WCME/CME 2024

From a drizzly Carnforth, the loco for 5V42 is 47815, and they are currently shunting together a rake of maroon MK2 air con stock, with a MK1 kitchen car.
The front part consists of:
3431, 3326, 1961 kitchen, 3352, 3350.

 

Photos on the Railway Heritage Register show CDL already fitted to the Mk2Fs.

 

They do have the lights by the doors on the outside.

 

Other portion should be 3395, 3392, 6724, 6115, 9493, 999506.

 

I have been to Mallaig on Statesman (Mk2 coaches) and Midland Pullman (Mk3 coaches) so they are definitely fine.

 

Stock move just passed Preston railcam. All maroon stock, with WCRC logo on.
End coach appears to be an engineers observation coach

 

Some people would have saved for months/years to afford a one-off day out at £295 a ticket (plus supplement of table for two), plus potential new clothes, travel and hotel costs, staff tips and drink bill. This isn't a £25 day out in a tracksuit turning up at 2pm for 3 hours entertainment.

Not everybody is in a position to regularly use rail tours. I would not be happy and won't be happy come May if it's a Mk2 coffin. The experience of a Mk1 is of as much importance as what is on the front to many.

 

And you are living proof a non CDL carriage is not unsafe!

 

Totally agree!!!!!!!!!

 

When you say "the experience of a Mk1", is it basically just the opening windows that you're referring to? A few months back there was talk on one of the railway forums (might even have been this one!) about the possibility of fitting Mk1-style sliding windows to Mk2 window panes. I'm not sure whether that ever got off the ground, but it may be a workable solution, if it is literally just the lack of opening windows that is the issue.

 

Again existing photos show CDL fitted, the exception being the Inspection Saloon which I guess is not subject to the requirement being "staff only". I wonder if the doors on a kitchen car could be designated "staff only" and somehow locked from use by passengers and so negate the need for CDL. I assume that the CDL on the stock would need to be serviced and tested before use, so well done to all involved.

Perhaps WCRC currently have only sufficient CDL fitted coaches for one rake, hence the need for the Riviera stock on the Pathfinder trip.

As has been said (many times) this is not the ideal solution for hardened steam enthusiasts but is a suitable alternative for many would be passengers - better than cancellation. Next job (almost certainly underway) is the NBelle stock quickly followed by something for the Jacobite. I hope those on Saturday's WCME enjoy their trip; the view from the windows will be just as stunning, the food will taste the same and hopefully Tangmere will be on the front.

 

I would imagine that if anyone opened a window on the train on Saturday they would be asked pretty sharpish to close it again looking at the forecast.

Just out of interest are the windows in these mk2's single or double glazed as if they are the latter it would reduce the condensation issues which has driven a lot of passengers mad on trains I have most recently travelled upon?

I suspect that WCR and the promoters will be looking very closely at feedback on these trains, if complaints are limited (possibly to enthusiasts versus day trippers) it may not be worthwhile in the long run spending the cash faffing around with the Mk1's at all (bar possibly a few for the Jacobite) and instead rationalise the fleet.

 

Well the seats and wooden paneling too. I understand WCRC have made some of the early Mk2s more like Mk1s inside, mainly Mk2 TSOs becoming more like MK1 FOs.

I believe Riviera were looking at doing that with their Mk2 set. May as well have just fitted CDL surely to the Mk1s?

 

One slight issue with that is you'd then need to fit air braking to all the steam locomotives.

 

Get yourself out to Germany where you can still ride in these behind steam on the main line.

 

It's all cost benefit analysis though isn't it, cost of air brakes vs. cost of CDL in 10's of mk1's - sale price/crap value of said mk1's. Long and short what is WCR's appetite either way and for the long term?

 

Once a carriage is done though, it will run for many years. Majority of the carriages are in service every season. Steam locos, not so much, and would be a problem for other owning groups possibly interested in mainline running, so the pool of engines just gets smaller. Plus WCRC own a lot more non-CDL stock than CDL-stock and there's none out there to be bought anymore off BR.

 

So from checking RTT I see the outbound leg now leaves Euston even earlier (06:39). OK it does stop at Watford Junction that the 07:09 departure time did not, but that had about 15 minutes standing at MK to let a couple of trains past. Somehow the timings have contrived to lose about 30 minutes on the outbound leg without any excessive dwell times. At this rate it will soon be too early to get to Euston if this keeps getting earlier each year.
A bit of an x file where have those missing minutes gone

 

Old divers trick, put a very small amount of shower gel on a cloth and wipe it on the glass, then polish it.

Works on mirrors in the shower/bathroom as well.

 

Funnily enough, I’ve just been discussing this with my wife! A trip is planned.