The 10A Allocation

Without air brakes on them or CDL fitted vac stock the question still remains... why bother with all this, albeit I suppose the staff members who would normally have been maintaining a pretty extensive (And extensively used) fleet will have had time on their hands for the last couple of years so swift progress is hardly unexpected.

 

That is true but it is the province of one man's wishes and whims so impossible to deduce from the outside.

 

The most recent images I've seen are from April 2024 where 34016 is parked outside and doesn't look as if an overhaul had commenced.

 

34016 has donated alot of small and large components to 35018 and 34067. I am under the impression that there is absolutely no intention of ever doing it as things stand. It and 34073 are there purely as strategic spares.

48151, 45110 and 6201 are the main focus of work.

45593 hasn't been touched since it arrived.

 

48151 has been done for a while. Hasn’t been the subject of work for quite some time now.

 

Surprising it hasn't had an outing with a a Chairman's special really, being the pet.

 

Why start racking up the mileage and ticket on it when it can’t be used fully? Maybe if MK1s returned…..How nice would that be! People would probably still moan!

 

That's a shame about 34016 if correct- it was a decent performer and seemed quite popular when on operation, and was complete.

 

It seems very strange for a businessman like Mr Smith who is obviously very financially aware, to spend time and resources restoring steam locos to just sit around doing nothing! I understand it is his perogative, they are his toys after all, and whilst they are not technically losing him money, they are not making money either. Perhaps it is simply the enjoyment of knowing they are ready to go whenever they are needed?

 

Tax write off.

Might as well have the benefit of the locos being rebuilt, and lose the cost against tax.

 

I’ve become increasingly curious as to the inner workings of WCRC what with the ongoing CDL saga and motive power issues, so in an attempt to discover how Mr Smith manages to carry on unfettered like some kind of steam Trump I’ve had a poke around inside Companies House …..

Following two resignations in March, WCRC now has three directors, Mr Smith himself, the company secretary, one Christine Smith of the same abode and vintage, and a Patricia Marshall.
So it seems unlikely that there is likely to be much dissension in the ranks with regard to Smith’s chosen course of action.

Delve deeper, follow the money if you will, by clicking on Smith to find what other companies he holds directorships in. A look at TWRC is particularly recommended, esp if you then click on the company, its history and turn over of directors (clue, was Wensleydale Railway Co until mid 2025).

Your starter for 10 (A) ….

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03066109/officers

 

If you think the structure of William Smith (Wakefield) Ltd is slightly complicated. Try any number of bigger companies and you will find multiple layers of holding companies, with ownership crossing over multiple times during the annual cycle of Confirmation Statements.

At least with William Smith (Wakefield) Ltd and subsidiary companies, the buck stops with the outright owner.

 

I’m not suggesting it’s particularly complex, I’m pointing out just how autocratic it all is.

 

Wasn't that one of the problems ORR identified and required structural changes in operational governance, management of health and safety etc before lifting suspension of the TOC licence?
It's all very well a private business being run autocratically by a single owner if it's selling coal or arable farming, for example, but running a train operating company the same way is a different matter altogether. The risks are much greater and wider of impact. So I don't share your confidence that the buck stopping with one man is such a healthy corporate position.

 

The interactions between public or private companies and the general public are complex and contested and it is not enough to rely on regulating bodies. For example, a momentary consideration of the relationships between OFWAT, the water industry and the Government will highlight a number of issues. In an age when so-called private equity and leveraged transactions are commonplace, public scrutiny of businesses, large or small, is imperative.

 

The impact on RTC is interesting as ive argued that they should have spread their risk some time ago by using other TOCs (similar to UK Railtours), but someone responded to say there was a corporate link between RTC and West Coast, so that was highly unlikely.

 

All sounds fine in principal but where would you get the stock and the crews from?
Do not see LSL being interested, Vintage (why not run it yourself) DBC focus on Belmond.
The bar to entry is very high.
UKR of course are mainly diesel tours where there are options for a TOC to operate and the stock seems to be coming from ERS, although not appreciated by many if you read other forums.

 

Well unless you dip your toe in the water then there is no way the market will expand - its all supply and demand. Note my words 'spreading the risk', I am not saying ditch West Coast altogether.
DBS have proven they have resource that can cover the East Coast and some of the London market. They were willing to run Tornado in Scotland not so long ago.
Eastern Rail Services are expanding stock and Nemesis Rail are supposedly developing a charter rake. Can't see how its any worse than what West Coast are turning out now?
Allowing DB to run a couple of Edinburgh trips with say Tornado or perhaps their Weymouth programme would be a toe in the water and see where it could lead. With Tornado you have a loco that can run 10 - 15 charters a year at 75mph with any stock, anywhere. Flying Scotsman has no other mainline work booked this year, RTC used to work with both locos frequently.
Unfortunately the UK railtours trial with Flying Scotsman last year didn't exactly go to plan..but it proved the ingredients were there to do things differently.