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

That's exactly as I would hope and generally somebody expressing dissatisfaction will not expect an immediate response to change policy, mostly they just want to be listened to.

 

If you read the closing remark of my quoted post it was recognising the polarity of the discussion with @RalphW, and the argument, as such, was principally with him as he appears to take on the role of self appointed spokesman for the promoters. I also acknowledged the futility of continuing that debate with him because we are never going to reach a semblance of agreement or probably on any other matter I daresay because with Ralph its often not so much what is said but who says it ........

 

A different vie at Low Borrowbridge: (not necessarily good but different!)



South bound amongst the trees....



Richard

 

Say what you like about 'show ponies', diesels and steam bans or whatever, one thing surely cannot be disputed.

When it came to selecting the diesels and particularly the liveries thereof, Number 9 definitely drew the short straw.

 

60009 on yesterday's excursion, seen amongst Galatea and Leander at Armathwaite and Ais Gill.

 

Do you mean you were booked for 15th and have cancelled that or what?

Why not the one that was to have been on 15th, postponed to 3rd October? That should actually have Tornado. It's the other way round, north on the S&C and south over Shap, but that's much more unusual and it means you get the real Long Drag.

Why not do The Talisman on 15th September, which should now have 60009?

 

I was booked for the 15th but have cancelled, would rather that and a full refund than what happened yesterday or only 50% refund.

Can't make the rearranged date, I'll be back at university playing dentists and nurses! Hence the refund. Otherwise I definitely would. Hence me asking for any alternative tours that are similar in route. Not fussed whether it's particularly unusual or not, mainline steam at all is unusual for me, still yet to experience it bar the Jacobite.

 

To be fair, if concerns were not raised, then those who peddle the poor service would think no-one cared.

Also, Joe Public does look at these postings and there is a degree of public service in warning potential punters of the risk and what some may consider sharp practice.

 

Here’s my video of the tours on Shap and the S&C from Saturday:

 

I went across to Whalley on Saturday to see 45699 and 60009. It's good to see locos in pristine condition, but when the A4 ran slowly into the station and stopped at the signal I was taken back over 50 years....nice! Is that JC waving from the footplate? I didn't notice at the time. Galatea rolled in and stopped at the 'peg' waiting for the unit to clear Daisyfield. I don't know about 'fire risk' but that lovely 3 cylinder 'Jubilee Roar' could be clearly heard well beyond Langho!!

 

When did those saplings get planted at Ais Gill ? - Glad I got the shots I did up there in 2014. Looks like another classic view to strike off the list of available locations

 

Saplings were planted earlier this year

 

seems the only person getting 100% satisfaction is Mr Cameron

 

But who can begrudge him this pleasure?

 

Presumably those who trade the 'show pony' insults, who would rather the steam locos were sitting cold on shed and earning no money for their owners than the trains run with assistance to reduce the risk of fire.

Steven

 

Careful now Steven, you'll start World War III Nat Pres style.

 

Thats a rather crass statement, nobody "wants" the situation to be as it is. The corrolary being the customers paying full whack or losing 50% of a not inconsiderable price for something they have no say in. It surprises me a little how so many views are utterly protective of the businesses involved and almost expecting that the unfortunate situation is underwritten by the passengers receiving an inferior experience. As I've said before, some form of partial refund is in order whether or not the promoter chooses to hire the steam loco despite it not being allowed to work.
Anyhow, I think its abundantly clear there are two camps neither of which will be sharing the same ground anytime soon so in the interests of all sides its probably wisest to cease fire as the ban is lifted

 

Forgive me for a observation, but I see plenty of green, in all of the pictures and video's posted, fresh weeds in the 4 foot as well.

Any news on a relaxing of the current ban on unassisted, as the weather over the past week, has seen decent rainfall???

 

See https://www.national-preservation.c...-steam-express-18-08-18.1207796/#post-2223345

One would like to think the LNW North region can't be too far away now. Plenty of rain in the forecast this week and it put a load down all Saturday night / Sunday.

 

I don't think it is crass in the slightest - simply the obvious conclusion and consequence of the view expressed by some on here. Sorry if you find this obvious conclusion of the 'no show pony' mantra being loss of income to the locomotive owners unpalatable but, given that assisted steam is being run for a good reason (i.e. network owner's insistence) and not simply to wind up the small number of 'pure steam, come what may' posters on here, that loss is the obvious and only consequence of the course of action you have proposed numerous times in numerous posts on the subject.

Mind you, if my comment has brought the repeating of that view to end, I consider it has been worthwhile!

Steven