Cath Ex - Swanage 10th July

From the FBU web site

Firefighters in England and Wales will join hundreds of thousands of other public sector workers taking strike action on Thursday 10 July, the Fire Brigades Union has announced.


From the Steam Dreams Web Site

We have been informed by Network Rail that if the threatened Fire Brigade Union strike goes ahead on Thursday they will not allow steam on the National Network during the hours of the strike. If the strike does go ahead then that unfortunately will mean this trip will have to be diesel hauled – we very much hope that this does not happen.

Ergo, I feel that 70013 will be having a day off in bed. As will Pew, Pew, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble & Grubb.

 

If that happens let everyone on this trip put a claim into the FBU or whatever they are called for a full refund plus expenses..

 

SD could of course do the decent thing and just cancel it,enabling the unfortunate punters to rebook or have a refund and thus avoid not getting what they have paid for. They have enough time to let people know. But I think we all know that won't happen....?

 

Of course it won't. The very best the punters could hope for is a partial refund (very partial) or a voucher against a future tour.
Has been said many times before but will repeat, will is desperately needed is a steam tour watchdog to deal will all these various incidents regarding people not getting what they pay for or as advertised. They should be very thorough as well.
Something along the lines with the various OFxxxx organisations or trading standards.
Isn't this what SLOA did many years ago?

 

Why?
NR have decided to not allow steam to run if the strike goes ahead, not the FBU.
Seems a perfectly reasonable decision to me.

 

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Wait a moment. This is relevant though with why Ollie staying in the shed and not on this tour.

 

Just been told that motive power for this run is class 47 outward trip, class 37 return trip.

 

Thanks for the heads up, that's saved my diesel cost to/from Corfe Castle & Swanage for tomorrow then as I'll be out that way on Saturday anyway.

 

Realtime Trains are still showing a lengthy stop at Winchfield. Would they still stop there if it's diesel hauled?

 

Might stop, probably not, but RTT will still show the existing schedule merely adjusting estimated times after the stop if they don't.

 

What a swizz! I'm glad I didn't book to go on it. There's been a bit of rain lately so I wouldn't have thought that there was that much of a fire risk today.

 

Through West Byfleet on time, 47237 thrashing up front, 37706 dead on the back, unhappy looking pax in the middle.

 

It is a swizz although no fault of s d another nail in coffin of mainline steam im afraid just make sure you consult T U C before booking next trip!

 

The whole idea idea of a main line run with steam is a main line run with steam; the destination is secondary. The extra cost is because it's steam - or supposed to be - and that is what I would be paying for.

If I just wanted a day out in Swanage with Swanage being the main attraction, I'd probably patronize South West Train and get a third off with my railcard. The bus from Wareham would be free with my bus pass.

I can see the need for diesels when the countryside is tinder dry, but I would not have thought that was the case today.

 

I was on my way to Waitrose, so whipped out the vid cam