Jacobite 2024

It's good to hear from the coal face, I for once would never expect a crew to not done their prep right, and it's very true what has been said about sanders, yes they do fail, anyone who has been on the footplate knows that a bit of damp, or condensation, will block the delivery tube,
Reading that the line speeds are quite low, it does make you ask, at 40 mph max, can a case be made for exemption of fitting CDL on coaches that only operate on this route. and would only run as ECS from fort William to Carnforth there's a big difference between that and doing 75 mph on the main,

 

Discussed at length previously, and given the prevailing law, that case is very weak. It should also be remembered that the exemption wasn't just for Jacobite stock, but the whole fleet.

 

I suppose the argument there could be that it's possible to put on extra layers of clothing when it's cold but there comes a point when it's too hot that (a) it becomes much more of a health risk and (b) the removal of clothing can become an affront to public decency - not that it seemed to bother some young woman standing at her door as I walked past the other day...

Many years ago on uk.railway there was some clown who insisted that when aircon-only trains broke down in the summer, all you had to do was open one carriage door at each end of the train and let the chimney effect do the rest. I'll let others spot the flaw in that argument.

 

45407 with extra Jacobite stock seen from Scout Green just before 7am.

 

I note the 3rd vehicle in that consist is a Mk 2B or 2C with opening windows and CDL - perhaps this is the start of the required compromise.

John

 

They certainly don't look like they're plated over in the posted video


John

 

2 CDL mark 2's, Think the leading coach may be a 'Support ' coach... That a generator /brake at the back ?

 

TSO converted into a buffet on the rear.

 

Thanks, that explains the ventilator grill...

 

If West Cost have enough CDL fitted mk2's to make a rake, that's got to be better than the air con stock they used so far, I would imagine some MK2, s the ones with the larger windows might have survived in service long enough to have received CDL. before being withdrawn, I went past Southall on my return journey Monday and there was a lot of what looked to be withdrawn coaches stored there, can't they be stripped of CDL to be fitted into the early MK2's ?

 

The WCR Mk2's at Southall are I believe already heavily stripped of parts and are definitely presently up for sale anyway.

 

Interesting news :-
UPDATE - JACOBITE AFTERNOON SERVICE - 29/04//2024.
https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/news/important-announcement-the-jacobite-pm-1

We are sorry that we need to cancel trips on our Jacobite Steam Train service (afternoon trips only).

The morning trips departing from Fort William at 10:15am are unaffected by these cancellations and are due to run on time.

Today we have announced the cancelled trips for the afternoon service - (12:50 pm departure from Fort William) these are from the 6th May to the 13th May 2024 inclusive. Passengers will be contacted directly by email and SMS text to inform them of the cancellations. To clarify, we have now cancelled all the afternoon service trips departing Fort William at 12:50 from 6th May to 13th May 2024 (dates inclusive).

 

Afternoon service now cancelled until 30 May. No doubt discussions between WCR and ORR are ongoing.

Sent from my SM-T590 using Tapatalk

 

Is there anything for ORR to discuss? The ball seems to be purely in WCR's court, to decide what they wish to do.

 

Well there would be something to discuss presumably if WCRC offered up an implementation plan. But I assume after all this time that is not on the cards, or else it would have happened by now.

 

I wonder if LSL, has enough spare compliant MK1's to form a rake, and operate the service next year, because I can see West coast not being able to run it in 2025, Does Ian Riley have any agreements, with LSL, because it makes sense if they can provide a rake, of air brake mk1's and hire in Ian's black 5's.

 

LSL have already dipped their toe in the water with a diesel operation last month. This was a warning to Carnforth that they will jump all over this if there is an opportunity, but West Coast would be stupid to give up the paths they have spent 30 years earning. To this effect West Coast responded immediately by running ghost trains to keep the paths active. A phoney war if ever there was one and posturing between the two companies.
If West Coast have sense they will spend the time getting compliant stock, to run a full service ASAP. But who knows what their next action will be.
This service is a huge money spinner, but currently it's West Coast's to lose.
Personally I don't care who operates it, so long as someone does and does so in a safe and compliant manner.

 

Can't help but think that behind closed doors at Crewe there must have been the thought of overhauling 6960, turning out in Red and sending it up with a rake.......