SVR General Discussion

I am reminded how the Cumbres & Toltec deal with this situation, with one following every train. But then, they don't have tokens.

 

Flat?

 

Even if you have tokens, you could do such things with “staff and ticket” type arrangement. (i.e. the driver of the train is shown the token, and then collects a ticket that gives authority to proceed, “and the token will follow”). The issue then becomes that the following vehicle needs a procedure for following through the section (with the token) on a “line of sight” basis. But I am sure on a heritage line you could write suitable procedures.

A practical issue would be how close to follow behind. Too close and the risk is you may miss a fire that hasn’t established. Too far and you might as well allow the next train through the section to inspect, particularly on a busy day. But it could be an option to use on days with a sparse service, or to follow the last train of the day.

Tom

 

Thanks Martin, obviously what I heard the other week week was obviously complete BS then, as I did say I wasn’t trying to stir anything up, I just found it concerning.

 

North Norfolk is (and like SVR has a 60s themed event this weekend, with three locos booked out on originally and now all diesel, with steam shunting at Holt).

 

My local news feeds are all full of SVR stuff, so the SVR PR team has been going full pelt. At time of writing, there are 3 separate articles on the Worcester News home page all about the railway.

 

I saw a video from the weekend at the Churnet Valley and they have managed with Steam workings and they have steep gradients from what i remember?

 

The Cauldon Lowe Branch is steep but not the main part of the railway, AIUI (see the gradient thread).

We have pretty sustained 1 in 75 and sections as steep as 1 in 55 on the Bluebell, and have continued to run steam all this year. But I guess each line has their own judgement of risks with a lot of factors going into the calculation. It does feel though that a number of lines have erred on the cautious side this year. There could easily be factors unseen to outsiders such as discussions they may or may not have had with their insurers, for example.

Tom

 

The West Somerset Railway is for one. D7018 is assisting 9351 this afternoon and D6566 is assisting 7828 ‘Odney Manor’. Both diesels are positioned behind the tender.

The railway is very long. No chance of the next train stopping to extinguish a lineside fire. <BJ>

 

None of which have mentioned diesels! I can predict how the comments section of the Worcester News will look once Flying Scotsman passengers find between them and the magic chuff there is a whistling Class 20 drowning out all other sounds!

 

What about the weight restriction on Victoria Bridge?

 

The restriction applies to every day operations and can be wavered at the discretion of the Infrastructure Manager and Structural Engineer for a set number of times per period of time.

I believe A3/20 come in at around 225 tons for the pair. The pair of Manors at Spring gala fell around the same mark. And again very similar operating instructions apply

 

This is why I attended the Rail 200 event instead and am looking forward to the Autumn gala, far more interest as an enthusiast and a good celebration of the 60th Anniversary.
However, I am not going to object to the railway cashing in on the Flying Scotsman circus right at the start of the school holidays after the year they've had - good luck to them. I (gladly) won't be there.

 

You could argue that the fire risk was more severe for the 200 weekend than it is currently. It's great that the SVR will do well from having Scotsman. I just feel sorry for the paying passengers who won't hear a thing.