The Steam Ban around York

Ah, WNXX. Not one I read anymore but I shall have a gander - thanks.

 

You have to be registered to read it.

 

I'm pleased someone's making some noise about the current steam ban around York, Scarborough, Yorkshire...

No steam on the Scarborough Spa's, no Scarborough Flyers, Waverley's diesel to Hellifield.... the worst summer for steam for years in the north, and it's thrown it down most of the week with thunderstorms this afternoon...

This part of the country's a lot worse without WCRC's steam without a doubt.

 

For those of you not registered on WNXX, XCo1 wrote,

"Regardless of what happened Saturday, I think most will agree that WCRC are a very shabby operator. It amazes most people I know as to how they continue to operate. Lots of the stock should never be in service with severe amounts of rust etc visible. One of the worst sets has to be the morning jacobite rake where here are holes/gaps in every corridor, some of the door bolts are rusted and don't work etc. One particular concern on that, is that on departure from mallaig, the guard T key locks all doors on the offside! That is extremely unsafe! I am aware from members of WCRC staff who are friends that hours regularly exceed legal requirements etc also and we all know that route knowledge often isn't as good as it should be!
I stand by what I said. I'm of no doubt that WCRC amongst others need a reality check from HMRI/ORR. The same could also be said in the way which some charter operators perform. From experience, UKR seems to be one of the best and professional."

 

That's the main one, and a few later ones in the thread along similar lines, few slanderous accusations there IMO, though if the accusation that XC01 is Mr Heywood of mass ticket frauding fame is true, perhaps we shoulden't be surprised.

 

Travelled on the Jacobite a couple of weeks ago and the stock was superb.

 

I too travelled on the Jacobite end of last season and found nothing wrong with the stock

 

I suspect that once Mr Shuttleworth becomes acquainted with the quoted missive from XC01 he will take the appropriate action against said critic - and legal fees can prove quite expensive.

 

"Hasta la vista baby"

 

henrywinskill likse this

 

You know 46115 did the same thing last summer as 5972 did this summer. 60009 caused a fire a couple of weeks ago. WCRC have been tredding in thin waters with the scot 2012 and 2013.

 

Given WCRC do the overwhelming share of steam these days, that seems a bit unfair, DBS can't start any fires if they are running sod all.

 

I just need to settle down and a be more patient. It is hard, gruelling work all of these companies, and locomotive owners have to do to runs these tours. I really feel bad about the York ban because, the city is a big hub for where so many of the tours originate during the Summer. Everybody has been affected.

 

David Smith has released a Press Notice which indicates (a) the individual who has made the decision regarding York area restrictions and (b) the cost to the local economy as people do NOT visit due to lack of steam activity; the text of his message -

Press Release - 14/08/2014

Network Rail steam ‘ban’ hits Harry Potter fans and seaside tourism

A disproportionate response, to a minor line-side fire in North Yorkshire, has resulted in a complete ban on steam operations across the LNE & East Midlands Route of Network Rail, on the direct instruction of the Route’s Managing Director, Phil Verster. The fire, at the beginning of July, was caused by ‘Hogwarts Castle’, which starred in all the Harry Potter films, and the resulting ban deprived many fans and well-wishers of its final run, before being put on show at Leavesden Studios..

The ban has also meant that West Coast Railways’ (WCR) popular and long-standing three-days-a-week flagship steam tourist service, ‘The Scarborough Spa Express’, which usually takes hundreds of tourists and enthusiasts from West Yorkshire to the seaside town of Scarborough, has been forced to run with a diesel locomotive only. It has also meant that two other weekly trains, ‘The Scarborough Flyer’, from Crewe to Scarborough and ‘The Waverley’, from York to Carlisle, both promoted by the Railway Touring Company, have also had to be diesel-hauled.

Said WCR’s Chairman & Managing Director, DavidSmith: “We have operated steam trains to Scarborough, in one form or other, for nearly twenty years and it is only now that has suddenly become a problem. Whilst we acknowledge that fire-risk is particular to steam operations, we consider that we have made satisfactory arrangements so that the risk is as low as reasonably possible. We have given Mr Verster the assurances that we are obliged by law to do but, despite the recent heavy rainfall, he is insisting on more and more detailed paperwork. As far as I’m concerned, fires will not be stopped by paperwork but only by correct actions.”

Mr Smith continued: “I feel we are an easy target, hence the ban, and that is supported by the fact Network Rail’s other routes have been quite content to allow us to run a full programme of steam operations, during this time, without any problems. Unsurprisingly, passenger numbers, this season, have dropped through the floor, which not only a great disappointment to us but has also hit visitor numbers to the destinations of York and Scarborough. It is also ironic that Network Rail last year spent £1.6m on the installation of a new turntable at York and now that and the one previously installed at Scarborough and funded by the local council will this season go unused.”

Since we now have a name would it be worth sending a petition to his superiors to have his actions investigated ?

 

Keep up at the back! That press release is what this thread has been discussing for the last couple of pages ...

http://www.national-preservation.com/threads/the-steam-ban-around-york.327413/page-2#post-924825

Tom

 

The problems of the missing weekend - I lost track of that one !

 

Come on you'll be calling for vigilantes next, the gentleman has a job to do ,let him get on with it







rear admiral likes this

 

No but the Network Rail official is a public employee who has to be accountable for his actions; if his actions cost companies money (through reduced custom) and thereby reduces the amount of tourist monies being spent within the "local" tourist economy then it is right for his decisions to be referred to a higher body for investigation.

After all if a person is convicted of an offence he normally has the right of appeal to a higher court; in the name of "justice" surely we have a similar right to appeal because IIRC the ban reduces our "pleasure" at seeing steam locomotives at work hence we suffer the cost of not visiting the lineside therefore we are not spending money within the tourist area therefore the local economy loses income. Remember that the "pleasure of observing / photographing / travelling behind" steam locomotives has a value to the person engaged in such activity and the law does not recognise cost in pure monetary terms - only value to the consumer which the "ban" effectively denies access to.

I'm not seeking vigilantes - yet - but a sit-in at said person's office perhaps (alluding to student demonstrations of yore !).