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Cath Ex - Swanage 10th July

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by mrKnowwun, Jul 7, 2014.

  1. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    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.
     
    mrKnowwun, Jul 7, 2014
    #1
  2. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    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..
     
    buseng, Jul 8, 2014
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  3. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    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....?
     
    alastair, Jul 8, 2014
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  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Think of all the food going to waste and the penalty clauses from the catering company.
     
    Big Al, Jul 8, 2014
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  5. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    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?
     
    buseng, Jul 8, 2014
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  6. Uncoupled

    Uncoupled New Member

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    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.
     
    Uncoupled, Jul 8, 2014
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  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Date - 2014. The deal is:
    - Pay us money for a day out to a given destination via a route that may change.
    - Pay us more money and we will give you a roomy seat but Standard is also good.
    - Pay us even more more money and we will feed you en route.
    - We undertake to involve a steam locomotive for part or all of the journey, probably in each direction, but this may change.
    - We may have to substitute a diesel or add one for operational reasons or because Network Rail says we must.

    That's how I see it and that's what I understand when, and if, I book. Not ideal but someone suggest a better arrangement unless people genuinely think that the tour operators and/or TOCs are doing it to be difficult.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2014
    Big Al, Jul 8, 2014
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  8. Desert Songster

    Desert Songster New Member

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    .
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2015
    Desert Songster, Jul 8, 2014
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  9. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Last edited: Jul 9, 2014
    RalphW, Jul 9, 2014
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  10. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

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    Wait a moment. This is relevant though with why Ollie staying in the shed and not on this tour.
     
    mike1522, Jul 9, 2014
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  11. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Just been told that motive power for this run is class 47 outward trip, class 37 return trip.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2014
    green five, Jul 9, 2014
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  12. johnnew

    johnnew Member

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    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.
     
    johnnew, Jul 9, 2014
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  13. 45669

    45669 Part of the furniture

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    Realtime Trains are still showing a lengthy stop at Winchfield. Would they still stop there if it's diesel hauled?
     
    45669, Jul 10, 2014
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  14. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Might stop, probably not, but RTT will still show the existing schedule merely adjusting estimated times after the stop if they don't.
     
    mrKnowwun, Jul 10, 2014
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  15. 45669

    45669 Part of the furniture

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    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.
     
    45669, Jul 10, 2014
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  16. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Through West Byfleet on time, 47237 thrashing up front, 37706 dead on the back, unhappy looking pax in the middle.
     
    mrKnowwun, Jul 10, 2014
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  17. banana patch

    banana patch Member

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    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!
     
    banana patch, Jul 10, 2014
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  18. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Here is the problem.

    Scenario 1 - Day trip by SWT to Swanage from Woking.
    Return fare purchased the night before to Wareham - £40.40 plus transfers = £50/55. (Add £8 if bought on the day). One third less with a Student or Senior Rail Card.
    Travel by any train. As long as you like at Swanage plus travel on the steam service if you wish.

    Scenario 2 - Day trip by SD to Swanage from Woking.
    Return fare of £99 (probably reduced because of diesel traction to £89 plus voucher).
    Travel by stipulated train. Three hours at Swanage to travel on the steam service if you wish or see the resort but not both.

    I know that this is not the fault of SD. Of all the issues they have to deal with over motive power, the need or not for diesel involvement etc...the FBU dispute must be the last straw (especially bearing in mind Network Rail's uncompromising view of the situation) but such is risk assessment in 2014.

    Sadly the sums just don't add up.
     
    Big Al, Jul 10, 2014
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  19. 45669

    45669 Part of the furniture

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    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.
     
    45669, Jul 10, 2014
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  20. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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

     
    mrKnowwun, Jul 10, 2014
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