Spitfire Class 50 Tour

[Chester025]

Seems strange how a load of WCRC stock has gone missing...

 

[nedchester]

Seems strange how a load of WCRC stock has gone missing...

Yes very odd. What's going on at Carnforth......?........

 

[table38]

Yes very odd. What's going on at Carnforth......?........

Maybe they are just running out of serviceable stock.

The Mk2F I was in on Saturday (on Compass's Canterbury & White Cliffs Explorer) had no Aircon from the start at Hooton. I don't mean it worked for a while then packed up after a few hours like normal, the WCRC fitter actually isolated it before we left and did whatever you do to the vestibule doors to keep them open.

Along with intermittent lighting, no PA, and not even working 'toilet engaged' lights certainly 6115 was not really at its best.

Now this is not a criticism of Kevin and John as I realise these was circumstances beyond their control (as was our departure from the original advertised route due to engineering works at Dover), but I heard lots of mutterings from the "normals" that it wasn't as good as their last trip and they wouldn't be bothering with Compass again. The irony is of course that they could probably end up with the same stock even if they chose a different tour company. The further irony is that IIRC Compass jumped ship from Riviera in 2009 after 47853 blew up and we ended up running about 4 hours late and missed out on the Forth and Tay Bridges and the Longannet and Alloa line completely

Sadly Lawrence got most of the flack for the conditions when he came down with the trolly.

To be fair the WCRC fitter did have a go at fixing the Aircon on the way back, but to no avail.

 

[Phil6219]

Now this is not a criticism of Kevin and John as I realise these was circumstances beyond their control (as was our departure from the original advertised route due to engineering works at Dover), but I heard lots of mutterings from the "normals" that it wasn't as good as their last trip and they wouldn't be bothering with Compass again. The irony is of course that they could probably end up with the same stock even if they chose a different tour company.

That was pretty much the same mutterings I have heard in the past both 1 regarding WCRC's coaching stock and also once because we got looped for nearly an hour (we were kept up to date with that one thanks to a PA system on the ex VT MK2s).

I think they have had to pull a serious number of carriages from service, as I've mentioned in previous posts the condition of several carriages on previous trips has been on a steady decline. Maybe they finally reached the point where they need an overhaul. That would at least explain why they allowed the tour operators to schedule their trips and hence the last minute cancellations.

I must admit that I really do feel sorry for the tour operators when things go wrong as it's pretty much completely out of their control, most of us know that but the normals won't. On one of my last trips I heard an elderly couple complaining for 20 minutes to the bloke (and then the rest of the trip) because we wouldn't be going to Tenby but would be going to Camarthen and onward to Fishguard instead.

Three days before the trip runs the driver breaks his leg, normally not a problem but DRS don't work that line any more so there is only one other driver who still signs the route, the problem... he is on holiday abroad. A quick call around to the other operators and none will (or non can) help hence the last minute alternate.

Was that SRT's fault? no, nor was it DRS or WCRCs it was sheer bad luck but I bet a fair few won't book again. When we got looped at Grayrigg, that wasn't PTs fault nor the guys up front - that one was Network Rail insisting that we would hold up everything but again people on that trip wouldn't book again. Perhaps operators should make it really clear (I mean so normals can understand) who does what and what is outside of their control.

But again it would be nice if all companies actually let us know exactly what West Coast said, I know I'd have liked to have listened to some of those phone calls (shame the News of the World has stopped we may have gotten lucky).

Incidentally do early MK2s have heating in the vestibule and lavatory areas?

 

[Drimnagh Road]

The problem is that Compass may have shot themselves in the foot here by moving to West Coast. Obviously, they got a better deal than Riviera, and it's great that there is competition, but it may end up costing more money in the long run if tours are postponed and customers irate at the state of the stock.

Riviera is known to have the better stock, and Compass had a reputation for been superior when it came to attention to detail and customer satisfaction with the Normals, incidentially, have the savings made from moving to West Coast been passed on to customers in the form of a reduction in prices over last year?

 

[Phil6219]

have the savings made from moving to West Coast been passed on to customers in the form of a reduction in prices over last year?

That depends, I've only been doing tours for 10 months or so now but the average prices seem to sit between the £55-£69 mark for standard class seats. SRT sometimes sell seats on positioning tours for a few quid or offer the main tour and both positioning tours as a package for around the £90 mark.

Incidentally, another railtour has been cancelled at (very) short notice. Rail Blue Charters' tour from Euston to Glasgow with 86101 + 87002 as "The Mark Honey Memorial" which should have run this Saturday (6th) has been scrubbed due to "rolling stock issues at Barrow Hill".

I'm almost positive that these were Cargo D Mk2 and Mk3 stock which is a bit of a puzzler. It is a shame though given that the tour was originally due to run in November but was postponed, then renamed in honor to Mr Honey only for it to be cancelled.

It is worth noting that Rail Blue's website does not report anything (the last update was Jul 29th) but to quote Railtour info

London Euston - Glasgow Central
86101 & 87002 (Electric Traction Ltd.)

Update on 4th August 2011
This tour has been cancelled due to issues with the rolling stock at
Barrow Hill. Further information is awaited from Rail-Blue charters.

Could be something not just confined to WCRC though I really reckon it is just a badly timed coincidence.

EDIT: Now it appears that there is another tour scheduled for this Saturday (6th Aug) with motive power and coaching stock provided by West Coast. "A West Countryman Festival" operating between Norwich and Minehead booked to be top and tailed by class 47s

 

[Dreadnought]

Incidentally, another railtour has been cancelled at (very) short notice. Rail Blue Charters' tour from Euston to Glasgow with 86101 + 87002 as "The Mark Honey Memorial" which should have run this Saturday (6th) has been scrubbed due to "rolling stock issues at Barrow Hill".

I'm almost positive that these were Cargo D Mk2 and Mk3 stock which is a bit of a puzzler. It is a shame though given that the tour was originally due to run in November but was postponed, then renamed in honor to Mr Honey only for it to be cancelled.

Reading on wnxx it has been cancelled due to an issue with the Kitchen car and unfortunately no alternatives being available despite the best efforts of Rail Blue to find one.

 

[scotsman]

Incidentally do early MK2s have heating in the vestibule and lavatory areas?

Hell no!

Incidentally, SRPS have loaned a number of coaches to WCRC

 

[junglejames]

Obviously, they got a better deal than Riviera,

Yes they definitely did get a better deal. They got working locos.

Riviera is known to have the better stock

Have they? Ive never had much of a problem with WCRC stock. However one trip with Pathfinder, and I thought the Riviera Mk1s were looking quite tired.
Perhaps ive just been lucky with WCRC.
Saying that, both Riviera and WCRC could do with refurbishing their stock.

have the savings made from moving to West Coast been passed on to customers in the form of a reduction in prices over last year?

Prices are about the same i think.

 

[JBM 37404]

Maybe they are just running out of serviceable stock.

The Mk2F I was in on Saturday (on Compass's Canterbury & White Cliffs Explorer) had no Aircon from the start at Hooton. I don't mean it worked for a while then packed up after a few hours like normal, the WCRC fitter actually isolated it before we left and did whatever you do to the vestibule doors to keep them open.

Along with intermittent lighting, no PA, and not even working 'toilet engaged' lights certainly 6115 was not really at its best.

Now this is not a criticism of Kevin and John as I realise these was circumstances beyond their control (as was our departure from the original advertised route due to engineering works at Dover), but I heard lots of mutterings from the "normals" that it wasn't as good as their last trip and they wouldn't be bothering with Compass again. The irony is of course that they could probably end up with the same stock even if they chose a different tour company. The further irony is that IIRC Compass jumped ship from Riviera in 2009 after 47853 blew up and we ended up running about 4 hours late and missed out on the Forth and Tay Bridges and the Longannet and Alloa line completely

Sadly Lawrence got most of the flack for the conditions when he came down with the trolly.

To be fair the WCRC fitter did have a go at fixing the Aircon on the way back, but to no avail.

Interesting to hear feedback, we didnt get any complaints in to the office though which is shame if people will simply walk away from us after one bad journey. 6115 didnt behave that day but the rest of the set of 13 was relatively ok, I did infact come down to 6115 myself several times and spoke to siome passengers and apologised personnaly. WCRC have turned out a good set of stock for us this year. Things have to change in life from time to time and there is no easy way to run tours as some would believe but we will keep the wheels rolling.

John Melia