Main Line Steam - Possible ramifications of the WCRC suspension

At the moment, certainly.

 

Without 4464, 5029,34046, 60009? The picture would be different. Any other dual brake loco? (45690?)

 

Yes, but wait a minute. They may hope to satisfy NR on the seven points. But don't forget the ORR and they can be nasty and tough which could scupper everything. Fingers crossed that this is not the case but it certainly is not over yet and although there is light at the end of the tunnel is just a teeny weeny dot just now.

 

I'm assuming the ORR trumps NR in all of this, and they have the final say?.......... which would mean WCRC are busy reinventing the wheel, whilst jumping through hoops........

 

Indeed and ruthless too. My brother's experience in the rail infrastructure maintenance sector confirms this. So it an't over until the fat lady, in the is case the ORR, sings.

 

With the current spell of dry weather in many parts of the country, which is forecast for another 5 days at least, it's likely we would have had some form of steam curtailment due to increased fire risk if trains were running.
Off to NYMR this weekend for a bit of steamy entertainment, Beamish festival of transport last weekend (Graham from Statfold on his steam shovel was wonderful to watch). Enthusiasts like all other animals need to adapt to survive!

 

That "teeny weeny" dot wasn't there a few days ago so let's just be a bit positive and hold on to the straw.

On a side note, Mr acorb mentioned the manager at GB Railfreight, that team run a weekly (usually Fridays) Deltic hauled service, so they're OK in my book.

 

If it was my business that was in the sort of trouble we have seen I'd be jumping through any hoop the authorities put in front of me......."yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir. Yes, you can send any inspectors you want in to monitor compliance".

 

Is David Smith a yorkshireman by any chance ? ever tried telling a Yorkshireman no you cant run your business like that?

 

Have the ORR banned WCRC? From what I've read, the current dispute and suspension arising is between WCRC and NR. If WCRC satisfies NR's requests, then the suspension should be lifted. It is clear that ORR have taken an interest and have some concerns, but I haven't read anything to suggest that they have implemented any kind of ban or restriction on WCRC. My guess would be that ORR's investigation will take considerably longer and it probably isn't realistic for them to extend a ban while this continues, as it would almost certainly be the end of WCRC and many of its supporting business' if it continued in place for many months.

It'll be interesting to see if WCRC apparent optimism is shared by NR - let's hope they have been working closely together to reach a resolution, in which case it should be! Further down the line, there may still be further ramifications from the ORR, but what's done is done and the clock can't be turned back. That just has to be dealt with if it arises.

 

I agree with all of that. A well-balanced view, it seems to me.

 

Quite so. The suspension was imposed by NR and was accompanied by a list of actions which it required to be done. If all of those are done to NR's satisfaction (and obviously there is room for dispute there) then NR cannot justifiably do other than lift the suspension. In those circumstances it seems inconceivable to me that ORR would initiate action which had the effect of preventing WCRC from trading whilst a protracted investigation was carried out. Administrative public law just doesn't work like that because any public body has a wary eye on its position should an aggrieved party go to the Courts. Once upon a time a colleague and I had the ability to take a certain course of action that would have resolved a problem in one location but caused others elsewhere by putting a company in a position where it could not continue to trade. We decided to give the company time to pull round; it didn't work and the company went into receivership. That was not a safety-critical matter but I am sure that the ORR would be very careful that action to put a company out of business would only be taken in circumstances where it could be fully justified to its political masters.

 

Mr Smith is indeed a successful Yorkshire business man.
When a good Yorkshireman is trapped in a corner he usually has enough sense to compromise.
Unlike a certain miners union leader from many years ago.

 

NR has indicated that the suspension will be lifted when its criteria has been met. That could be in advance of the middle of May deadline. Lets hope so. Yesterday's announcement from RTC regarding GBVIII definitely gives cause for optimism.
On the subject of the involvement of ORR, I'm certainly no expert but surely, if the points set out by NR are met and continued assurances are made regarding future compliance, then what purpose would a further suspension, or indeed complete revocation of WCR's safety certificate serve? The breach of safety policies being investigated by ORR, if proven, are more likely to result in a prosecution under health & safety legislation, with a resultant fine. I repeat, I'm no expert, but isn't that a more likely scenario?

 

No two sets of circumstances are the same but Appendix K of the RAIB report lists the actions which DCR took following the Stafford incident. I could imagine that is the template of what might be expected in this case although the particulars are of course different.

 

I guess the bottom line is that no one can be sure of who takes what action. What is sure is the the ORR are involved and from I remember reading, please correct me if I am wrong, is that there is the possibility of legal action again West Coast. Although I agree that West Coast could possibility continue running trains if they satisfy NR, it would be an uncomfortable "storm cloud" hanging over WCR's head and being able to sleep at night comes back to mind. All this said, I want to see steam and lots of it running again. My withdrawal symptoms would cause my GP concern the green light then all the better. One simply dreads the impact of a last minute spanner in the works!

 

Yes, I agree with those sentiments!
With apologies to Bill Shankley: "To you, mainline steam is a matter of life or death!' and I said 'Listen, it's more important than that".