Diesels on steam tours

Full marks to Steam Dreams yesterday for running the train without any assistance.Due comment has been made about the operating around Hastings and I have nothing further to add except that they managed at the second attempt unassisted.Well Done.
Lets hope the new order continue with this action.
Good Luck.

 

But would Southern agree that it was so good when they had to cancel services and lay on buses at their expense?

 

From reports I have read it seems this incident was simply due to someone in a signalling centre making a mistake. We are all human and all make mistakes and I do think the matter should not be over dramatised. I'm sure Steam Dreams are trying to rid themselves of the image that seemed to develop last year that the their trains usually had diesels attached on the back and I do not believe one mistake should warrant reverting to such a policy. One would hope that "Southerrn" were understanding. I guess the line was cleared quicker than would have been the case had diesel hauled freight broken down somewhere.
Well done to NR, WCRC and Steam Dreams for the way the incident was dealt with.

 

As said in the dedicated thread, the PMR Tours Cuneo Centennial will now only be hauled Waterloo-Salisbury-Waterloo by 6233, and Salisbury-Yeovil Junction-Salisbury by a WCRC diesel, more than likely a class 47.

 

57601 is working the ECS to Clapham Yard, so chances are it will be that.

 

Oh great!
We have 57601 tomorrow!

Someone, kill me now! ](*,) :-({|=

 

Enjoy the Duchess to Salisbury and back before you do that. <BJ>

 

Hmm
I suppose so.
I also have her to Scarborough next week.
Whoop! Yet another long day with the Duchess!
And, even better, it means I only have 1 day to get her clean, and that's Wednesday after school!
Ahh well, someone else should d some on her anyway. lol

 

I can confirm that, the whole lot came down a couple of paths infron t of the Duchess though Hemel. Now would it not make better sense (and look better to us on the lineside) to have attached the stock to the steamer and used that for motive power from somewhere like, say, Nuneaton

 

Could they not then have run a "mini tour" to somewhere like, say, Watford calling at Rugby, Northampton and Kilton Keynes?

 

Vintage Trains should have stuck to one of their steam locos today for their Tyseley to the south coast charter. The class 50 diesel failed at Elstree and the train had to be dragged back to Tyseley. No happy punters today. ](*,)
<BJ>

 

Well,I had to endure yesterday the return trip from Poole to Waterloo with a diesel at the rear of the train with the engine running.Whilst it seems that possibly the start from Poole may have been assisted,(not absolutly sure if it did),I believe that the ambiance of a 40 year anniversary was lost because of that factor.There was no assistance on the bank and also it seems for the rest of the journey to London.
The point of my message,well with the diesel on the 13 coach train,although it was keeping time,starts were a little pedestrian and it was too heavy to move from a standing start.If the load had been eleven then the diesel could have been left behind,a different platform being used at Waterloo.
Disapointed with Hertfordshire for not informing in their advertising that they would have a diesel on the train on the return journey.I would not have booked if I had known.They were being greedy for the profit.Won't be trusting them again.
Full marks to the EWS crews for there efforts.

 

Apparently the diesel though wasn't providing any assisstance out of Poole and from what I've heard meant that Clan Line hauled the heaviest train up Parkstone Bank in prservation, so consider yourself lucky.

 

God you're a miserable bar-steward. I thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic tour, as did everyone else on board, and that's even taking into account the fact that I utterly despise GM locomotives. You aren't, perchance, the passenger in coach G who rather testily informed me that "You're not supposed to put your head out the windows.", are you? If so, then I hope you enjoyed your extra seat, because there was no way I wanted to spend the entire tour sat next to a whinger!

When other people have suffered complete failures and cancellations leading to all kinds of disappointment and loss of money (for punters AND loco owners/support crews/tour companies), a possible quick shove to get us on our way, and an extra dead weight for the return trip are nothing in comparison. It even made 35028 work a bit harder...a bonus for anyone listening, recording, or filming!

 

Mallard,
No I was not the person in coach G.I would have told him to mind his own business.
Also I don't care what happens on other trains I am only interested in the trains I spend money on and what enjoyment I get out of it.If i'm selfish so be it.
I would add that I feel for the people booked on the other trains and I hope that they all get the money that they are due.That won't however compensate for the dissapointment, especially with the schedule on the outbound leg of todays train.
Finally please refrain from the profanity however camoflarged.

 

So what exactly did the diesel do on the train which ruined your enjoyment of what seemed to be an excellent trip? From what I've heard it was a fabulous trip and the diesel did no work. Just be greatful you got a ride behind Clan Line which is rare and stop moaning about a dead weight on the back.

 

David,
The diesel by being there ruined my enjoyment.Also the train was too heavy at over 600 tons for the bank out of Poole (8.5 MPH at the slowest point) and up to Worting (mid 40's in MPH).If the climbs had been in poor weather we would have been pushed.
Please don't tell me to be greatful.I am the only person to make that desision.You will be telling me how to spend my time and money next.

 

I for one would have been glad of a diesel on the back of my tour yesterday, but can only say so in hindsight.

If the 37 was on our train, it could have run round us at Westbury and taken us home I am led to believe. I would have thought the Steam Dreams staff would have preferred that too. Then the stock would have made it to Stewarts lane and I would be behind Tangmere at the moment.

 

Then why don't you enquire with the tour operator before booking so you are not left dissappointed again in the future?

 

Well,I had to endure yesterday the return trip from Poole to Waterloo with a diesel at the rear

Well to be honest with you, i feel sorry for the diesel, the thought of having to spend more than 1 minute in your company is enough to make you think twice about booking a railtour.

Just think, that poor diesel probably complained to EWS about you being on the train yesterday and will ask for its money back.............