VT - The Cumbrian Conqueror - DH 5043 & 6233 over Shap

!!!!!

I hate to sound like a Christmas production of Dick Whittington, but "OH NO WE'RE NOT!"

We are returning over Shap. Watering at Carnforth. I am showing Lancaster a little after 18:30 (provisionally)

 

Oh right uksteam shows via Settle for the return. Will the other stop be at Crewe as usual?

 

With all due respect to David, I really don't care what it says on UK Steam. If you take the time to look at the VT website, it most definetly says Shap in both directions. Now thanks to you, I have had half-a-dozen unnecessary phone calls asking if we have been re-routed via S&C.

"campainr" - do you see why I get short with you? I am busy enough without unnecessary extra work. Just check what you say before you make statments on my behalf, or let me answer questions directed at me.


"In a thoroughly outrageous display of raw power, we couple together two of the most powerful mainline locomotives at our disposal for this one-of-a-kind Double-Headed assault over Shap from both the north and south.
The outward journey will be diesel hauled by 47773 to Carnforth where it will be replaced by the unusual pairing of No’s 5043 “Earl of Mount Edgcumbe” & 6233 “Duchess of Sutherland” for the remainder of the journey north to Carlisle, tackling the ferocious gradients of Grayrigg and Shap along the way. Following a short break for lunch and shopping in the border City of Carlisle, we retrace our outbound journey, with high-speed, unassisted steam action all the way back to Tyseley!
This is believed to be the first time that this combination of locomotives has been seen working together since the 1955 trials of No: 46237 “City of Bristol” on the London – Plymouth services.
Commencing at Tyseley Warwick Road, additional pickups at Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Stafford and Crewe."

 

Well sorry Ben but I doubt RYTC and their passengers were too impressed either by you coming on here and shouting from the rooftops for your own gain that the Devonian would not be running this weekend before RYTC had been able to contact all of their passengers first.

Perhaps not quite pot kettle black but still I'm not the only party guilty of something like this?

 

From what I see, there are no times for this on uksteam yet anyway.
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t0615d.htm

 

Times now on RTT for saturday and light engine move for friday Earl gets to crew at 13-01 and Duchess at 13-34 then it looks as if they go together to Carnforth

 

For what it's worth, I personally called RTC BEFORE I published details of the Nunney trial run as the announcement of the trial run days after the Devonian would obviously have an effect. They had notified most of their passengers already, so by the time I posted my "poaching" post on here, the majority of the passengers would have already been told.

You might think you have your finger on the pulse of the steam tour business, but there is an awful lot of communication that goes on behind the scenes that you will never know about.

 

You need to take a "chill out" pill.
You are starting to become very "bolshy" on here, and not for the first time. Not a very good advert from the public face of a high profile company.

 

On the contrary: that was a measured response from Ben to a serious, and apparently undeserved, criticism.

 

Thanks for all the responses and clarifications (although can we all play nicely please!)

Looks like I will be trying to find a spot to take the young un out for her first taste of Swindons finest, which she will no doubt sleep through - hopefully her grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfather who all worked inside at Swindon will approve.

Ben - any chance you can confirm who will be leading, I assume (and hope) that it will be 5043 dragging the whole consist (tounge firmly in cheek, the Duchesses as a Stanier product are a close cousin of Swindonware and fantastic machines), and a whistle through Lancaster would be much appreciated.

I hope its another fantastic VT day out!

 

I try to understand why Ben gets annoyed sometimes when I absolutely unintentionally cause some sort of aggravation for him. For what it is worth in return I have a condition that makes social interaction, communication and understanding very difficult for me. In real life I am practically mute for much of the time and this forum is the only way I feel comfortable ( some of the time) talking to other people about this interest we all share. Obviously this is a very personal matter but I have decided to finally reveal it on here in the hope that people will understand that I find it very difficult both to empathise with other people and express my opinions in the way I intend them to be understood. I never mean intentionally to make things harder for anyone in professional or personal life, offend or criticise anyone, or make personal comments about people I have never met in real life. Obviously we all make mistakes, me perhaps more than most but I hope Ben and I can call a truce now and that if in future I perhaps seem confrontational or irritating I do not mean it - I simply have not been able to choose the right words to convey my suggestive or helpful intentions. I hope Ben and VT can continue in their own way to give us steam on the mainline for many years to come.

If I may make a further well meaning suggestion, Ben and Vintage Trains definitely need separate profiles on all "social networks" to separate Ben's personal views that he is entitled to express and Vintage Trains' official statements. Maybe I shall receive a swift response to the equivalent of "Get Lost" for what I feel is a sensible and reasonable suggestion, but a suggestion is all I can make.

Apologies for any past, present or future difficulties or offence caused.

 

Well said sir - appreciate your honesty.

FWIW I am inclined to agree with the suggestion re VT and Ben, although to unleash Ben even further may be scary for us all!

 

Coach Z, bloody hell thats a hell of a train - 26 coaches!

Now awaiting 4 pages of ire about overloading.

 

Wait 'til they start adding coaches Z1, Z2 etc..
Actually coach Z is the Buffet car reclassified as Enthusiast Class on some tours and guaranteed to be directly behind the engine in one direction.

 

Not sure 26 would be overloading a Castle + Duchess , certainly on 12 (?), 70 odd over Shap woulden't be a surprise.

 

You've been done Ralph if Ben serves you. You should demand waitress service they're far prettier.

 

Ralph, I’m in coach D, seat 24B - the opportunity to travel behind my two favourite loco classes was too good to miss, particularly in the week of my 60th birthday. On arrival in Carlisle I shall probably be making a bee-line for the King’s Head in Fisher Street.
Having been on the Castle to Scotland trip last year and the Marylebone Flyer in April, my prayers for rain in the run up to this Saturday seem to have been answered!
Roll on Saturday...
Nick M.