VT - 5043 to Edinburgh - 26/27/28 May

Thankyou Jonathon, a Wetherspoon/Pub was probably my first idea, but I'd be suprised if any of them are serving food after 9, all the same your suggestions are most helpfull as it looks as if we'll have to take what we can get now.

I'd like to second Busengs call for VT to let their feelings known to NR, for a multiday trip, timings 4 days beforehand and bloody awful ones at that is just not on, Im travelling in a party of 8 on this, at least 5 of whom can be considered 'normals' rather than cranks and might well be put off Steam Tours by Network Rails incompetance.

 

Can't quite remember the serving situation down in England and Wales ( which is quite strange seeing as I spend half my time down there now ), but the two I've mentioned definately still serve food right up until 10pm.
There's also a pub across the Rose Street from the Wetherpsoon 'Standing Order' I directioned you to, called "The Auld Hundred". As far as I remember they do food until 10pm too ( they did back in January anyway! ).

 

And there a TGI I remember stumbling across during Hogmanay. I think people will be surprised at what is available in Edinburgh even after 9pm.

 

Your a lifesaver Jonathon, many thanks.

 

Suddenly, Ben at Vintage Trains has gone all quiet. I wonder what their response is and whether there is any last-minute chance of reducing this lengthy looped stop at Abington. Surely there must be a path. It's hardly Clapham Junction is it? NR is clearly taking Vintage Trains for a ride. It wouldn't happen in the leafy suburbs of Berkshire and Surrey!

 

I sincerely hope they can improve on those timings as quite frankly you could walk it quicker. I know modern traction should be a bit quicker but I left Wolves at a similar time last week and was in Glasgow for 11.30am! I pity those people who are stopping out of town, we are quite lucky as we are not too far from Waverley in the SYHA hostel, but with the marathon on some people may not have been so lucky. I suspect (& hope!) on the day there may well be some tweaking, especially if 5043 can get a move on like we know she can. An hour and a half in Abington is beyond a joke, it's not like 5043 is 60mph restricted. Sorry Network Rail, but to produce those at 4 days notice is not on, this tour has been planned for 12 months.

 

Not quiet - just busy. I hope you can understand!

 

All - The tickets and times are going out via 1st Class post this evening. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

I am sure that once we are underway, 5043 will put in some sterling performances over Shap and Beattock summit.

Look forward to seeing everyone this weekend.

 

Can someone with more local knowledge answer a couple of questions for me:

1. where is Abington in relation to Beattock ?, I know it's close but not sure if it's the top, bottom or what.

2. Are there any 'landmarks' or similar I can look out for to mark the bottom & top of Beattock ?.

Oh and Ben, don't think any of us are annoyed at either you or VT, we know your being messed about as much as us.

 

Abington is about 8 miles north of Beatock Summit.

The bottom of Beatock bank is by Beatock village and there are loops at the summit 10 miles further on.
If you are on the train Beatock village is about 40 miles north of Carlisle.

 

I still cannot understand how a normal service can arrive in Edinburgh at 11.30am and the steam train nearer 9pm. Is it perhaps going via Aberdeen or Perth.

If it is a pathing issue, and I guess that is all it can be, does anyone in the know up there in Scotland know if it is just down to a continuous stream of northbound freights which is cocking everything up.

Surely Vintage Trains would have been told the reason for 90 odd minutes in a loop out in the country!

Can't believe someone like Graham Bunker of Steam Dreams would sit back and allowing this awful situation to happen for customer who have no doubt paid a lot of money. The late and great Bernard Staite would also have banged on the door of the Network Rail offices demanding a better path.

So, explanation please from someone in the know.

 

I'm sure the guys at vintage trains are doing the best they can given the situation. Unfortunately with Network Rail leaving it until 4 days before the run to issue these ridiculous timings it doesn't give a lot of time to try and get things more sensibly rearranged. I'm sure Ben or Bob will come on and answer your queries in due course but they are probably quite busy 'banging down the door' of Network Rail right now.

 

Cheers, want to know when to turn the GPS on my phone on, Shap im familiar with, but only ever been over Beattock on a 390 before,

 

Bit confused there Hatherton as neither Mr Bunker nor SD have any involvment in this Vintage Trains/WCRC operation, I know Graham has had previous TOC/NR experience, but I was under the impression he was just involved with the A1 and SD to a lesser extent these days ?.

 

Hatherton knows that full well and is only talking about a hypothetical situation.

 

Ah yes I see it now reading it from that point of view, as 8RPH says mind, I doubt Ben & Bob are letting the issue lie either, posting on here is probably the last thing on Bob's mind currently.

 

Due to depart Edinburgh at 09.33, the same path as which 'Bittern' on the Cath-Ex was due to run this morning.

 

Have just been given times for this :

Edinburgh dep 09:33 via suburban
Carstairs 11:05
Abington 11:27 - 11:42
Lockerbie 12:17 - 12:54
Carlisle 13:28 - 16:11

Carlisle 16:11
Carnforth 17:41 - 18:25
Preston 18:59 - 19:07
Crewe 20:14 - 20:51
Wolverhampton 21:34 - 21:39
Routed via Walsall and Casrtle Bromwich - avoiding New St
Tyseley arr 22:45

Talk about a Hard Days Night !!

 

What in the name of f**k!!, im glad I only live a mile down the road from Tyseley with those return times, anyone who has to travel any distance has my deepest sympathy, I also notice a stop at Abington rather stuffs up a southbound attack on Beattock, well done for pretty much ruining this trip NR, Morons.

Complete and utter shambles and that Rachel Gillard or whatever her damn name is better have a 5 page essay of an explanation in the offing for this debacle.