car parking and on the Severn Bridge Toll.

 

Fire

Fire risk probably won't be a factor at the weekend. Lot's of rain forecasted this week all over the country and so no reason why a diesel should be on the front or back of anything, I suggest!!

 

Indeed. The UK Summer for 2017 has been and gone...

 

Logically yes, but it is NR and they move slowly... If DBC can't get the so called steam ban lifted for the route we might as well give up.
Not going to book any TBEL trains in advance again as it appears to be a 'run trains whatever' organisation these days. Not complaining, they have a business to run and most passengers these days don't seem to give a monkeys whether it's show pony steam or even diesel haulage. What TBEL made very clear last week is show pony steam is classed as steam haulage and there is no rebate on fares whatsoever.

 

No concession is a poor show.

 

My photo of 60163 at Cockwood last week is now up at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-walker/35185803560/in/dateposted/

 

A tad harsh about the last run. NR made a knee jerk reaction to 60009 setting off a fire a zillion miles away the day before. It was nigh on impossible to cancel at such notice and we do all accept the risk. Would it have been as bad if Tornado had failed it's FTR and it was diesel only? DBC and TBEL have a good track record, to date, but some gesture would have been good PR. Some claim against NR should be possible if not covered by insurance.

What is really important now is some clear message from TBEL on the future tours to reassure those like you who have paid in advance. It may be that tours fill with those that don't care but those that do care may mean the difference between profit and loss. Also those who do care are more likely to be repeat customers. So future survival is an issue they should be aware of. Last year they were very good when Braunton failed and cancelled tours as soon as they knew.

 

Its a very different company than when it took over the TBEs in 2008. Regulars on the TBE - and I mean we purists who do virtually ALL of them every year and are well known to them - used to get a bit of leeway with diesel substitutions and show pony steam. Now every passenger is treated as 'one offs', effectively first time travellers on each and every train. That's the world we live in. Don't mind losing the money that much as every seat paid for hopefully ensures TBEs continue, though its disconcerting that TBEL seem content to reduce the number every year. I get ratted off a bit when things like last Sunday happen as we paid for those seats in December last year so TBEL have had the money sitting in their account for 6 months. Be more annoyed if interest rates were higher!! Good faith is one way these days.

 

Just noticed that 60163 was seen heading along the M4 over the last few days,anyone any idea why,considering it's booked for The Torbay this Sunday?

Link below,apologies that it's a Facebook link,the post was made by Allelys Haulage.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=863490103799935&id=162638680551751

Not really clear which direction it went either!?

 

On the Alleys thread Mark, one post said heading West....

 

I don't understand some of the comments on what happenend last weekend at all. The trip went ahead albeit not as originally planned fully steam hauled. It wa acase of diesel or cancel the trip altogether which probably wouldnt have pleased people either at that late notice. I wasnt pleased to see a diesel on the front or to hear it being pushed all the way back but then as a Linesider I am not important as not putting money into the coffers for it.NR made the right decision after some of the hottest days so far this year and No 9 setting fires. We are so lucky to have steam still out on the mainline to my mind and shouts of compensation every time something unavoidable like this happens are going to make tour operaors wonder if at the end of the day it is all worth it.

 

I thought A1 lot were dead against roading Tornado.

 

....and why?

 

I respect your views and agree with much of your post.
Making a general observation in response, in my view you are able to judge a firm by how well it deals with not being able to acheive the standards it had planned or promised. Good firms have self awareness and tend to take the initiative when they know something may have failed to meet customer expectations so gestures of goodwill may be offered, unprompted. That does not force any customer to take up the offer, yet creates enormous loyalty.

 

But ! ! - didnt the A4 job still run the same day as the fires ?. If so I wonder who made the decision to still run the very expensive looking charter with 13 on the hook (plus no diesel) behind 60009.

 

I imagine like a number of loco owners the A1 trust do not want the potential damage caused by moving locos on and off low loaders. I watched City of Wells winched off the low loader at Norden back in March and at some stages the wheels do appear to be at an angle maybe they are not designed to be at.
I was very surprised to see pictures of Tornado on a low loader, I thought they had publically stated it would only go to rail connected railways.

 

Tornado's move by road also discussed in http://www.national-preservation.com/threads/tornado-seen-on-a-low-loader.955398