Lincoln Imp 12th March 2011

Oh dear. Not again! Last week's Cardiff trip underlined why dedicated steam buffs find it difficult to accept a diesel on the back. If it is switched out, that is not so bad but the reality is that more often than not, irrespective of whether the steam loco is class 5 or class 8, the dreaded box shoves at times!

Surely there are paths for diesels to run Lighte Engine (to Lincoln in this case)?

 

What do you honestly expect? As long as it continues, people will complain about it. If you do not want it discussed on the forum, then it should stop. People are getting ripped off enough in this country as it is (ie fuel) without this.

 

Well,the situation in the last few occasions has been where 44932 for instance has taken a train booked for a Class 7/8 loco,so obviously needs a bit of a shove to keep time. If last week had of been Cromwell there wouldn't have been any shoving.

 

Since when? I'd argue at least 9 times out of ten there's no assistance en-route at all. Obviously there'll be a shove out of Victoria but after that Cromwell should be fine - after all, this was timed and the load agreed with 70013 in mind unlike the Cardiff trip. Its great when the diesel can follow behind LE, but people have to accept that it isnt always possible or desirable - you'll just have to live with it.

Chris

 

Maybe a new Title / Thread starter could be set up for Diesel assisted steam could be set up

and then members can put there views under that category rather than bombarding steam threads.

Mike M. (70c)

 

I'm told the load is just nine vehicles, support coach included, so I doubt the 47 will be called on to to anything to assist 70013 barring an emergency.

 

There is, job to find it. Could it be made a sticky please.

http://railways.national-preservati...rs-And-Diesels.?highlight=diesels+steam+tours

 

I am speaking as I find, not my intention to drag this or any other forum down. I presume you are talking about "The W***s". People have a lot less spare cash these days of recession with daily essentials going up & up. So therefore have a lot less to spend on leisure & luxuries, so expect to get what they pay for. My circumstances have certainly changed, so I will not be spending any little spare cash I've got on steam tours which can't be relied on to be 100% steam, barring breakdowns on the day.

 

Have to say I completely agree with what you say here. It is the total unpredictability which is so infuriating,last summer during that rather short hot spell when fire risk was a big worry,had a frankly very dull Cathedrals trip to Worcester with Nunney Castle with(ultimate nightmare) the box inside behind the loco.Put that down to bad luck,then the very next day,same hot weather,another trip to much the same part of the country,different TOC,DBS not WC,behind KE1 out of Paddington and guess what? No box!

As with a lot of others,this is a massive issue for me,and a major disincentive to booking.Sorry but I feel that we should be talking about it .

 

If you want to miss out then by all means, but please dont give the impression that a diesel means assistance - that is not normally the case. On the few occasions it is, such as the Cardiff trip, its usually obvious in advance if its been put on for performance reasons instead of just operational ones. In this case it seems highly unlikely to be anything but the latter, so i dont see what the fuss is about - poor timings have a much, much greater effect on the quality of a railtour than a diesel on the back providing some extra weight.

Chris

 

Away from all this talk of diesels and steam tours. Do we know which loco is on tomorrows train yet?

 

37706 and 47500 showing at Southall on TOPS yesterday, would guess the latter if there is no other means of heating the train.

 

Revised return times now up on uk steam.

Mike M.(70c )

 

70013 through South Acton a few minutes early at 0849 in a light drop of sunshine. Great to see her back in action.

 

Through Wellingborough at 11:00. Should be about ten minutes to the Kettering water stop.

 

Saw Ollie just north of St. Albans this morning. Looked good and sounded magnificent as it accelerated the train up to the summit at Sandridge. The 37 on the back seemed as dead as a Dodo.

 

70013 through Loughborough on time (13.12) but very sedate progress as it was on the slow line.