Spitfire Class 50 Tour

[Whistler40145]

Does anyone know whether Spitfire are looking at alternate traction for it's Class 50 hauled Preston to Edinburgh tour following the extended time being taken to overhaul 50044?

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

I couldn't say for definate but I would expect either DRS or WCRC 37s.

 

[Dreadnought]

Does anyone know whether Spitfire are looking at alternate traction for it's Class 50 hauled Preston to Edinburgh tour following the extended time being taken to overhaul 50044?

Thought 50044 was OK, especially as it went to the East Lancs gala, and it is 50049 that has had a few niggling issues?

 

[nedchester]

Thought 50044 was OK, especially as it went to the East Lancs gala, and it is 50049 that has had a few niggling issues?

Yes it is 50049. As far as I am aware 50049 should be ready for the August 13th trip (50044 is already OK for the mainline)

 

[Whistler40145]

I thought the Repaint on 50044 was delaying up it's return to traffic.

ps what was up with 50135, as I witnessed it being pushed by 20048 @ Bury?

 

[33056]

I thought the Repaint on 50044 was delaying up it's return to traffic.

Looks finished to me

 

[Whistler40145]

Just my own opinion, 50044 is better in BR Blue, rather than BR Two-Tone Green.

 

[theblackwatch]

I thought the Repaint on 50044 was delaying up it's return to traffic.

ps what was up with 50135, as I witnessed it being pushed by 20048 @ Bury?

If you saw 50135 at Bury, how come you didn't notice 50044 operating there too on the same day which would have showed its repaint wasn't holding it up!

 

[Whistler40145]

I was Driving 37109 at the time, on Footplate Experience, so only had time to see 50135, from cab window. I think 50044 was sandwiched in between other visiting locos.

 

[Phil6219]

I hope that the 50s are running (given I'm booked to go on it - and the Deltic 3 days beforehand). I had heard that there was some issue a little while back though.

50044 looked stunning at the ELR, I have a compilation clip of all of the 50s working at the July Diesel Gala which you can take a peek at through the link in my sig.

50135 Looked splendid in Loadhaul too, IMHO.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Tour postponed until November 19th, along with the Locks and Glen Napier.

Rolling Stock shortage cited, do West Coast not check when taking bookings to see if they can provide stock or not?

 

[Whistler40145]

At least re-dating the 50 tour will ensure both locos are niggle free.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Apparently 50049 won't be ready for the original date anyway. Postponing it seems the best option as opposed to running with alternative traction. But as mentioned earlier, WCRC can't provide the stock so there you go!

 

[Phil6219]

I was wondering why my cheques had not been cashed yet, was going to ring them today to see if there was an issue with my bank, guess I know why now.

I can't believe this, I've booked time off work for these trips and so has a colleague and WCRC let everyone down. What's the point in rescheduling anyway I mean there is no point going to Fort William in winter. As long as the Edinburgh Explorer still gives us 5 hours in Edinburgh then that's ok but it's still disappointing to have nowhere to go this month.

I'm unbelievably angry with West Coast, how they did not keep track of stock availability when these tours were organized months ago is beyond me. Not to mention how they have dropped Spitfire in it (who I figured was their biggest customer) it's going to act negatively on them and SRT have done nothing wrong. It has been mentioned on previous rail tours that WCRC have been dropping the ball with their rolling stock as they have let the condition of some coaching stock deteriorate but this not only takes the biscuit but takes the bleedin' biscuit tin as well.

I do wonder why Spitfire haven't managed to use another coaching stock provider, there are no tours running on either of those dates (according to the railtour info website). Perhaps the other provider doesn't want to be second choice or perhaps simply can't do it. Incidentally I have noticed that Pathfinders Trip to York and around the Pennines on the same Saturday (13th) has been scrubbed, perhaps their rolling stock was to be provided by west coast (DBS are operating it for them).

Whatever it's all a bad show from WCRC and I hope SRT find another company in future.

 

[Whistler40145]

I think Spitfire should shop around for an alternative rolling stock provider for the future. The phrase I am thinking of is "WCRC couldn't run a pi**up in a Brewery"!

Personally, I think they should use Cargo-D Stock as Retro Railtours use their Mk 1/2 stock and is quite comfy.

 

[Dreadnought]

I think Spitfire should shop around for an alternative rolling stock provider for the future. The phrase I am thinking of is "WCRC couldn't run a pi**up in a Brewery"!

Personally, I think they should use Cargo-D Stock as Retro Railtours use their Mk 1/2 stock and is quite comfy.

I thought Cargo D only had one Mk1 and that was a kitchen car with the remainder being Mk2 / 3 stock which is all aircons!

Most standard class stock provided by WCRC to Spitfire is non aircon!

 

[Whistler40145]

Sorry Dreadnought, I do apologise with regards Cargo D Mark II stock. I completely forgot their stock was pure Air Cons.

I personally don't rate Riviera Stock, it's Mark 1s look like they require a refurb, whereas the ex-Virgin Mark IIs are better, but Air Cons.

I therefore don't know who else can provide good non Air Con stock.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Give me Riviera mk1s over Wild West ones anyday.

The Riviera ones look a bit tired on the outside, but the lights and heat always work.

My experience of West Coast mk1s on more than one occassion has been no heat in the Winter, full heat in the Summer. :roll:

That said, I'd gladly take any mk1 in any condition over any air-con, of any sort.

Anyway, what other tours are WCRC providing stock for on those dates?

 

[Whistler40145]

I don't like Mk 2 Air Cons either, it's like sitting in a Greenhouse, especially with no-heat locos.

 

[Phil6219]

Anyway, what other tours are WCRC providing stock for on those dates?

This is the kicker, none. According to Rail Tour Info there are no other tours scheduled on that date, there was a Pathfinder tour on the Saturday but that too is cancelled. As far as tours near that date are concerned there is the weekly Compass tour from Liverpool on the Monday and an SRPS tour from Aberdeen to Kyle.

The Monday tour is running every Monday over the summer and the coaching stock would be in Merseyside anyway so it's hardy difficult to take the stock to/from Crewe for the Lochs & Glens Fort William trip on the Wednesday.

The SRPS "Plockton & Kyle of Lochalsh" trip on the Sunday looks more of the likely culprit.

Would I be being cynical to wonder if they are running extra harry potter trains at the minute since the film has just come out and therefore cant manage those plus it's usual commitments, let alone both Spitfire trips and the SRPS one?

As for the quality of coaching stock, I mentioned earlier that people have often remarked about how WCRC have let their coaches deteriorate, (consensus was that WC had begun to focus too much on acquiring loco's). The windows don't always open, some droplights barely open enough to get an arm out to open the door, lavatories that don't work, knacked taps, heating which is on full tilt or not working et al.

The problem is Mark 1s and old Mark 2s are much more fun to travel in as you can feel the ride, have the window open at your seat so you can hear the sound of the train moving along. Aircon stock just doesn't seem to have the same thing. Though believe me, any carriage is better than not going.

Had an e-mail from Jo as SRT to say the Lochs & Glens is now going Wednesday 14th September.

Phil

 

[theblackwatch]

Give me Riviera mk1s over Wild West ones anyday.

The Riviera ones look a bit tired on the outside, but the lights and heat always work.

My experience of West Coast mk1s on more than one occassion has been no heat in the Winter, full heat in the Summer. :roll:

That said, I'd gladly take any mk1 in any condition over any air-con, of any sort.

Anyway, what other tours are WCRC providing stock for on those dates?

Riviera have a rolling overhaul programme on the Mk 1 coaches - the Buxton trip last month had a brand new overhauled coach in it, the Torbay Express set has similar and earlier today I saw a newly overhauled buffet car at Crewe and another FO undergoing a repaint.

With regard to 'what else is out' and Phil6219's message, WCRC have 3 steam tours out on Aug 13th, the SRPS coaches they have been hiring recenttly are needed by their owner for an SRPS trip that Sunday, and it's also worth remembering there are 2 rakes operating from Fort William on the Jacobite at the moment.

 

[Whistler40145]

I just wonder if Spitfire haven't pulled the plug with WCRC?

 

[theblackwatch]

I just wonder if Spitfire haven't pulled the plug with WCRC?

It doesn't look like it judging by the tours announced for October. Two promoters going to Monk Bretton on the 15th.

 

[Whistler40145]

That's made it clear thanks.

 

[4SRKT]

This is (for me at least) very good news. I had to cancel the 13th and make arrangements to pass my ticket on to someone else due to a clashing child's birthday party (arranged by my non-bashing-friendly wife AFTER I'd booked the tour and put it in the diary ), so the postponement of this is a real winner for me. Only downside is that on the current timings the return journey will be entirely in the dark. Does anyone think Spitfire will try and move this forward? It's quite a late departure from Edinburgh by the standards of previous Spitfire tours.

 

[Phil6219]

The only way they could move the timings forward would be to reduce the amount of time spent in Edinburgh. The kicker about this trip is that it offers 5 hours up there oppose to the more usual 90 minutes to 2 hours. It would be nice to spend quite a while in Edinburgh for a change (one time we had 40 minutes thanks to NR looping us at every opportunity).

I'm glad the Fort William trip is September so we will get some daylight up there, hardly the same as going in summer when there is both daylight and the possibility of getting that one annual dry day

The problem for me and my bashing buddy is we may not be able to move our time off as it's September and the company puts a block on it for stock-take. Though I for one will sod work and go.

The bigger question still is how West Coast still managed to loose track of how much coaching stock it had available. If they had knew what was booked for what the tour dates could have been rescheduled prior to announcing the tour and inconveniencing nobody. They new what sets would be used on their own services and still took bookings for charters and didn't think to run the numbers, I mean how much of a mickey mouse outfit is WCRC?

 

[4SRKT]

My worry about having so long in Edinburgh is that I will be totally and utterly hammered after drinking all the way north, all the way round the Fife circle, and then let loose in the pubs of Edinburgh for two hours. By the time we get back to Dewsbury the hangover could have well and truly kicked in

 

[Phil6219]

That's why they invented droplights my good man, feel the hangover coming on? - pop your bonce out for a breath... feel knacked because of all the booze?p op your bonce out for a breath... had too much and need to chunder? don't pop your bonce out as you'll spoil the view...

There's a really good pub (I can't remember the name) but I plan on spending all 5 hours in there supping "Edinburgh Gold" well when I say supping, I mean consuming my body weight in the fine nectar. It'd be good if I could buy some bottled to have at home (will look into it).

I had surgery not too long ago and managed to heal faster than anyone expected and I like to attribute it to wanting to be able to drink on the trip, and now it's delayed. Oh cruel world. I could have had two more months off work to do nothing but play x-box and watch dvds...

 

[Drimnagh Road]

More West Coast stock availablitity mysteries....

From http://nwrail.org.uk/nw1108a.htm

The Compass Tours excursion from Holyhead to Bath and Salisbury, the 'Western Cathedrals Express' planned for 14 August has been postponed until Wednesday 5 Oct 2011 apparently the 'Train to be used is not available on that date.'

 

[theblackwatch]

More West Coast stock availablitity mysteries....

From http://nwrail.org.uk/nw1108a.htm

The Compass Tours excursion from Holyhead to Bath and Salisbury, the 'Western Cathedrals Express' planned for 14 August has been postponed until Wednesday 5 Oct 2011 apparently the 'Train to be used is not available on that date.'

And to add to that, the Compass trip from Preston to Oban planned for October 14th is now running 5 days later.