WCRC Private charter 9/05/25

Appeared on the Railway Herald tours listing earlier.
Some of the times are here:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...-09/0000-2359?stp=S&show=all&order=wtt&toc=WR

Anyone any further info please?

 

And the Brighouse to Edinburgh and Edinburgh to Carlisle times are here:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...9/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=WR

 

34067 is apparently broken, and 60163 is at Wansford. There's a light engine move from Carnforth at 14.00, so all will be revealed then (though the rumour mill is quoting 45699 on vacuum braked Mk1s).

 

So more or less like every time Tangmere is let out!!

 

Carlisle to Brighouse: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U51597/2025-05-09/detailed

Looks like steam as far as Blackburn - timed at 60 mph to there, with 25 minutes at Hellifield Goods Loops.

https://richardstevens.smugmug.com/

 

Formation reported as:

47804
1961
325 (95325)
326
354 (99354)
99304
13306
47832

 

Well, I'm going to be the first to bite and ask....

CDL or how?

 

Well if it’s a private charter then there’s ways round CDL. Could be a “staff do”

 

I did wonder if a staff do, but then a few queries come in to mind:

If a train is full of employees only, to comply with CDL regulation regarding interpretations of passengers, are all staff classed as on duty for the day?

If the above applies, what happens in regards to alcohol consumption etc...


And I'm not asking for a list of attendees, however, I'm curious in what way the CDL regulations can be skirted and keep an operator on the correct side of them in such a situation.

 

Given that the train starts and finishes in Brighouse, it is surely unlikely that the passengers are WCRC employees?

 

A couple of screenshots from when it passed Skelton webcam. The Pullmans look to have some sort of notice diagonally on the doors except the end door on the last Pullman. I can't see anything resembling a CDL light on the maroon Mk1 carriages.




Dave B

 

No CDL on any of the vehicles sitting in Waverley; WCRC staff member suggested a private wedding charter with no fare paying passengers on board!

 

Not entirely a surprise, and fairly obvious to most that it was highly unlikely CDL has now started to happen I should think

if he ran every trip with no fare paying passengers onboard he wouldn’t need CDL! Perhaps he should start offering the Jacobite for free but with a suggested donation!

 

The father of the bride must be minted.

One of the issues of Trackside last year actually quoted him as thinking of doing exactly that!

 

I suspect that the circumstances may not be well received by the ORR but if the operation is in accordance with the letter of the current regulations then they should either accept it (and keep quiet) or seek to change the relevant wording.

 

I think they have to be classed as “Not passengers”. So I would very heavily suspect today’s job is related to a staff member, etc.

But I believe other ways to get round it include not being fare paying, being invited by the operator to ride in a private train, etc. It’s very difficult to define sometimes, very much a grey area

 

The way to look at this is they are all “support coaches and kitchens” non of which require CDL. Cheeky but possibly not rule breaking.