Jacobite 2026

I doubt it’s all that hot or exclusive. I expect ORR’d say much the same to you, or anyone else, if you asked them.

 

No, in their own words they've "decided to fit CDL", any "agreement" is to comply with the law, which is kind of a prerequisite for running a business in a regulated sector of industry ....

 

So therefore they’ve agreed with the ORR on that then.

 

Thats a very small pin head you're dancing on. They've agreed with ORR now in precisely the same way they "agreed" to not use the mk1s in passenger use since 2023 ......
Hopefully you and the SVR will be duly rewarded for such staunch support with further largesse from 10A.
To the rest of us it's just a massive clumb down, welcome as it is if it means the mk1s return to use.

 

Presumably there will, in due course, be a liability shown in the accounts of Steamtown Railway Museum Ltd, as the owner of the coaches and applicant for exemption, for the costs of fitting CDL by (?) CRRES Ltd?

 

Not about any form of reward for myself or railway, and for you to suggest so shows exactly how poor your thinking is. This is about ensuring one of the greatest assets in the heritage railway world continues and gets the support it deserves and needs

 

One would assume if anything it will be as per the VT system as a) that's a system that works with vac brakes and b) as VT use Carnforth for stabling one assumes that there remains a cordial relationship between the two organisation?

Who knows, it seems that many railway journalists can be very preachy TBH and very blatently favour those who will feed them stories, Is there any 'history' between Messers Harris & Smith (WCR) considering that WCR fell out quite spectacularly with SR in the past when they buggered up the initial opportunity to buy 46115 IIRC (was that when he was involved there), plus Mr Harris has longstanding involvement with LHR/FRT/LRS and I'm not sure how that relationship ended when Mr Smith purchased Steamtown and basically shut it, for instance I note that LRS are still a shareholder of Steamtown Railway Museum which is part of the wider group at Carnforth?

Eh, what have WCR been giving to the SVR, I was aware that LSL have a close relationship, hence the storing of stock there and all the use for running in etc, but WCR gifting them stuff is a new one on me?

 

Think you'll find that SVR has had almost exclusive access to the 10A steam fleet this last couple of years, for galas etc which was unheard of pre CDL saga.
Then there is the reported purchase by David Smith of 1450, based at SVR.
Finally, it will be interesting to see which heritage line 45110 is destined for if indeed it isn't intended for main line use. 45110 was, of course, owned by SVR before being sold and moved to 10A where it's overhaul was recently reported as being almost complete.
So I think there's reasonable evidence to suggest a productive relationship which an SVR gala organiser wouldn't want to spoil ....

 

Well BIL and a set of stock attended Bulleid 2 at Swanage.
Various HR lines I believe have had Mk 1's on hire for Christmas trains for a couple of years.
Some locos went to the Great Gathering.
I assume the SVR would have sold 45110 to the highest bidder, strange not unless there would be some engineering reason.
Not sure that gives the SVR any "exclusive access" with WCRC.
Sure there will be other instances I have missed

 

The key omission in your response was "ALMOST exclusive access ......"
SVR is the only railway which has had use of each of the current 10A 'ticketed' locomotive fleet, Tangmere excluded as that is the only operational loco at 10A. Even 47298 has visited SVR recently, that too being owned by a company within the "10A Group".
Other lines have had individual visitors from 10A recently as you point out, 44932 has been used at KWVR on Santa trains last couple of years in lieu of a Riley loco. So aside from 35018 to Swanage, has any line other than SVR had one, let alone multiple loans, of 10A locos?
The context being until the last couple of years only the Mid Norfolk had received a loan from 10A, that being more than a decade previously for a very specific commitment.
As to 45110, I have no knowledge of whether bids were invited or simply somebody made an opportunistic offer acceptable to the owners who were in need of a cash injection.

 

DM, your WCR axe head must be ground down to its handle by now.

 

Yeah you’ve absolutely no idea at all. Clueless. Completely clueless.

46115 for example was offered as a replacement for 60163 Tornado by WCR. We didn’t ask for it nor pick it. WCR were kind enough to offer it when they didn’t have to. That shows a reason WCR are top quality for going out of the way to ensure we still had something.

 

Correct

 

That rather confirms the point I was making, SVR has a special relationship with WC, at least compared to most other heritage lines. I don't see why you would be prickly about it, well done you/railway. It's also a perfectly good reason for not wishing to upset the applecart with WC.

 

It's quite amusing to see the pointing out of facts, in the public domain that carry no criticism, as axe grinding ......
Meanwhile you continue to chirrup under anonymity....... priceless hypocrisy.
Just to reiterate I have zero dog in any fight, if WC thrive, cease to exist or somewhere in between, makes no odds to me and will impact my life not in the slightest either way. So I'd be interested to know what particular aim you think my purported "axe grinding" has. Breath not held ....

 

Come on that’s not strictly correct, you'd have at least an extra 5 hours a day free what with not having to post constantly on here and WNXX about how dreadful WCR are...

 

Maybe it's just me but it seems a waste of time to be talking about grinding axes whilst at the same time throwing darts at legitimate postings.

I have no problem with accepting that there is both good and bad policies emanating from WCR and I don't think 26D has been particularly unfair. I don't always agree with him myself but that shouldn't mean I need to attack his approach.

Like 26D I have been, indeed remain, critical of WCR in certain respects but, like you hope for better outcomes in future. At one time WCR were frequent recipients of tour bookings from me and often for a group of 4 or 6. Gradually however the group got fed up with diesel assistance, declining stock quality and regular tour cancellations so now, both directly and via RTC, they don't get our cash.

That said I want WCR to succeed in the future but those on this forum who are trying to paper over the cracks or reject honest concerns aren't doing anyone any favours.

I was lucky enough to travel on some of the earlier Great Britain RTC railtours. They were expensive but, thanks to what WCR were able to provide at that time, they were absolutely superb. This year's Great Briton I didn't book on - Why? Because by comparison I think it will be a damp squib. I wish it and it's passengers well of course but because of WCR intransigence they are now struggling to provide locomotives in either the variety or quantity capable of meeting the ORR requirements. No CDL/Air braking and it's no contest. As you point out WCR are now making amends, but it's so far behind the competition and clearly reluctant it's no wonder they are doubted.

I'm old enough to have enjoyed mainline steam tours in South Africa and WCR used to provide that sort of standard and variety in the UK. I hope WCR will recover, indeed prosper and be capable of doing so again. The big but is of course they need to get their act together and heal their differences with the ORR and their enthusiast customer base.

At the moment they can't even satisfy children looking for a Harry Potter experience and turning away custom is a one way road to go down for any business.