VT - 'Pannier Rambler' and 'Pannier Preview'

Here's another film I found of the Lickey, not my film but the sparks are flying. It's a good job it's not on a spark arrestor test

 

Hi Mark, this was not my video. Just one I shared from my subscription list.

 

Well, curious southern gricer, the answer is yes of course it would need an FTR. As a standby loco it should of course be quickly available, so whenever it goes out, it gets examined after it gets back and effectively stands ready FTR'd. As it is locked up in a shed and does not live on a preserved railway, it lives in a secure environment which is free from tamperers and sticky fingers, and so needs just the basic service checks which would be afforded a standard Class 47 SC exam in the BR diesel examination schedules. We normally take the precaution of doing that the day before any railtour which we run just in case the inevitable eventually happens as last Saturday. So full marks for sharing your curiosity and no marks for results.

Regards
Bob

 

Thanks Bob. Appreciate the explanation as I'm not that knowledgeable on how things all work.
Regards, Des

 

The cure for unwanted noise from assisting diesels on the Lickey is at hand. Once the overhead is energised to Bromsgrove there will be a nice quiet spare electric on hand.

 

Absolutely. If it's not steam you just can't beat the roar of four traction motor blowers on a class 86!

regards
Bob

 

And Les won't have so far to travel to see his loco (86259) at work !

 

Thats why VT do have the reputation they have, it does what it says on the box, 99 per cent of the time you get whats been promised, and the odd 1 percent, they are up front about it, no excuses, all it takes is one or two hi profile problems ,and your reputation has gone and it will take far longer to get your reputation back, but VT took the bull by the horns, and i would guess anyone who booked on the Pannier rambler wont be put off booking with VT again,
the only other problems VT have had is through another provider not being able to supply steam crews, due to their own problems, this is i guess in part why VT are looking to take this in house. they are then not effected by other providers, as long as NR can accomodate paths to them.

 

Had a very nice letter of explanation about the train from on Saturday with an unexpected Credit Note Code offering £15 per person against a booking on either of 2 Pannier Rambler Railtours planned for 2017. Ben - Thanks for the offer. We'll probably book on them both but have no intention of taking the credit. We had a good day out on the Pannier Rambler version of the Shakespeare Express. Think you're being over generous personally but it is an excellent gesture.

 

And we look forward to welcoming you on the tours. VERY VERY tentative - pencil in 13th May, 12th August and 4th November for some Pannier action, but it is still early in the planning stages.

 

You tease Ben!

 

Like the last one. My 69th birthday!!!!