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Pannier Rambler to the SVR - 11/11/17

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Will RL, Oct 20, 2017.

  1. thickmike

    thickmike Member

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    Hi - it would be good to hear from the SVR in response to some of the disappointment voiced by a number of contributors - from the comfort of the armchair it looks like a real opportunity missed to feed, water and sell stuff to a pretty captive audience - perhaps there was an operational issue?
     
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  2. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    I don't speak for the SVR but knowing a few other volunteers I know a lot of planning was given to it and the SVR timetable altered to fit the tour in between a timetabled four train service and advertised/booked Footplate Experience. Instructions were to keep it on time as a priority.

    Looking at the traffic notice, on arrival of the charter at 1.37 the train was to be brought into the main and the 08 to attach to KR end of train. 9466, 9600 + water carrier were then to be detached from BH end of train. The Footplate Experience was due to pass at 2.00 and be admitted into P2. After the 2.00 service train departure from P1 was a train movement and only after that move was the 08 to draw the charter set from main to P1. So it looks to me like a wait in the main and movement of Footplate Experience and service train were planned and timetabled. I suspect the uk.steam and/or other timetables showing KR arr 1.37 and dep. 2.45 might have lead people to thinking the 1.37 was to be a platform arrival, but that wasn't the plan.

    Operationally it was reported that services had delays of 5 - 10 minutes throughout the day so that wasn't an issue

    The slacks referred to may include County Boundary, the site of remedial works for a slip. In addition, double headed trains must cross all viaducts at 5 mph.

    As I say, all unofficial.

    I'm not sure how practical it could ever be to decant, feed and water a couple of hundred people in breaks of 40-odd minutes timetabled at Kidder and 53 at Bridgnorth. Idly speculating, I wonder to what extent the operator might have intended longer turnarounds but was stymied by the -12 weeks pathing times they were given? I also don't know to what extent they conveyed the short timetabled turnarounds to the participants? Both the Traffic Notice and WTT were on the SVRLive website and referred to in the days beforehand for those that knew and wanted to look. I did see some comments then about shorter than expected turnarounds.

    Patrick
     
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  3. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Two SVR managers' responses to comments made:

    "The scheduling of a mainline service coming in to the SVR has to some extent to work round the commitments that we already have in terms of our timetabled service and charter trains.
    The panniers needed to come off at Kidderminster for watering which meant that the set had to wait for platform one to be clear before it could be moved in to platform.
    We cannot be accountable for Captain Cod the Fish and Chip shop across the road but we can cater for passengers in the Buffet and the King and Castle Bar at Kidderminster, both were staffed for the occasion.
    At Bridgnorth I can see that there would have been some disappointment as our facilities at the North end are rather limited, hence the construction of a new buffet and the extension of the bar.
    I am certainly not being dismissive of the gentleman's comments and for the next mainline charter we can make sure that we have a greater selection of quick cold food readily available at both ends for hungry passengers.
    So in conclusion there were no operational issues but as above we could have provided more quick food to take away."

    "I can confirm that the Valley Suite was open and serving hot food until 4pm. I appreciate there may have been a queue at the time, however we there is a facility for takeaway too. This will be emphasised more through the food options and improved signage in the Valley Suite through December and 2018 moving forward.
    Bridgnorth Buffet closes for hot food at 230pm allowing the clean down of the buffet at what is usually a quiet time this time of year. I can understand the frustration at not having this facility, and as highlighted the offer of cakes, sandwiches and snacks was also available. Usually, even when we receive groups or even at peak times such as galas, after 2pm we find that the visitors do not order hot food and this is the reason for finishing our 230pm hot food offer."

    Patrick
     
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  4. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    Having had some involvement in operating the Pannier Rambler on the day I have to say that the above "explanation" says very little about the real cause of complaint which was the operation on the day & the protracted wait to enter Kidderminster SVR station to enable passengers to detrain.

    There is little point in arranging to provide more food if there is quite simply insufficient time to queue for it and enjoy it without rushing!
     
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I wasn't on the trip but having followed this exchange can I mention that there may simply have been a mismatch of two sets of timings.
    1. The SVR was running a service for the public and was also trying to fit a charter into their schedule.
    2. Network Rail was fitting a charter into their timetable and there was a fixed point at which the Pannier trip had to leave the network.

    These two timings left a gap and the charter had to be 'parked' until it could be handled.
     
  6. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    This is also an unofficial comment. IMHO the issues all start with the water capacity of the paniers and the desire to use them on the whole of the SVR.

    The connection to NR is fully signalled and speed limit is 15mph. When the Belmond British Pullman visited it was scheduled non stop Kidder NR to Bewdley. At Bewdley a SVR loco took the train forward. That is the slicker way to accomodate a charter. Having to water the two panniers was in my opinion always likely to cause issues. One complication we did have was no run round facilities on p2 due to the diner being prepared. That is why my footplate taster had to run round in the loop and sat on top of the charter in P1 to depart. Apols to the photters in spoiling their shots but I was following instructions. A limitation with the track layout at KD is that it is not possible to access p2 from the main line with a long train without going into section.

    A lot will be learned from this charter I am sure
     
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  7. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    A few years ago Dave during a previous visit (2009/10?) didn't the Panniers come off at Bewdley and 4566 and something else double head to Bridgnorth whilst the the pair from 84E were turned and serviced at Bewdley and Kiddy? As you say it's far slicker to come off Kiddy NR and carry on up to Bewdley, than faff around at Kidderminster
     
  8. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    The swap was at Kidderminster. 4566 and 5764 did the honours from there.
    P1000844.jpg
    [Edit] I believe on arrival the passengers decamped at the main line station and walked across to the SVR. The loco swap was at Bewdley on the return.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2017
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  9. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    correct.
     
  10. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    No the swap was scheduled to be at Bewdley on the return but was altered on the day so that the VT locos remained at KDR, were turned, watered and coaled (unplanned) before rejoining the train at KDR. To avoid a potential problem on NR the decision was taken to coal the locos & arrangements were quickly altered to allow that to happen.
     

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