6023 + 6024 Double Header to Plymouth - 10 March 2012 - UK Steam

Yes it would ....but it's not happening. Let's hope Tornado rescues the day and puts on a good show between Paddington and the west country. <BJ>

 

Has anyone got the ECS times please?

 

"SD cannot be held responsible for the non-availability of 6024 and 71000". I quite agree, BUT: SD are now hiring only one steamer plus a stinker...saving on costs...and, being SD, said stinker is going to be running directly behind Tornado, instead of being attached to the rear, where it would not have contaminated views of the proper locomotive. So our party will not be bothering travelling from Exeter to Plymouth and back, as photography will be pointless. A 10% discount is derisory under the circumstances - and I shall be saying as much to MR and GB. I do take issue with some comments made by other posters. Have you ever ASKED anyone in so-called premier dining or "first class" whether they are enthusiasts? If you did, I think you would find there are a fair number. The food may often be lamentable and the service amateur, but if the tour goes tits up at least you can usually get a drink...and without having to queue for it! We have not booked on the trip with Braunton as we don't think it will run, (Does anyone know better?) and has the resignalling down to Exeter been completed?

 

Don't understand..... if you were originally going to travel on to Plymouth what has photography got to do with it? I also don't understand the comment about "being SD, said stinker is going to be running behind Tornado." As has been explained several times on this forum it is the TOC who decide whether a diesel is used and if so where it is attached, so I would guess this is a DB Schenker decision.

As for whether diners are enthusiastic who knows? I guess there must be some enthusiasm there as there are much cheaper ways of dining out than going on a steam tour!

 

Sorry? Railway enthusiasts/photographers/video-ers who travel on and thus pay for these trains to run usually like to hang out of the window and watch photograph or video the locomotive at work. If you are a steam buff there's little point in doing this if there's a diesel running directly behind the steam locomotive, and no point whatsoever if you're there purely for steam locomotive performance. If the diesel was banking, and Tornado being given her head then I might get some decent shots at least.
As to the positioning of diesel assistance, I must have been misinformed by tour operator (not ToC) top brass, as my own not inconsiderable steam railtour experience suggests that's not necessarily the case. On 9th July 2010, for instance, due to fire risk, SD ran the Arthur down to Swanage with a diesel directly behind it, resulting in a pointless journey for both steam enthusiasts and photographers while RTC ran its Dorset Coast Express with 46115 and a diesel at the rear...wish I'd been on THEIR train!

 

Ah yes, I forgot about the window hanging photters - I'm not into that, but I do sympathise if you are!

On the point about diesels Mr Shuttleworth from WCRC who sometimes posts on this forum made it clear that this kind of thing is their decision, not that of the Tour Operator. Referring to 9th July 2010 the difference was not because of the Tour Operator but because the fire risk from the two locos was judged to be different - 46115 was deemed to be less of a risk so the diesel was attached to the rear.

 

I have said many times that the Messrs. Bunker and Robertson do more than anyone else in the mainline steam movement to provide what we want more than anything else - steam on the mainline. They are passionate in the quest to deliver memorable steam tours but just every now and again things go wrong as this tour is an example of this. But at the end of it all, the reality is that SD is not at fault in any way shape or form. It is the non availability of locomotives which has scuppered their plans.

This old firm of "Bunker & Robertson" has given the UK more steam tours than anyone else in the last ten years. Just look at what is coming up in 2012 and you will see what I mean. Take the 9th July anniversary of the end of Southern steam with Clan Line, absolutely brilliant - potentially! Reality is that if 35028 suffers a last minute failure then again their plans will potentially be scuppered.

I would simply say that we should all be grateful for what they have done and at the same time be understanding of the difficulty when faced with non-availability of locomotives.

For us steam fans, life without Steam Dreams would be a disaster to contemplate. So PLEASE support them through THICK & THIN no matter how disappointed you may be just now!

Nick

 

Well said - they don't always get enough credit for what they do. I will continue to support them although I'm not sure I agree with the Premier Standard class they are introducing.

 

Just off the phone to N.D. who is "enjoying" Cleethorpes before the 70013 trip tomorrow. I asked him what his plan "B"had been if 70013 had not been ready for tomorrow. The reply was that Ian Riley had agreed to provide 45407 for Clee-N.E. once the failure took place. We then talked about many other steam issues (mainly Indian steam proposals+a poss Kenyan steam trip)

Then I thought. Could 45407 have gone L.E. to Exeter + piloted 60163. I.R. works with EWS yet using his locos has not really been discussed on this thread. Once 70013 was repaired 45407 became available(I imagine)
I wonder whether 45407 was requested. This very heavily booked special would have looked good with a "5" on the front.
One issue is the 60mph max. However,I think(but am not certain)that cl66 diesels are also 60mph max.It would cost to bring 45407 to Southall.

I presume the 66 will be on the front Ply - Exd to assist the detaching at Exd. Is this the case?(+ I hope its not!!)
As I am passionate about steam west of Exeter I wish this tour every success. It would be interesting to know if every loco passed to work with Db was considered+exactly what the problem is with 6024---what it the "late notice"that was difficult or a mechanical/paperwork issue.

Pad - Ex should be excellent even if the 66 is somewhat noisy over the banks!!

 

DB class 66s have a top speed of 75 mph. <BJ>

 

There are a few originally modified for use in France which have returned with a max speed of 60.

 

Left 8:06 load 14 includes gen. car.

 

Reported dep Slough on time at 08:39.

Do we know which rake of stock is being used today? Presumably the gen car is the all blue Mk2. <BJ>

 

Yeahaaa. 14 pages and over 12,500 views and we can now actually read about the train running. (wink).

 

I claim to be a rail enthusiast. I often travel in premier dining. I reckon that on average about a third of diners can be classed as enthusiasts. As I often am, many are accompanied by their partner. The food is sometime acceptable but it's not ever very good. I look back fondly to the 80s when dining was provided by BR crews who knew how to do it properly.

 

Wow - 14 on - that should make for some serious work for Tornado & her crew! Hopefully she'll be allowed to do the lion's share of the work over the South Devon banks too . I'm out of the UK at present, but look forward to updates throughout the day

 

Arrived Newbury water stop on time but just left 10 minutes late!

 

Her she is coasting through Langley this morning - I am beginning to hate that damn LED headlamp - plays havoc with the camera's light meter!!!!

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