Jacobite 2024

Observed having lovely chats saying “Give us MK1s back ya b**tards” Jokes of course before anyone says anything!

 

Interestingly, I see that that the new LSL Generator coach is CDL fitted.

 

Looks like not all the press is behind WCRC, with them now reporting the spad from earlier this month. https://www.scotsman.com/news/trans...railway-harry-potter-hogwarts-express-4789670

 

I felt their reaction was more "not again" rather than hating. It does seem to be one thing after another with WCR.

 

The Scotsman is the Daily Express of the Scottish media I'm afraid and loves a bit of click bait. Nigel Harris seems also to be trying to drum up a bit of traffic for his new venture, with eye catching headlines and a bit of controversy.
Look beyond the hyperbole and the reality is that this isn't a big incident (pretty common on the big railway) and West Coast have followed procedure.
I am more than happy to criticise West Coast when they score an own goal, I don't think this is one of them.

 

No I agree. Although if you read some other forums (including the one where our esteemed member for Grantham is a moderator) all incidents such as SPAD'S or overspeeds are down to OAO's, FOC,s or the likes of charter operators, i.e. anyone who is not what I would call an ex Franchise TOC.

 

It will be interesting to see how much airtime Green Signals gives to the report on the SPAD at Craven Arms which is at a totally different level of seriousness to the one at Morar. I suppose steam sells clicks, as does HS2.

 

Any member not familiar with Morar ,this is 45212 going the other way ,stop board on the right .

 

Quite. A train going 20' past a stop board protecting a very minor road is a bit different to the potentially very serious SPAD at Craven Arms. 359 times the emergency override switch had been operated to activate the crossing in less than 3 years. That's absolutely disgraceful.

 

Considering the level of operations WC undertake, not just steam and the well over 30 years of age operation of the Jacobite I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration.

 

Trains are driven by humans, and humans make mistakes. Whether the SPAD at Morar is a something or nothing depends on the specific circumstances, not who they work for or which news outlet picks up on it.

I'm then left with a couple of thoughts:
1. LSL is owned by someone with media interests, and a vested interest in WCRC appearing weak
2. Craven Arms suggests a collapsed safety culture, and something that frankly leaves me surprised that the Safety Digest remained a Safety Digest
3. The full RAIB report into the 2nd overspeed at Spital Junction highlights just how easily drivers can make mistakes.

 

Would be interesting to know how often other railtour operators have had SPADs.

 

I don't know of any other railtour operators that run a daily passenger service, so comparison would be irrelevant.
I am sure the ORR will look at any anomalies and act accordingly.

 

Nail on head. Which is why this is a non story.
West Coast have had their corporate issues aplenty, this isn't one of them. Not wishing to speculate as to cause, but human error / misjudgment isn't a culture issue - which this article is trying to insinuate.
By reporting the incident West Coast have followed procedure exactly as they should, which if anything demonstrates them abiding by the rules!!

 

Half true.

With no comment for or against WCRC, I will just observe that reporting an incident in a public place with witnesses doesn’t say anything about root cause. For it to be evidence of anything, we would need further information.


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It is up to the ORR to establish root cause which they will do in due course & I will not speculate further. My issue is media trying to link this incident with other ongoing issues, for which there no apparent evidence or connection.

 

The media only crawl out of the gutter when there is a chance of speculating. This incident is a private matter between ORR and WCR and will be brought to (hopefully) a happy conclusion.