Exe-Parrett ceases to be

http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/in...tt-due-to-run-on-saturday-21st-september.html

Cancellation of The Exe-Parrett due to run on Saturday 21st September.

03/09/2013 14:35

We very much regret to advise you that we have today been informed by our train operating company, DB Schenker, that they are unable to provide all the crews to run this train and consequently they have no option other than to cancel it.

Letters have been sent to all passengers booked by First Class post today and no payments have been taken.

Once again please accept our sincere apologies for the disappointment and any inconvenience caused by this cancellation which, as you can see, was entirely outside of our control.

 

What a great shame. One might have hoped they'd at least be able to postpone/reschedule it? Ho-hum. I wonder if DBS will be contributing to Pathfinder's refunds and other out-of-course expenses?

 

Not to mention the losses to 34046's owners, hire charges etc. Also contractual issues (breach of) as well.
The steam railtour "trade" is an utter & complete mess at the moment for many well known reasons.
Eat your heart out though to all those who condemn WCRC for various reasons.

 

And people wonder why I always talk up WCRC over DBS, latest in a long line of such cancellations over the past 18 months.

Though I have to give them some credit in this instance that a prompt announcement was made as opposed to the usual 24 hours notice, with the RHTT season looming, don't be surprised to see a few more, what with the bare minimum staff DBS seem to operate with.

 

Hmm, just as I heard a rumour the Bittern 90mph run could be this date...

 

This train is not just postponed, it is no more.

It has ceased to be, it's been cancelled and gone west.

This is a late railtour, it's now just a memory.

Bereft of action, the stock and loco rest in the sidings.

If it hadn't been mentioned here it would have been long forgotten.

It's rung down the curtain and joined the fire risk ban cancellations.

This is an ex-railtour.

 

KentYeti - This thread is about an Ex Parrot not an Ex Owl so don't get too worked up

 

No, it's just rusting. Remarkable loco, the Norwegian Bullied, init, hey? Beautiful paint job.

It's prob'ly just Pines Expressing for the Fjords.

(Now we wait for DBS to say "Oh well, I'd better replace it then ... I've had a look round the back of the shed and we're right out of Parretts. I got a Streak..."

For those below a certain age, wondering what on earth this about, try this script or this YouTube clip.

 

The Norwegian Bullied whom?

 

The Norwegian bullied anyone who couldn't spell Bulleid correctly!

Until he was blue in the face.

 

I before E, except on the Southern...

Is it true Maunsell is also pronounced Mansell (as in Nigel) ?.

 

Yes...

(Not to be confused with Mansell, inventor of the eponymous wooden-centred wheel, who was a nineteenth century C&W superintendent on the SER I believe).

Tom

 

I should know that, but late at night, the fingers make mistakes...
Tell you what, David, you learn the correct use of "of" and "have", and I'll teach my spell-check to spell Oliver Vaughn Snell's surname correctly. ;-)

 

Strewth, English lessons.

I'm outta here!

 

One big disappointment of this for me is that it was heading to Okehampton so would've given the Dartmoor Railway another momentum boost in their efforts to keep things rolling in spite of all the issues with the line's owner. Have been impressed with the Dartmoor association's resolve amid this year's blows and was thrilled to see them get services running again for August against the odds, so some main line steam popping in would have been good for morale and profile too.

 

The frequent cancellations of trains is a major disincentive to booking. A refund of fare is only a partial consolation to someone who has booked transport to the starting point and hotels.