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Auld Reekie 3/03/19

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Victor, Feb 25, 2019.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Well that was definitely a day of two halves. It was great to be behind Tornado again, back where it belongs, as they say. The running between Durham and Berwick, also beyond Berwick until we were halted by the North Berwick stopper at Drem was superlative. Plenty of speedy running and impressive hill climbing aided a bit by the relatively lightweight (for Tornado) load of 11. Thanks to DBC and A1ST support crew for making it happen.

    The return was a disaster and very sad for Deltic devotees. I'll leave others to discuss why a locomotive straight off significant maintenance found itself on a charter without intensive proving activities (as was required for Tornado). Perhaps it happened and we missed it. Anyway, DBC did what it could to get people home and luckily the failure was somewhere that other trains could get by. My instant decision, with one or two others, to bale out immediately at Berwick was pragmatic. A 10 pm return to Doncaster was late enough for onward car travel southwards. As it turned out my actual return to Doncaster on IE28 was at precisely the time we should have been back on the charter, not two hours later.
     
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  2. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    I'm sure proper reports will follow, but we had an excellent run up. After a stop at Thirsk for the traffic through the possession, 42 miles to Durham in 45.5 mins including through the platform road at Darlington, then 81 miles to Berwick station, start to almost stop in 82 mins including respecting the 10 mph through Newcastle, then 40 miles to the compulsory stop at Drem to follow the North Berwick stopper in 41.5 mins. So that's 160 miles pretty much cruising at 70. The weather was very kind, and the stretch from Alnmouth to Burnmouth lived up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful main lines in Britain. Meanwhile it was pelting down in Leeds.... A brisk walk around a grey but soulful Edinburgh touching base with various Rebus locations and back to Waverley platform 9--- yes you were right @RalphW , change of platform.

    Coming back, it all went pear shaped but I'm sure we will all remember the swift departure from Waverley with 84mph by Prestonpans. But again Drem was our nemesis and two or three attempts to get away under green signals showed that all was far from well. We arrived at Berwick, stopped in platform with a green signal which then went to red. Guys in orange jackets walking down the platform. The Edinburgh bound train came into the other platform and left. A rapid decision had to be made. Some of us, led by a general of this parish baled on to the 1E28. Many thanks to the despatcher lady on the platform and the LNER guard Findlay for taking an instant decision to say OK. I was in my home outside Leeds 1.5 hours later than expected with the help of a lucky connection at York.

    For me it was one to add to the stock of 8P memories along with Clan Line to Exeter eighteen months ago and BIL charging up to Ais Gill last May.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2019
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  3. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    http://thedps.co.uk/

    I would have liked to listen to the phone call between The DPS and Nemisis Rail this morning.
    As I understand it they were re-conned bogies.
    I'm guessing but it looks like the bogies will have to come out.:(
    No gloating from me, just genuine sadness.
    Onward and upward.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2019
  4. 2392

    2392 Well-Known Member

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    I blame Brexit, for the failure of four of the six traction motors. After all it's being blamed for pretty well everything else, both good and bad:eek::Arghh::Banghead:.....
     
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  5. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    It's unlikely Nemesis Rail would have had anything to with the traction motors though, and DPS have overhauled the bogies themselves. Whether they were the traction motors from D9009's previous bogies or not, I don't know. The failure could've been anything. At work, I've seen freshly overhauled traction motors fitted to a train then fail quite spectacularly after a couple of miles before!
     
  6. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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  7. MarkinDurham

    MarkinDurham Well-Known Member

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    Sad news indeed for the DPS, but I wish them well with the necessary repairs.

    Apropos of nothing in particular, I note that it was within 3 days of the 10th anniversary of Tornado's first trip to Edinburgh, on 28/2/2009. That trip was named "The Auld Reekie" too, and I was fortunate enough to get one of the last seats on it. The return of that trip was eventful too - a fatality near Durham led to a very late arrival back at York, as the train was diverted via the Durham coast.
     
  8. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    A sad sight.
     
  9. Alberta 45562

    Alberta 45562 Part of the furniture

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    Following the issues last night I ended up myself going to pick up 2 passengers from Leeds to take them to Wakefield,which ended up costing myself £15 in petrol and 2 hours of my Sunday evening....

    Generally there was very little information given by the stewards/management on the train according to my dad who was a passenger,with a lot of confusion and conflicting advice with some stewards saying to get off and go on 1E29 to Leeds (with no further info on how to reach Wakefield,I.E,it was after the last train!) and other staff saying to stay on the tour to Doncaster. Perhaps in hindsight there should've been a better contingency plans as it seemed somewhat panicked and with no information from management reaching stewards,resulting in numerous bits of information. Luckily my dad and a number of others are "weathered veterans" of the scene and are capable of quickly realising when there's issues and getting home when there's a complete failure,but he has suggested concern for some of those that were going back to Wakefield in terms of the fact they weren't regular tourers or experienced travellers and as such the complete lack of order and a set line of comms from those in charge caused significant issues.

    When the train arrived back at Leeds the station was manic with a line of people for Wakefield milling about,taxis back from there will no doubt have cost £20 per car.

    Note that as far as we know no taxis were organised by A1ST,the whole reason I ended up going to Leeds to pick my dad and 1 other up was because nobody had said whether taxis were to be provided,in the event it appears they weren't as it looked like complete carnage.

    As far as I'm aware no A1ST stewards were on 1E29,which again is a poor piece of business,generally other operators would have a steward from each boarding point to guide pax back there,in the event of issues like last night,for instance I can recall one incident with Past Time Rail Some years ago at Birmingham New Street,where a complete signal failure caused the diversion of the train away from a set down point (Birmingham International),within 10 minutes a steward had been nominated to guide affected pax to taxis and ensure they made it back to International. Really there should've been an A1ST rep outside Leeds station station having travelled on 1E29 to do just this for Wakefield passengers,you can't just abandon people who have paid considerable money for a ticket. If there was an A1ST steward on 1E29,they certainly didn't make themselves known....

    There were 60 minutes between the tour arriving at Berwick and 1E29 (the train to Leeds) arriving,and in that time conflicting advice was given saying to stay on the tour back to Donny for a train to Wakefield (no trains at that time of night),a vague mention of a taxi/bus plan,but then after that the same people for Wakefield were told to get on 1E29 for Wakefield and Leeds (bit hard for it to get to Wakefield when 1E29 terminated at Leeds and arrived after the last connection). At one point tour passengers were even told that the train wouldn't be stopping at York,which caused further confusion,as said above,clear instruction should've been given to stewards ASAP upon failure to stop these things happening in the first place.

    I can only imagine the stress this could cause someone with disabilities or in a frail condition,I have to imagine most other tour operators would make sure there was an actual plan of action for pax in the first 30 mins after it was declared a failure,and have advised pax that a plan was being formed,rather than giving conflicting information. An honest unfortunate issue I'm sure,but one that should really be taken into consideration in the first place.

    On the positive side Tornado performed great on the outward journey and was enjoyable,it's a great shame the Deltic failed on the return and I hope it's certainly not a long and costly failure.
    I should state that the above criticisms are not meant as an insult to the trust or it's volunteer stewards,I merely hope that in future such incidents have a clear plan in place (perhaps even thought out before a failure occurs,I.E "What Happens If...") to avoid further problems.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2019
  10. MikeParkin65

    MikeParkin65 Member Friend

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    Don't this is fair speculation at all.

    DPS are no doubt grateful that a professional company will take on work on a 60 year old complex high mileage machine in the first place. If it had run without problems Nemesis would no doubt have never received a mention yet here we are blaming them with absolutely no evidence at all. If I were a Director of a company in this position I'd be saying in respect of work for preservation 'stuff it, its difficult, it doesn't pay well and its dragging our reputation down'. A bit like the way Marshalls and Rolls Royce pulled the rug from under Vulcan to the Sky.
     
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  11. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The moment that we struggled at Drem and were unable to pull away properly under green signals, I knew there was a problem. Someone told an announcer to say that we were being delayed because of an object on the OHLE (as was everything else) - correct. They then said that there was a technical problem with the Deltic but it had been resolved. Well events immediately from the restart proved that not to be the case. And it was obvious during the 45 minutes en route to Berwick that things were not good.

    I changed trains not long after we arrived at Berwick so I've no idea how long it took to tell everyone what was happening or what their options were. It's always tricky when failures happen.

    That said, it does illustrate that if you are going to run steam charters with air braked stock and locomotives - e.g. Tornado - then you have to work with a TOC that has the means to help out if there is a problem - e.g. DBC.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2019
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  12. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    FYI, from DPS website, cannot remember a TM flashover in recent history, know Class 50's liked a one from time to time, however....

    The DPS regrets to report that D9009 ‘ALYCIDON’ failed while hauling ‘The Auld Reekie’ tour yesterday, which resulted in the train having to be rescued at Berwick by 67004 – our thanks go to DB Cargo for their assistance. It appears that the loco has suffered a traction motor flashover and arrangements are now being made to return the loco from Doncaster to Burton. We share the disappointment of the passengers on board the train and those on the lineside. This is the first time that D9009 has been declared a failure while working a tour since its return to the main line in 2012.
     
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  13. Kylchap

    Kylchap Member

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    In the circumstances, "Nemesis Rail" seems an unfortunate name.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2019
  14. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    There are loads of companies who could have overhauled the bogies, remember they are re-geared class 37 units, they are not that special.
     
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  15. blink bonny

    blink bonny Member

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    I hadn't realised that! Thanks.

    I looked through my stuff and realised that coincidence had taken me back yesterday to the same place as I got that first run.
    Tornado-11-1000web.jpg Tornado-(21)-1000web.jpg
     
  16. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    Checking back on The DPS website, the bogies were overhauled by Sheaf Engineering, Nemesis, seem to have done the bogie lift and installation.
     
  17. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Can somebody tell me why, when we all know that Alycidon lives at Barrow Hill, why is it being returned to Nemesis today ?
    To say I'm blaming them is a bit strong (and not correct) but when the loco has been in their care for a few months for work to be done on it and with the first bit of hard work it fails, questions are going to be asked.
    Far from 'blaming' them I'm very grateful the are people with the ability and the facilities to do this sort of work.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2019
  18. Groks212

    Groks212 Member

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    On their web page it says it was returning to Nemesis today anyway:

    D9009 on ‘The Auld Reekie’ today
    By webmaster on March 3, 2019 in Alycidon, News
    It’s been touch and go, but following its FTR exam yesterday evening and final checks, D9009 ‘ALYCIDON’ is now on its way to Edinburgh to work the return leg of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s tour back to Doncaster this evening. You can follow progress of the northbound light engine move by CLICKING HERE, while timings for the tour itself are HERE.

    Following the tour, D9009 is planned to return to Burton on Monday.

    Dave B
     
  19. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    For investigation, and bogie lift, at a place authorised to do so, I would expect @Victor
     
  20. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Fair enough, I hope the Deltic is back to full fitness very soon.

    Off topic (sorry) has anybody any news on RSG (22) at Crewe?
     

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