RTC 2021

Another review that amused me was the five star one posted by somebody who didn't ride it but went to watch it cross Glenfinnan Viaduct.

 

There are also special arrangements for steam locos passing under the scaffolding crash deck. The arrangements caused a delay on the Belmond Pullman working with 35028 in May.

Having looked at the annual plan version of the Bristol East resignalling about a year ago, about half the platforms are closed at any one time.
Portsmouth - Cardiff services are diverted via the Rhubarb Loop, SWR services are terminating and starting back at Bath Spa and the Avonmouth branch terminates and starts back short of Bristol TM , Lawrence Hill?
Overall it's sensible to keep and special workings out of the area (including charters) to keep some semblance of service running with possession limits which change each week.

Cheers, Neil

 

The 3 household thing was to enable folk to meet up with friends from 3 households wasn't it? not be put in a close confine with strangers for hours.

 

I think you are correct Al, especially as case numbers are ramping up again.
Long before Covid on service trains I would move seats, or coaches, and on such as the tube with high frequency ,even get off and wait for the next one if someone near me appeared heavily suffering from a cold or flu.
Railtours steam or otherwise are leisure discretionary spend, and as you say people may well have a different view.
Interesting the other day at Norden another photographer asked if he could kneel down in front on me. I said fine and put a mask on for his benefit as much as mine, and he promptly walked off elsewhere. So I guess people are still concerned.

 

There was no breakdown. Fueling problem Ie: driver not checking his fuel gauge.

 

After I had my second jab a couple of weeks ago I was considering booking some ML trips but the way things are going at the moment I will leave it for a while. Watching the latest Sage briefing today was interesting and somewhat disturbing:

https://www.pscp.tv/w/c6379TFKUkVtU...bjm6Kg5ntenWhohgpfpiX70MhW6w4v9xwfbeEG1A?s=09

Even though we have the vaccines being issued in good numbers the overall situation with infection rates is really terrible now. Unbelievable that we progressed so far after the awful winter and now the good work is being squandered by our shambolic Government. Listening to the radio over the last week or so as I work from home has been a good guide to the shocking state of the infection rate at the moment. Most of the listeners sending messages in to the presenters have been isolating due to having caught Covid or they have come into contact with someone who has it. I can understand people being nervous about being sat on a charter for long periods with strangers at the moment.


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But it’s not possible to live in a cave for the rest of your life - hermits excepted.

 

There is a great deal of trouble in dealing with this situation. The PCR test has been abused in order to deliver the number of positive tests. Just because you test positive does not necessarily mean that you have the virus, you might have a virus but it may not be the one in question. Everyone has had different experiences. For me my son had a positive test but didn't notice any apart from anything apart from loss of income from having to quarantine, a friend with MS who was persuaded to take a vaccine and her health has plummeted from a well managed condition to a point where her partner has had to give up work to look after her. These are just two examples. Others have had no problems and others have refused to go out since this whole saga started.
Remember philosophy, politics and economics mean that you have to take advice when it comes to scientific matters. And your advisers may well not have your interests at heart or your long term credibility either.
All we can do for the moment is be reasonably cautious.

 

Operators are going to have to be careful, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it. A successful business aligns its operations to customer expectations, trust is hard earnt but quickly lost.
The last year and a half has created a lot of suspicion, anxiety and concern, it won't be business as usual just because someone says it's safe (especially if the science is saying differently - again).
Last year I was approached by several organisations to fill in questionnaires to give feedback on how best to reopen and how I would feel in certain situations. I have not been approached by any this year which I find surprising.
Railways have gained plaudits for running safe and secure operations in the last 12 months. The handful of tours I have done have also felt professional and well run. Tours are (expensive) leisure pursuits, NOT public transport. People expect to be looked after and to leave feeling they have had a safe and special day. The reviews on TripAdvisor concern me and a strong minority of people felt they didn't get that. Any company that gets a reputation for putting profit ahead of safety (even if on a vague technicality it is within the rules), will quickly muddy the water for everyone (the public don't distinguish between operators). I urge everyone to proceed with caution - even if they see a green light. A few bad experiences could scupper many hard earned recoveries.

 

Getting back to real business a broken rail at Wallers Ash will delay 35018 on the Bournemouth trip

 

Can anyone help explain the workings/limitations of Realtime Maps? 1Z50 was visible held on the down outside Micheldever awaiting passing of an up passenger.. It could then be seen crossing to the up at Micheldever after the up passenger had cleared. However, it then just vanished from the screen rather than being tracked any further on the up line.

 

Presumably single line working or is it going back?

 

Update: 1Z50 become visible again when it rejoined the down at Winchester, suggesting the maps simply can't track wrong line working - except that the first section onto the wrong line was visible.

 

Single line. Winchester 1200, plus 49