Weymouth Seaside Express 2012

How accurate this information is I just don't know. You can decide for yourselves. <BJ>

34067 Tangmere 1Z93 1735 Salisbury - Bristol TM.

Wilton Jn 1738
Wishford 1742
Wyley LC 1746
Upton Lovett 1750
Warminster 1756
Westbury 1810
Trowbridge 1816
Bradford Jn 1818
Bradford On Avon 1822
Bathampton Jn 1831
Bath Spa 18.36
North Somerset Jn 1846
Bristol East Jn 1847
Bristol TM Arr 1848

8/7
Zenfolio | Jonathan Giles Photography

 

With all the rain perhaps this tour could be renamed "The Salisbury Seaside Express"

 

Timings appear to be correct. 34067 Tangmere reported at Codford 1751. <BJ>

 

Hear hear.
Considering there's no alternative arrangements for weymouth to Yeovil regular train passengers (no bus just an advisory not to travel) and presumably watering re-arrangements are also required last minute, this is a good show by all concerned.
giving up at Yevil would be by far the easiest option.

 

Thank you to all those who have been understanding. Without making excuses, todays events were out of the control of RTC, WCR or NR. What they would call in insurance circles an 'Act of God'. The key decision was whether to run or not at such short notice. ( I was only aware at just after 08h00). The decision was to run to YPM, and see if the line could re-open to Dorchester, or terminate at YVJ. At the time the line was blocked at Honiton, and at Tisbury so no other options. Luckily the line at Tisbury reopened in time to go to Salisbury. At least people had a good run behind steam. No consolation to all the families who had promised kiddies a day at the seaside, so decision made to leave Salisbury at 17h35, and get the kiddies back early. If anybody has any sensible suggestions as to how the situation could have been managed any better, given the general disruption, engineering works, gauging restrictions for steam, watering and coaling arrangements etc, please let me know. BTW Network Rail at Wessex have been absolute diamonds today with the short notice changes and a very positive attitude throughout, especially as the whole network was suffering from weather related disruption.

 

Just about the most heartening post I've read on here.

 

main a37 roads from yeovil to dorchester still blocked and a35 from bridport to dorchester also closed still.
i live at dorchester and its been a nightmare for people getting around due to road flooding let alone drive to weymouth so support services like blues and twos to get to weymouth if this tour had got there via southampton would have been stressful and maybe impossible.

shame tangmere could not get to the seaside but at least the punters had a day out in the countryside.
we have had a sunny lovely day after 2 days of torrential rain!

 

I've not heard a bad word mentioned from anyone about today's arrangements. As a group I am sure that we are all very impressed with how the day has panned out. Well done to all concerned. <BJ>

 

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/additional_info/Gillingham2.JPG oops

 

That doesn't look too good...

 

If anyone has something negative to say about this day, then please do get in contact as I would be interested to know your opinion. From what I understand, RTC and NR have worked wonders today, and have given 400 odd people a day out with a steam locomotive at the front. Whether the destination be Weymouth or Salisbury, congratulations MUST go to both RTC and NR for getting this train on the move. For all NR's wrong doings over the past month, they clawed their way back by a considerable amount by producing a path on an awful stretch of line at such short notice. We all know the WoE line between Yeovil and Salisbury is a nightmare to get a path down (easier on a day like today with a reduced service due to the flooding at Tisbury). We might've had a go at NR about the late timings etc... in the past (especially over 5043 the other week), but on this occasion, I hope I speak on all of us here, we must say a big well done to the planners on this tour.

** I should point out that I was not on this tour and am only going on what has been said on here and on the local railway gens. I do not wish to start arguments etc..., I am just interested to hear your views.**

James at SVN

 

Agreed James - very definitely a best made of a bad job today and a very definite well done is deserved by all concerned. Currently YPM to Weymouth still closed and roads are still not good but a decent day appears to have helped a bit.
DH

 

very difficult at the mo to get a path through this LOL

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/additional_info/Gillingham1.JPG

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/additional_info/Gillingham2.JPG

 

Could I feel justified in taking a serious 'hump' with this response?.

 

If regarding the first sentence, I have since changed it to something more suitable. Having read it back, it definitely wasn't the best way of putting it. In truth however, I am interested to hear your views. At that point, I can formulate a more balanced 'argument'.

Correcting myself again - I have edited more of that post as it was poorly worded and came across, in my opinion, to be quite aggressive.

James at SVN

** I should point out that I was not on this tour and am only going on what has been said on here and on the local railway gens. I am not on Nat Pres to start arguments etc..., I am just interested to hear your views.**

 

Don't forget WCRC in all this James. Full credit to them for having crews able, and willing, to accept the last minute change of plans and routes. All NR's hard work getting the train rerouted would have been for nowt if the crews didn't sign the route to Salisbury. Having been on a tour that had over 7 hours at Yeovil Junction, I wouldn't wish it on anyone to be stuck there for longer than necessary!

 

Sorry James, you completely missed the point so ably picked up by 5944. NR and RTC did work wonders, but the TOC involved did have a very minor input. (about 35 phone calls between 08h30 and 12h00, despite being a day off), and this on top of the massive amount of work by our controller. Once again our Traincrews carried on cheerfully, and adapted brilliantly to the ongoing situation. Despite one or two punters who were (quite justifiably) quite vocal towards the WCR staff and the RTC Stewards. Yes, I am very disappointed that we did not 'deliver' on the day, but as has been very kindly acknowledged by this forum, everything possible was done in the situation. A

 

How did I forget WCR?! D'oh! I blame the TV show I was watching while writing the first post - it was nothing more than a distraction! You are quite right, and I will edit the original post accordingly (grovelling apology to WCR crews!).

Apologies to the WCR staff/crews once again, might be out for this weekend's WSE if the weather is nice...! I assume 34067 will haul it again?

James at SVN

 

Yesterday (8th) was a very enjoyable day. Even if we didn't manage to spend the entire day in Weymouth we got even more time sat on the train (which I guess is what we paid for). I saw a couple people have a go at the main organiser there but it wasn't his fault. Its not like we all could fix the damage in a couple of hours . We spent about 2 hours at Yeovil Junction and about 2 hours in Sailsbury which to be fair is better than nothing . Throughout the journey there was many delays at the top cause they were all unsure at were we were going but I was very grateful for them to work so hard to get us a window of time between any service trains to get to and from Sailsbury. I thought the whole day would have been cancelled when I saw all the messages so didn't get my hopes up But was so happy when we saw it there at Bristol Temple Meads . All in all I think anyone invovled in yesterdays run should get a congrats for their hard work

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529225_10151738139001549_1677683327_n.jpg
^The Tangmere 34067 at Bristol Temple Meads in the morning.