Buxton Spa Express 7th May: now 17th September

Does anyone have/know any info on this tour as its not that far away? Will 70013 as advertised be ready to haul it in time as last I heard that it was still under repair at GCR? Or will we see something from the Carnforth fleet bringing it to Buxton?

 

Doubt it'll be 70013, which I understand went to Butterley for attention to its driving wheel (correct me if I'm wrong), so Carnforth pool is a better bet.

 

This has got Riley Rescue written all over it !

 

Just what we need. More uncertainty in a traumatic year... Good customer service involves rapid communication.

 

You've booked on it, then? I have and I'm not complaining if it's not 70013. The reason for the radio silence might be that they are still in negotiations with locomotive owners.

Whilst ideally there should be a continually updated website, as far as I'm concerned, as long as it gets from A to B by steam, there's no problem.

 

Won't they be off straight to Fort Bill after their involvement in GBIX? Wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being hauled by either Leander or Galatea or even both.

 

Good call, will have to wait and see. A Jube would be good over that route.

 

Actually yes. The whole family and not in the cheap seats...

I disagree. When it is KNOWN the service advertised will not run as per the marketing then customers should be informed. Route availability comes to mind. Will the replacement be suitably gauged for the route or can we expect changes to routes, timing etc. Less than three weeks out there should only be the uncertainty of the loco failing it's FTR or a catastrophic problem on the network.

 

I'm glad, as there's far too much sniping from the sidelines at the moment. But on the fundamental point you've raised, we'll have to agree to disagree, as I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't yet known what the final outcome will be. This is a market where the variables are astronomic, and to keep tabs on every single one is not necessarily possible.

This is how I understand the system, and its probably simplistic:

1. Pomoter proposes the tour
2. TOC provides initial feedback before submitting to NR- changes at this point could be posted online by the promoter
3. NR sit on it for eight weeks or more before touching it
4. Original locomotive choice fails to materialise
5. The promoter won't have anthing to report until the locomotive is known- this can take you to within a week of the off
6. NR provide route revisions to suit
7. The tour gets you from A-B on a modified route with a different locomotive

Yes, promoters should keep providing information if they can, but if its not getting passed-on for whatever reason, then the promoter is stuck between hell and a hard place. Suffice to say, their ability to continue operating within such an uncertain environment has gained my respect.

 

Actually I don't think we are that far apart..

With 2 & 3 there is the harsh fact that NR do not release the line until 12 weeks before travel. Try to book any journey more than 12 weeks and it is impossible because the TOC has been given access. So planning the route is one thing. 12 weeks from the Tour the route should be known to the TOC. Only last minute line issues may intervene. Maybe given that simple fact, at 12 weeks maybe the operator needs assurance of the loco and if that cannot be given then an alternative is sought out. Like you, I want to get from A to B with just steam. But I also want to know where I need to be an when to facilitate that.

 

There is also the possiblity that there is a difference between releasing the line for passenger TOCs and spot-hire TOCs, which is essentially what WCRC is. If such an arrangement exists, then I'd assume the latter is given lower priority than freight. Add activated Q paths into the mix (one of which I recall was surrendered for the Wansbeck to get to North Blyth in 2014), and you get the situation where NR themselves won't know the full situation until at most two weeks before.

 

Obviously I realise the whole point of this thread is that we don't know the route yet, but in previous years has this service run down the WCML between Victoria and Stockport (ie via Piccadilly), or an alternate route? I quite fancy catching a glimpse of it and am trying to work out where to be in the South Manchester/Stockport area.

 

Its down for Guide Bridge via Miles Platting; recent attempts to go via Hazel Grove have drawn a blank.

 

I had a feeling it would be that. Dagnabbit. Thank you.

 

Retuned to Loughborough GCR in February ,needs 20flue tubes fitting, if this work has started or finished I don't know.

 

Cheers.

 

Along time ago but S and D 2-8-0 13809 hit a bridge on the Hazel Grove route with a Sheffield to Carnforth spec 'on 31/10/1981.Slight damage to chimney but train continued on an hour or so late.

 

The hazel grove chord wasn't opened until 1986 for one thing, and I always thought the 7F hit a bridge in the Hope Valley.
As far as tbe Buxton Spa is concerned, the Hazel Grove route would have been the LNWR line to Buxton, whereas Guide Bridge routing would mean the MR line to Buxton via Chinley and Peak Forest.

 

The two Jubes between them have done the whole of this route in the last year except the Buxton bit and Blackburn to Manchester. I should think if there is a gauging issue it will be at Sough. But then who knows whether 70013 would have fitted over there anyway?

 

As I recall it the bridge was in the Belle Vue area. I think that more damage was done than just to the chimney rim because though the departure from Manchester Victoria was a little under an hour late by the time the train reached Carnforth it was about an hour and a quarter later than the booked departure time. It was due to arrive at 14:00 but we only just managed to beat 16:20. By the time Leeds was reached it was close on 21:15, a little under 4 hours late. S& D 7fs don't have the best of maximum steaming rates but 13809 could do quite a bit better than it did that day. I was fortunate to travel behind it on a few occasions. Today it is limited to preserved lines. But at least it is preserved and working.