35018 British India Line

And now for something completely different - a post relating to 35018 rather than WCRC in general! The Railway Touring Company has recently posted details of two new tours on its website: London to Bournemouth on Saturday 7th July and London to Weymouth on Monday 9th July. Haulage will be "A powerful ex-Southern Railway pacific type steam locomotive." Obviously, 35018 isn't going to be sent down from Carnforth to Southall until everyone concerned is happy that all the teething troubles have been addressed, but it would be good to see BIL working these two trains if at all possible - and I suspect, would result in the seats filling up pretty quickly.

 

Its called publicity, all, or nearly all, organisations in the public realm need it. WCR is not MI6. How many firms with 'something' in production will sell the item if no one knows it exists. Did mr Smith keep a coal delivery secret and therefore not sell any.? it all smacks of Kim Jung Smith

 

BIL will be converted to nuclear power?

 

think they call a 'need to know basis'...
... Those that need coal know where the can get it!!!

I'm sure Mr Smith knows what he is doing

 

\To my eyes a parallel can be drawn between Ian Rileys organisation (or LSL Crewe for that matter). Ask either one of those for regular updates on how things a coming along in their respective companies, I suspect it would sound something like "foxtrot oscar, confidential information"
Do we hear bleating ? do we hell. WC went through a bad patch some while ago and ever since to some they've been fair game for a verbal kicking.

 

A parallel in what respect? Polar opposites? LSL and Riley's offer regular updates through various channels.

 

Of course there is no obligation on WC to make any public pronouncements and the best part of 25 years history suggests nothing will change, much as we would wish to hear a little of what goes on and what is planned.
It seems not unlike having an alleigance to a football club which is owned by someone you don't respect in the way they run it. The supporters complain and gossip, despite caring deeply for the club, press speculates, owners stay mute or occasionally rant about the fans. Viscious circle of mistrust ensues.
It does not have to be that way and I personally don't understand the insularity but I do accept the absolute right of the business owners to run it as they wish. It will not stop people being intrigued and interested, however, because its ultimately established to supply public demand in the market. Complaining about public interest is therefore a curious strategy especially when you have the opportunity to control publicity your way.

 

Well after a day working on the above mentioned 60007 I come home to find the "usual suspects" are in full flight again about WCs failure to satisfy their craving for inside knowledge about their business. But nowhere have I seen WC complain about what is said on here. @J Shuttleworth commented about the rubbish spouted on here but that was a statement of fact not complaint. Truth is that they are probably too busy running a successful tourist and charter train company to take much notice of what is said here. They know their market and fill their trains quite adequately the old fashioned way, without the need to broadcast on social media every five minutes. The fact that a few on Nat Pres choose not to go on their trains does not mean that the company is failing to thrive. They are not specifically asking for anyone's support so feel no need to feed the endless curiosity of those who think they should. My impression is that all the speculation on here is of little concern to those at Carnforth and when JS does come on here with some factual detail @26D_M manages to construe it as complaining.

Sorry if this seems a bit harsh but that is the way I see it

Peter James

 

Just visited the Icons of Steam website and whilst they say which locos are under overhaul, there is no detailed info as to the state of play and certainly no prediction of when any particular loco will return to steam
That's all anyone needs to know IMO but of course there are those who seemingly need a blow by blow account of each nut as it's tightened.

 

Well said Peter. Perhaps some of those complaining should get involved with a project such as 60007. Then they'd be too busy to worry about completion dates elsewhere.

 

Some observations:

1. WC specifically are prone to be on the receiving end of speculation because of their reputation for minimal information
2. Publishing some information (even at the limited level on the LSL site) about progress and overhauls is helpful and can help limit speculation
3. In an enthusiast market, many people have a tendency to try to want to know status so that they can judge how to spend their time & money
4. Providing that information can provide a boost to sales (see advertising of diesels last year)
5. As enthusiasts, we have no right to such information
6. When there are differences between organisations, it is to be expected that people will compare and contrast between them

It is then straightforward to predict which commentators will take which stances as topics arise.

 

Fair enough if that's the way you see it. I did see it as a bit of a complaint about speculation on WCRC matters personally. I should point out I'm in no way pro or anti any company; I rarely even read most threads to do with WCRC as I don't look in the what's going on section all to often, that's just the way I saw it looking at this thread.

 

My perception too was WC is impervious to the pointless tittle tattle on NP but responding to it only serves to give the impression a toss is in fact given, the implication being they are not happy about their work being speculated upon in the way I did. I accept and respect their desire to not have their business gossiped about but by any measure JSs "cease and desist" plea was manifestly an expression of dissatisfaction ie a complaint. Engaging only to set the record straight, as appears the occasional norm, is unlikely to lead to the outcome it seems they would like.
I have said in multiple postings their right is to be remote but in choosing to be so they have to accept the unmanaged consequences.

 

HMRI, NR, and ORR had a view in the fairly recent past.

 

Many years ago, a simple policy of "we'll tell you what we're going to do - when we've done it" was adopted at Carnforth. Given the vagaries of steam locomotive engineering and restoration, it was hardly surprising and it certainly saved embarrassment or disappointment. It was also borne out of too many publicly-reported false dawns, as a result of late-night enquiries from hacks, representing so-called 'journals of record', fuelled by amongst other things, that source of all preservation knowledge (and the benchmark of NatPres), shed or lineside gossip.

Given also that the Carnforth steam fleet has been personally funded by David Smith, not owned by an association, has no supporting society or requires no huge public appeals, he sees no require to do anything else - it's his property. Whether some like that or not is up to them but it is a truism that almost all forms of preservation, not just railways, have survived due to a small number of private benefactors or backers and they are entitled therefore to say how it should be run. There are always exceptions but generally the rule applies.

In dealing with our customers, who are, in the main, the general public and mildy-interested enthusiasts, we aim to deliver what we advertise; whether, in the case of promoters, that is always fully passed on, is, of course, a matter for them. For those that do not travel, on the other hand (for whatever reason they may choose) then mainline steam becomes one of the greatest free shows on earth and those (often vocal) spectators should do well to remember that. I have been actively involved in this particular field for over 35 years and I never forget it.

JS

 

Perhaps you should quote my full post (as reproduced above) to keep things in context (not that it has anything to do with 35018!) rather than cherry-picking the last line...???

 

Just as an example (fairly well timed!), Icons of Steam web site has just added an update on 70000, also posted on Facebook. There was an update prior to this in this months Heritage Railway too.

I should add that I'm not attacking or questioning West Coasts approach. JS has stated above the policy and I respect it fully. Merely a comparison to a very similar organisation.