Return of the Cotton Mill Express

Not a very practicable solution really, how long would it have taken to get a spare crew organised, get the loco out and down to Eccles to take over...

 

Commiserations to Brian, James, Mr Smith et al.

Yellow card to Mr 46236 for the most banal post of the day so far.

 

I don't think any of the locos at Steamtown which might be candidates are serviceable.

AN

 

Here is my video from this morning at Culcheth, not a very happy sight or sound to say the least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMFJgDbjR8

As Frank says above comiserations to all involved. Lets hope that WCRC get her sorted out soon.

Neil.

 

I understand that the 47 will tow the train to Man Vic where it will terminate.

AN

 

That's an awful lot of steam coming from where it shouldn't. WCRC guys must be feeling gutted at the moment.

 

Lightning strikes twice!

Stood waiting for it for 2 hours at Uppermill Viaduct last time, decided to watch it go past Chorley (where I live) first before departing today. Managed to get a couple of shots off, but the location by Euxton station is poor, so this was taken simply because I could.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theviewfromthenorth/4352861943/
I then made my way to Uppermill again, stood around for some time and was then told by two gentlemen that it had failed again! D'oh!

 

How much would that cost in hire fee's, transport costs, coal, water, and crewing for potentially not doing anything ?, just not viable with steam, and that's before maintenence schedules are accounted for.

WCRC seem to be having a bit of bad luck but they'll come back stronger for it, i just hope no one starts banging on about holding up other traffic as occasional failures do occur to all types of motive power, earlier in the week a 390 obliterated the overheads at Berkhampstead for example but you don't here calls for Pendo's to be removed.

 

Oh My God! TBirdFrank and DP266 in agreement!!!! Hold the front page!

 

It won't last.....

 

Dead right - for one he thinks the sun shines out of RTC!

Not so far as what they advertise and what they sell it doesn't!

 

What a sad, sad day for all concerned, the people with tickets, the operators, the crew, they must all be absolutely gutted. But, it's happened, it can't " unhappen " so I hope WCR pick themselves up by the bootstraps, fire in, get the job sorted, and move forward.
I really do feel down,. I remember the Scots from the 50's on the Liverpool- Newcastle over the hill on the Leeds "new" line. A fine sight and sound they were.

Best of luck fellas with the repairs.

 

My thoughts exactly,

How long does a repair like this take, as 46115 is due to doublehead with 70013 on the 'Help for Heroes' special in 6 weeks

Neil

 

I like TBirdFrank... he is one of my favourite toys! Hope I can buy him a pint one day... great fun and value!

Never had a bad experience with RTC so of course I support them. They don't own the loco's or stock so if something goes wrong in that department it's hard to apportion blame. Never had a bad meal on one of their trips... but that would be down to the caterers. They put on some great tours and take the financial risk that the return will follow. If they, and other outfits didn't take that risk we'd all be left with heritage sites and slow crawls behind steam. And no, I'm not knocking the heritage sites. I put my money there too.

 

Frustrating and disheartening day for WCRC I'm sure - not to mention the paying passengers and other parties involved. I wish them well in sorting it out. If anyone can, I'm sure they can.

Managed to catch her shortly after the Preston stop this morning. No great shakes but the video is short and at:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uKSsbjtMOg

Good luck WCRC - Chris

 

well, looking at the previous failure, 46115 was possibly 'not fit for purpose' and as a precaution a standby loco could have been an option in order to avoid a complete termination of the train

 

thats rich coming from you

 

Thought the previous failure had more to do with brakes on the stock and not the loco itself. Having a "spare" steam loco as a rescue is not a viable option really. Can't just fire them up with a key or a switch. Even Virgin have to wait for a diseasal to rescue the Pendolinos. Having been behind 46115 it strikes me that it is fit for purpose.