S&C Pathfinder Charter - Aug 2018: Now 16/3/19 and with 60163

I certainly can't think of any. Also no days where there were three steam specials on the S&C, but there have been a good clutch of two's. The nearest which comes similar would be the two Eric Treacy special's in September 1978, both directions over the S&C, shared between 3 different loco's.

 

Although there is a pick up at Bromsgrove I note the return shows a pass at Bromsgrove. The last train leaves New Street at the same time the charter is booked. This could be an interesting evening getting home.

 

Disgusted with Pathfinder. The 'old' company would never have run a diesel assisted train to celebrate such an iconic event in the history of steam hauled trains. I must admit I forgot they were part of the Riviera Trains Group along with TBEL. We know to our cost over the last few years the way TBEL operates. Every train will run if enough customers pay to make it cost effective for them. They will cancel if the loading is insufficient and then you do get money back. No steam, who cares? A diesel will do. Fire risk? run with a diesel inside. But this is a new low.

I think that sadly we have to accept it's very much a Buyer Beware Market we 'trade' in with Ts&Cs that are not in the spirit of fair trading and providing what is advertised. We want to keep steam on the mainline so we have put up with them.

GEI is the worst of all things for we enthusiasts. They only confirmed that there would be an assisting diesel today and the first most passengers will know about it is when they get their tickets tomorrow at the earliest. If you want to cancel when you get the tickets. technically there will be no refund under the Ts&Cs as it's less than 5 days before the date of running. Cancelling last Friday was the last day to get a 50% 'refund' in the form of a credit note on what was paid in real money in good faith for a steam hauled railtour. Then of course the credit note can only be used on a future Pathfinder or TBEL train.

I wondered if we might have a pleasant surprise and Pathfinder would provide a proper refund against the form of payment we made. They claim we genuine enthusiasts for whom any form of diesel interference on an advertised steam hauled train is abhorrent, are really small in number so it wouldn't cost them very much.

But a reality check. The first thing they told me when I rang to inquire about cancelling was that any refund would be made in accordance with their Ts&Cs. Not even "in good faith under the circumstances we'll hold your money over for another train".

It's an good(?) example of the law of diminishing returns. We did cancel on Friday. Under the Ts&Cs we've lost £250 on the 4 Standard Class tickets we bought. To book on another advertised steam hauled train will likely cost us a further £250 plus the credit note. If for any reason that train won't be steam hauled, the odds are we won't find out until the 50% refund window kicks in again at the earliest. So potentially for an outlay of £.750 made in good faith, all we could have is a credit note for £250. And so it could go on....

 

It is a very poor quality of service you describe and whilst extreme examples, perhaps, do illustrate that there is an element of a captive audience to be exploited in the sense the customer has no real bargaining power, other than withholding their repeat custom. As I've said before, it seems incredibly complacent of the sector to operate in this endemic fashion but maybe we are wrong and there will always be a ready supply of unwary customers.

 

Yes I noticed that. I'll see what Pathfinder suggest in their letter today but I suspect I'll have to get off at Crewe and get service trains to New Street and thence back to Bromsgrove. With the train stopping for an hour in Crewe I can probably get into New Street just as the charter leaves Crewe!

 

4472, 35028 and this beauty. It was a bit busy that day.

 

Pathfinders was the agent for the Sugar Loaf Mountaineer on behalf of Arriva Trains Wales who pulled the trip (letter dated 5 days before the trip) and on calling Pathfinders I was told ATW had said there was no point in running the train with a diesel as it was the anniversary of the opening of the line. How refreshing and so upsetting in regard to this Saturday that the right 'call' wasn't made. Ironic also that it looks as though it may rain most of the day in Cumbria.

 

I see the weather forecast is now for heavy rain over Cumbria on Saturday. Lost interest in the train but I wonder if NR will lift the ban at the 11th hour?? Can't remember when or what train it was but we were on a diesel assisted train in a fire risk period and it rained heavily in the morning and most of the day.

 

Some years ago, again during a steam ban, a Torbay Express, I seem to recall, was booked to run with diesel assistance due to the fire risk. Overnight on the Saturday it "chucked" it down in the West Country and NR took the bold and sensible decision to allow the King to run on its own and leave the diesel behind. There were no lineside fires during the day. Could that happen over this weekend? Be good if it did. Come on NR, you know you can!

 

NR must carry some share of the blame. A ban is a ban. So they should ensure that if they ban steam from the network due to fire risk then it is a total ban. No show pony with wisps of smoke on the front with a diesel doing all the work. If they cannot put a steam loco on the front at all then their T&Cs will melt away as they cannot deliver the product sold.

 

But as I posted on the Steam Ban thread we are talking about three trains Saturday, not just this one. So I guess they will need to be really convinced it will be safe.

 

NR has only approved the mitigation strategy proposed by the TOCs so I don't see they can be held responsible for devising the show pony option.

 

Yes I spotted that move as well but as we don’t have Priv’ it would need official sanctioning. Nothing came in the post today. Any news on the Bromsgrove issue from anyone who has had a letter?

 

Confirmed timings up on Pathfinders website but differ from those on RTT in respect to Bromsgrove and Cam&Dursley.

 

Letters sent out today, according to their Facebook page, so should be in tomorrow's post. I've asked them via Facebook about the Bromsgrove issue, and will report back when / if I get a response.

 

And with GEI there's be a water issue unless as it's 90 miles from Preston to Upperby. Still I suppose they could take water in Grayrigg Loop as that's now a booked stop.

 

Why, is the 66 going to need a top up? Blowing the whistle a few times won't use that much water!

 

Perhaps because we'll lose all our money Al.