Dorset Coast Expresses - 2013 season

A more detailed word of explanation is perhaps required. 70013 was declared a failure, with leaking tubes, on return to Southall, on Monday afternoon. I then spent the rest of Monday afternoon/evening and Tuesday morning, see which other locos were available or prepared to stand-in.

Of the London-based locos, both Black 5s at Southall were unavailable, due to maintenance/repairs, 35028 were willing but already committed to the VSOE. 34046, the other obvious replacement, as it was part of the Weymouth 'pool' (and one which we could have brought back from Bristol to Southall, on Tuesday), was also stopped for on-going repairs, (since been rectified).

The only other loco willing and available was 60009, at Crewe, which could also have been worked down to Southall, on Tuesday afternoon. However, that came to nought, when, quite understandibly, given a notice of less than 24 hours, it was declined by NR, on gauging clearance. I should point out that, although a number of different types of steam loco were included in the pool, A4s weren't, for 2013, as none were expected to be at Southall. Gauge clearance is normally 'current' for a period of 12 months, from when the work is undertaken. NR's gauging engineers were sympathetic but simply couldn't run the clearance process (not a small task in itself, despite belief to the contrary), ion the time available. Although, of course, A4s have regularly worked to Weymouth, in the last few years, the last clearance was done some 15 months ago and the last A4 ('Bittern') ran a year ago.

Left with either a diesel-hauled train or cancellation, RTC opted for the latter - probably a case of damned either way but not after some little effort to try and keep the job running.

JS

 

Thank you for that. Numpties question - do NR charge per loco type? If not would it be prudent to add extras to the pool as back stops?

 

No, they don't but there is a limit to what you can reasonably ask, as the process actually takes several hours to run and is not, contrary to popular thought, the sole preserve of steam lcomotives - new-build vehicles are all put thruogh the system. For future operations, we have already added likely back-up locos, for gauging purposes, which should ease things and at least try to maintain steam operation and, in turn less disappointment.

When we worked out the pools, for all the regular jobs, both A4s were expected to be up North. I might add that 5029 was also offered but there is virtually no current data for 'Castles' on the Southern and previous experience with loco moves had been very restrictive. We have to accept what can be accommodated, rather than what should - and there is a big difference, which won't get solved on this forum!

 

Thank you for the explanation. <BJ>