Dorset Coast Expresses - 2013 season

Two engines, use them both seems sensible. Certainly the 33 up the bank out of Weymouth a couple of weeks ago needed a bit of puff from Braunton in the rain.

 

Still if you want a Routemaster and end up with a London bus you might be a bit understanding but you wouldn't do it twice.
Half a steam loco pushed by a diesel isn't what is advertised
Maybe a diesel at the back is cheaper than 400 £20 refunds for a no show.

 

Here is my short video of 45231 racing through Winchfield yesterday:

 

I think many here are misunderstanding the rider market as opposed to the watchers market. Surely this is about does the train run/not run. (With the possible exception of the Bittern flyers). Example - although in a preserved line setting my sister and I spent over a £1000 hiring a saloon earlier this year for a family event. People travelling from over 300 miles away to celebrate it with associated costs. Due to the coal crisis at the time we got 50/50 steam and diesel top and tailing. However the crunch is that even if it had been all diesel it ran and my Mother had her fantastic 90th birthday do. Someone made the same point the other day - if you've planned a day out and booked hotels far better it runs on time on the right day than gets changed.

I don't book mainline because it is too unreliable and is why the event above was planned for the NYMR not a network rail based tour.

 

Book a bus get a bus - happy. Book a train get a different train - fairly happy. Book a train - get a wasted hotel booking and new date when you can't change your shift etc,.... = seriously disgruntled person!

 

I wouldn't be surprised if there's still a fire risk, as I was at the Great Dorset Steam Fair yesterday & the show ground is dry as bone & very very dusty, they're actually watering the dirt roadways through out the site presumingly to reduce dust, and there was a small fire that was put out quickly in an arena shortly after the horse drawn steam powered fire appliance had passed!

 

It wasn't. Power on yes, full power no.

 

70013 re confirmed for next week......

 

Hi Ray , is 70013 working both directions on the 4th sept run ?? Thanks Phil

 

Yes it is-confirmed with ND at 21.00

 

Thanks Ray.

 

Is that a fire risk/diesel pilot issue or is there a problem with Braunton? Can't complain as a watcher if we only get one engine on Wednesday but two with steam banking would have been nice. Any idea if it will it be the 33 again (A photo north/eastbound could fill one of the gaps in my photo collection) or one of the other diesels?

 

Why on earth is 44932 working l/e from Bristol today when it could be working the return DCE back on Wednesday, banked by 70013? I don't see any futher duties for 44932 later this week, nor for 45231 forthat matter. I feel sorry for anyone who has booked on the DCE this year. I don't think there has been a single run yet utilising two steam locos as advertised. There was a shortage of suitable engines and a heatwave at the start of the season, but not now. Crazy.

 

There is still a shortage of locos, there is a steam ban on again, and the last thing you want on a tour at the moment is 44932. The way things are at the moment having a kettle on the tour at all is a bonus.

 

Read the Royal Duchy thread. 45231 has injector problems - hence 44932's late substitution. Have a listen to the videos posted in the Royal Duchy thread and then ask yourself whether 44932 is likely to be repaired by Tuesday morning when the FTR must take place? Even though she got the train home on Sunday, her owners won't want to risk using her on a paying job until they've fixed her. Then think about the current fire-risk issues. It's very likely that NR will require DL assistance, certainly for restarts/gradients across the New Forest.

 

Looks like she's fallen over............................... today's ecs move is cancelled http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54765/2013/09/02/advanced I said on Friday when I saw her come down that she didn't sound healthy, and got shot down in flames for it............................... then you read the comments from those following the Royal Dutchy.......................................

 

From my understanding the reason for the ecs cancellation is lack of diesel traction availablility. I cannot see 44932 being let loose on its own following the lineside fires it caused last Friday. If you say that the 5 is also a bit sick then that's a double whammy for the move.

 

I can only go by what I saw and heard on Friday, and then watching the video's of yesterdays run and reading peoples comments, a lot of others also seem to think that all is not well with 44932............. maybe the cancellation of the ecs, due to the box breaking down, might just be a blessing in disguise so that whatever is ailing her can be sorted before she moves again!

 

Althought the support crew could probably lash something together to get 44932 back to base, using the tools in the support coach, I wouldn't think they could attempt a proper repair. I strongly suspect that 44932 will need to return to Southall or possibly Carnforth before she can receive attention.

Anyway, bottom line is, 44932 won't be involved with this week's DCE. Maybe we should start a new thread to discuss 44932 in the Steam Traction section?

 

Depends entirely on what exactly is wrong with her, and as non of us know, all we can do is speculate.............................................