Jacobite 2024

With all the comments made here about The Jacobite and its future, something crosses my mind and that is does Mr. Smith (of WCRC) know something that we on NP don't know.

 

Well I'm sure he knows what his plans are given various scenarios and I don't think anyone on here does, so yes...

Jon

 

I think my use of the term 'Sub-Contract' was probably not the best here, it was not meant that Riley and Co would take on the full operation and wasn't in anyway supposed to be underplaying where happens on a day to day basis in FW.
You are quite correct that it is a complex operation that has been built up over the course of 30 years. My point is that if A N Other operator were to seek a contract with Rileys they would get considerably more than access to 3 Black 5s, which would assist with the operational complexities considerably and would be an attractive proposition. A mutually beneficial deal could be done for both parties - Rileys would not want to give up what is 6 months regular work.
This is all conjecture and I still feel it is highly unlikely West Coast will walk away from what they have developed here and I don't particularly want them to - I fear an LSL operation would probably be quite different from the current offer. Witness what has happened to the Torbay Express and Steam Dreams operations for instance.

 

Plus I think the limited amount of what he says to press, and what he does, are two quite different things.

 

West Coast have operated the service safely for over 30 years and cannot be faulted in that respect. The regular loco crews know the line and it’s operational difficulties well, the regular morning train guard, Florence is a legend with one of the MK1s named after her, I believe as a surprise for a landmark birthday. The gradients and curves on the Mallaig road knock hell out of the engines, would any other operator or loco owner want to stand the extra maintenance bill?
For all we know 10A may be fitting Mk1s with CDL right now, understandably they say nothing, there’s enough speculation and uninformed comment already.

 

Alan

The Jacobite is a WCR creation, formed from the tatters of the demise of InterCity Charter Train Unit at privatisation. The BR Lochaber only ran one train per day, in a much shorter season than the Jacobite developed into.
If WCR does not run the Jacobite, nobody else will; not with the same economy, reliability and intensity.
Any other operator & promoter would do their own thing, but it won’t be the Jacobite.

 

I am in full agreement with you there, West Coast make a profit out of volume.
There is no doubt LSL would step in, but I fear it would quickly develop into something more upmarket and with a price point beyond the average daytripper. That is their business model (& what they do well), but it wouldn't be the Jacobite.

 

48151 did a couple of seasons at Fort William back in the 90s. I've never read how its 8 coupled wheelbase got on but if it returned then it must have got on ok or whatever maintenance was required must have been taken into account. I'd heard 62005 needed attention to the tyres after a season there but I can't see any locomotive not needing attention after a full 6 months or so of operation on a rather notorious route. Perhaps @torgormaig has some insight on the 8Fs time?

 

Apologies for the quality - not from a proper scan.

Back in 1995 the balance weight on one set of drivers had yellow paint applied to check for any contact. I'm sure Peter can throw more light on that.

 

48151 was also present in 2006, I travelled behind it on a one way run prior to visiting the Isle of Skye. A memorable week of clear blue skies and 25c - it can happen!

 

Possibly. Though looking at the prices for the Jacobite, I'm not completely convinced by that argument - they're already pretty steep.

 

Never had much involvement with the 8f up there. Although part of NELPG's support crew I was not employed by WCR until 2006 and never worked on 8151 on the Mallaig Road. Indeed apart from Maude I think that it is the only loco in recent years that I haven't been behind to Mallaig.

Sorry for the brief reply but I'm currently in Sydney sampling American wartime 2-8-2s - a Queensland AC16 on the Zigzag Railway today and an ex NSWGR 59 class on the Picnic Train tomorrow. Interesting contemporaries of the wartime 8f.

Peter

 

Of course both the s-160 and WD 2-8-0S have shorter wheelbases but none of these are wcr loco's and you would have to; persuade an owner to lease them ( unlikely) and have all the mainline gubbins installed and obtain certification/ one route only dispensation (also unlikely)...

 

Being in the area for work this is this mornings train finding a patch of sun on a dull day that was forecast very differently...

 

The Jacobite (45407) filmed on the 29th/30/31st May - on the gradients around Beasdale, Kinloid, Morar and Glenfinnan.

 

Some good news… the PM service is set to return from the 17th June .

News item: https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/news/the-jacobite-back-in-service

 

Go to 50 minutes looks intresting.