Auld Reekie 3/03/19

I'm sure proper reports will follow, but we had an excellent run up. After a stop at Thirsk for the traffic through the possession, 42 miles to Durham in 45.5 mins including through the platform road at Darlington, then 81 miles to Berwick station, start to almost stop in 82 mins including respecting the 10 mph through Newcastle, then 40 miles to the compulsory stop at Drem to follow the North Berwick stopper in 41.5 mins. So that's 160 miles pretty much cruising at 70. The weather was very kind, and the stretch from Alnmouth to Burnmouth lived up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful main lines in Britain. Meanwhile it was pelting down in Leeds.... A brisk walk around a grey but soulful Edinburgh touching base with various Rebus locations and back to Waverley platform 9--- yes you were right @RalphW , change of platform.

Coming back, it all went pear shaped but I'm sure we will all remember the swift departure from Waverley with 84mph by Prestonpans. But again Drem was our nemesis and two or three attempts to get away under green signals showed that all was far from well. We arrived at Berwick, stopped in platform with a green signal which then went to red. Guys in orange jackets walking down the platform. The Edinburgh bound train came into the other platform and left. A rapid decision had to be made. Some of us, led by a general of this parish baled on to the 1E28. Many thanks to the despatcher lady on the platform and the LNER guard Findlay for taking an instant decision to say OK. I was in my home outside Leeds 1.5 hours later than expected with the help of a lucky connection at York.

For me it was one to add to the stock of 8P memories along with Clan Line to Exeter eighteen months ago and BIL charging up to Ais Gill last May.

 

http://thedps.co.uk/

I would have liked to listen to the phone call between The DPS and Nemisis Rail this morning.
As I understand it they were re-conned bogies.
I'm guessing but it looks like the bogies will have to come out.
No gloating from me, just genuine sadness.
Onward and upward.

 

I blame Brexit, for the failure of four of the six traction motors. After all it's being blamed for pretty well everything else, both good and bad.....

 

It's unlikely Nemesis Rail would have had anything to with the traction motors though, and DPS have overhauled the bogies themselves. Whether they were the traction motors from D9009's previous bogies or not, I don't know. The failure could've been anything. At work, I've seen freshly overhauled traction motors fitted to a train then fail quite spectacularly after a couple of miles before!

 

Sad news indeed for the DPS, but I wish them well with the necessary repairs.

Apropos of nothing in particular, I note that it was within 3 days of the 10th anniversary of Tornado's first trip to Edinburgh, on 28/2/2009. That trip was named "The Auld Reekie" too, and I was fortunate enough to get one of the last seats on it. The return of that trip was eventful too - a fatality near Durham led to a very late arrival back at York, as the train was diverted via the Durham coast.

 

A sad sight.

 

Following the issues last night I ended up myself going to pick up 2 passengers from Leeds to take them to Wakefield,which ended up costing myself £15 in petrol and 2 hours of my Sunday evening....

Generally there was very little information given by the stewards/management on the train according to my dad who was a passenger,with a lot of confusion and conflicting advice with some stewards saying to get off and go on 1E29 to Leeds (with no further info on how to reach Wakefield,I.E,it was after the last train!) and other staff saying to stay on the tour to Doncaster. Perhaps in hindsight there should've been a better contingency plans as it seemed somewhat panicked and with no information from management reaching stewards,resulting in numerous bits of information. Luckily my dad and a number of others are "weathered veterans" of the scene and are capable of quickly realising when there's issues and getting home when there's a complete failure,but he has suggested concern for some of those that were going back to Wakefield in terms of the fact they weren't regular tourers or experienced travellers and as such the complete lack of order and a set line of comms from those in charge caused significant issues.

When the train arrived back at Leeds the station was manic with a line of people for Wakefield milling about,taxis back from there will no doubt have cost £20 per car.

Note that as far as we know no taxis were organised by A1ST,the whole reason I ended up going to Leeds to pick my dad and 1 other up was because nobody had said whether taxis were to be provided,in the event it appears they weren't as it looked like complete carnage.

As far as I'm aware no A1ST stewards were on 1E29,which again is a poor piece of business,generally other operators would have a steward from each boarding point to guide pax back there,in the event of issues like last night,for instance I can recall one incident with Past Time Rail Some years ago at Birmingham New Street,where a complete signal failure caused the diversion of the train away from a set down point (Birmingham International),within 10 minutes a steward had been nominated to guide affected pax to taxis and ensure they made it back to International. Really there should've been an A1ST rep outside Leeds station station having travelled on 1E29 to do just this for Wakefield passengers,you can't just abandon people who have paid considerable money for a ticket. If there was an A1ST steward on 1E29,they certainly didn't make themselves known....

There were 60 minutes between the tour arriving at Berwick and 1E29 (the train to Leeds) arriving,and in that time conflicting advice was given saying to stay on the tour back to Donny for a train to Wakefield (no trains at that time of night),a vague mention of a taxi/bus plan,but then after that the same people for Wakefield were told to get on 1E29 for Wakefield and Leeds (bit hard for it to get to Wakefield when 1E29 terminated at Leeds and arrived after the last connection). At one point tour passengers were even told that the train wouldn't be stopping at York,which caused further confusion,as said above,clear instruction should've been given to stewards ASAP upon failure to stop these things happening in the first place.

I can only imagine the stress this could cause someone with disabilities or in a frail condition,I have to imagine most other tour operators would make sure there was an actual plan of action for pax in the first 30 mins after it was declared a failure,and have advised pax that a plan was being formed,rather than giving conflicting information. An honest unfortunate issue I'm sure,but one that should really be taken into consideration in the first place.

On the positive side Tornado performed great on the outward journey and was enjoyable,it's a great shame the Deltic failed on the return and I hope it's certainly not a long and costly failure.
I should state that the above criticisms are not meant as an insult to the trust or it's volunteer stewards,I merely hope that in future such incidents have a clear plan in place (perhaps even thought out before a failure occurs,I.E "What Happens If...") to avoid further problems.

 

Don't this is fair speculation at all.

DPS are no doubt grateful that a professional company will take on work on a 60 year old complex high mileage machine in the first place. If it had run without problems Nemesis would no doubt have never received a mention yet here we are blaming them with absolutely no evidence at all. If I were a Director of a company in this position I'd be saying in respect of work for preservation 'stuff it, its difficult, it doesn't pay well and its dragging our reputation down'. A bit like the way Marshalls and Rolls Royce pulled the rug from under Vulcan to the Sky.

 

FYI, from DPS website, cannot remember a TM flashover in recent history, know Class 50's liked a one from time to time, however....

The DPS regrets to report that D9009 ‘ALYCIDON’ failed while hauling ‘The Auld Reekie’ tour yesterday, which resulted in the train having to be rescued at Berwick by 67004 – our thanks go to DB Cargo for their assistance. It appears that the loco has suffered a traction motor flashover and arrangements are now being made to return the loco from Doncaster to Burton. We share the disappointment of the passengers on board the train and those on the lineside. This is the first time that D9009 has been declared a failure while working a tour since its return to the main line in 2012.

 

In the circumstances, "Nemesis Rail" seems an unfortunate name.

 

There are loads of companies who could have overhauled the bogies, remember they are re-geared class 37 units, they are not that special.

 

I hadn't realised that! Thanks.

I looked through my stuff and realised that coincidence had taken me back yesterday to the same place as I got that first run.

 

Checking back on The DPS website, the bogies were overhauled by Sheaf Engineering, Nemesis, seem to have done the bogie lift and installation.

 

Can somebody tell me why, when we all know that Alycidon lives at Barrow Hill, why is it being returned to Nemesis today ?
To say I'm blaming them is a bit strong (and not correct) but when the loco has been in their care for a few months for work to be done on it and with the first bit of hard work it fails, questions are going to be asked.
Far from 'blaming' them I'm very grateful the are people with the ability and the facilities to do this sort of work.

 

On their web page it says it was returning to Nemesis today anyway:

D9009 on ‘The Auld Reekie’ today
By webmaster on March 3, 2019 in Alycidon, News
It’s been touch and go, but following its FTR exam yesterday evening and final checks, D9009 ‘ALYCIDON’ is now on its way to Edinburgh to work the return leg of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s tour back to Doncaster this evening. You can follow progress of the northbound light engine move by CLICKING HERE, while timings for the tour itself are HERE.

Following the tour, D9009 is planned to return to Burton on Monday.

Dave B

 

For investigation, and bogie lift, at a place authorised to do so, I would expect @Victor

 

Fair enough, I hope the Deltic is back to full fitness very soon.

Off topic (sorry) has anybody any news on RSG (22) at Crewe?