71000

Well my guess is that your guess is well wide of the mark there Al. People dont make decisions like that without running them by the boss first.

Don't you think that there is enough NP wibble about LSL/WCR as it is without you adding to it?

Peter

 

I fully agree with you Peter. The boss will 100% have known, and to make such a comment as Al did is daft. I’m very surprised in general by the whole “surprise” reaction at LSL/WCR collaborating given it’s happened before and no doubt will continue to happen again.

Fantastic to see 71000 swiftly repaired, and hopefully it’ll have a successful 7 years or so trotting around the mainline.

 

I do not think it was that surprising, even at the height of court cases and "the dustbin issue" BA still loaned parts to Virgin in times of difficulty. Sometime operational need overcomes an amazing amount of antagonism between parties.

 

But your guess was "Mr Smith knew nothing about it"....

 

I'm sure if a WCR loco broke down at Crewe LSL would be only too happy to lend a hand. Both companies are united by a single shared passion.

 

This cooperation between LSL and WCRC reminds me of the response to the landslip in Folkestone Warren which blocked the South Eastern main line to Dover in January 1877. At that time, the SER was in fierce competition with the London, Chatham & Dover Railway for the cross-channel traffic and there was little love lost between Sir Edward Watkin and James Staats Forbes, the respective chairmen of the two companies. On hearing of the disaster however, Forbes immediately offered the South Eastern the use of the LC&DR line, saying "You cannot get with the mails to Dover; we are partners in the mails and other business to Dover. Take them over our railway."

 

WCRC do have form for refusing to co-operate, recently changing their mind about operating Tornado, and some years ago refusing to allow their coaches to be hauled by Tornado. In both those cases they had their reasons, whether or not convincing reasons; whereas I suppose they have no reason not to co-operate with the LSL empire. They are competitors to some extent but they mostly operate in different markets.

Was it mere good luck that DoG was at Carnforth when it broke down or did the crew choose to limp there as the best place to stop?

 

Those feel like commercial and/or contractual arrangements where the consequences of an ill-advised or unplanned approach could be significant. If operating a loco leads to a cost for the owner and the operator had not stringently met the conditions of the contract, the legal ramifications could be significant. In comparison, lending some spanners, a siding, a crane or a turntable, to a loco in need for a few hours on a 'best endeavours' basis, feels a lot less risky.

Simon

 

Theres some footage just after Lancaster (DoG goes bang), the very even chatter suddenly changes.
Apparently one of the tappets sticks with an associated loss of valve function... In hindsight Could probably have made Carlisle, but having a depot just up the road ....

 

...along with a lot of puffs of black smoke mixed in with the steam.