Dorset Coast Express, July - August 2011

I'd say that RYTC are very poor at communicating with UKSteam - last week when I was on it Tangmere & Britannia did the opposite leg to advertised, plus the times were totally wrong between So'ton & Weymouth.

The times from their brochure given to us on the train last week:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4KG8A1CdHS82jwN_tCAWZA?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HhHig_nmpllVLEX9VQcDpw?feat=directlink

 

Thanks - I'll make sure I'm at Bournemouth in good time, but still unsure of what'll be in charge of the up working out of WEY!

 

Taken from the RTC "new" website for Dorset Coast Express.

"We return from Weymouth at around 16:30 and our train will be hauled by one steam locomotive and ‘banked’ at the rear by another. We climb Upwey Bank which is a very steep climb and our steam locomotives will be working flat out.. We stop at Dorchester South to detach our ‘banker’. We call at Wareham and Bournemouth to collect those passengers who left the train at these stations on the outward journey. Our next stop is at Basingstoke, where we set down passengers and our steam locomotive takes on water."

So if this proves not to be the case, RTC will have a lot of questions to answer-possible full refund for everyone? Probably stems from the fact 34067 being carted "up narf!" Are their needs more important than the south?

 

But another way of looking at it is that us down South are finally getting to see 60019 in her current guise, as she seems to have been permanently Up North on the ECML since her paint job. It's a good thing that the loco's are toured around the country, as by the end of last year I was getting slightly fed-up of seeing Tangmere & Bittern, whereas my brother Up North gets fed up of seeing Scots Guardsman & the rest of the Carnforth group.

Granted I'm so glad I didn't pay attention to UKSteams itinary & actually got to Bournemouth early last week just in case RYTC's times were correct, as I'd have missed my trip otherwise, and the fact that it's probably going to be back hauled tomorrow by a box from Weymouth to Southampton would have totally spoilt my return trip, although I can understand why it has to be back-hauled on that stretch from a logistics point of view, it doesn't make it any better, although from a purely selfish point of view it means I get to see 4492 at one of my favourite spots.

 

I had heard about the 26 minute schedule from Soton to Bomo!

I only ever beat 30 minutes once. Then only by 1 second, (some made it by 2 seconds! LOL). On the last down 08.30 ex Waterloo on 8th July 1967 with 35023 of course.

 

Showing DONZ on UK Steam?

 

I'm delighted to go down behind the A4, but since this is my only week avail to get on this tour, would like RYTC to tell me definitively what will lead on the return. I understand their limitations, although will be disappointedif not 2x steam as advertised - just need to know!

 

RYTC now assuring it's Bittern down and Britannia up!

 

:doh::smash::frusty::noidea:
In that case there's no need for them to come back via' Andover, in fact they can't otherwise Britannia would have to reverse from So'ton to Salisbury, although they're routed to go straight to Andover at the Laverstock Junction! Their communication is rather PP - UKSteam still showing DoNZ & has been since Saturday. Can someone who's on the trip PLEASE send a RTL update when setting off from Weymouth as to what loco is where please, so we can make an educated guess as to whether the return is via' Romsey as currently advertised or via Winchester which is the norm for this tour. Thank you.

 

As you seem to be making a big issue of this:
(1) RTC provide no info to uksteam.info
(2) The times published at uksteam.info are for the official path as specified by Network Rail.
(3) The NR path from Southampton to Bournemouth is very slow (58 mins). It is booked to follow the 12:16 stopper from Brockenhurst but often manages to overtake it at Brockenhurst, and then frequently arrives at Bournemouth early.
(4) It appears that the RTC times given to passengers are incorrect !
(5) The RTC published time of 26 minutes between Southampton and Bournemouth is implausibly fast !
(6) The RTC times conflict with an SWT service the 10:35 Waterloo to Weymouth train eg between Poole (dep 12:37) and Wareham (dep 12:49)
(7) To the best of my knowledge locos have been correctly shown at uksteam.info.

David

 

For those who aren't aware - you need to know that UKsteam.info is provided in good faith, and from the kindness of his heart, by GWR4090 of this parish. It's usually accurate and up-to-date, because he has good relationships with people close to the ground in the steam business. Occassionally, it's not completely accurate or not brought up-to-date until the last minute. It's not part of the tour companies' advertising channels and should not be considered "official" in the way that some posters seem to expect.

There are lots of issues raised by this discussion, but essentially it comes down to what compromises are practical when rostered locomotives are unavailable. Considerations include:
- support crew availibility;
- gauging a loco for a route, both external dimensions and axle weight;
- loco speed and power compared with the weight of train, gradients, available paths, distance between coal/water stops;
- loco brake vs. coaching stock;
- arranging inspections, FTR, routine maintenance, etc;
- price per mile;
and probably many more similar issues.

Some posters on here seem to assume that Bittern and Tangmere were both equally able to move to Crewe last Thursday and equally suitable to replace Ollie for an unspecified period. They also seem to assume that all steam locos are part of a single operation, duty-bound to cover for all and any failures. Although more locos are being concentrated in a smaller number of owners' hands, we haven't reached that situation yet. Good will, proffessionalism and a knowledge that favours get returned in this business, mean that most times, someone will step into the breach and cover for another owner's misfortune, but it should not be taken for granted.

It ill behoves those of us who get our steam fix from the lineside (Buseng, amongst others) to whine about not being able to photograph the particular loco we hoped to see. Our challenge is to get good pictures despite the set-backs by keeping informed, understanding the background and, above all, applying a little thought to the problem.

Sorry - end of sermon (but someone needed to say it).

 

I will admit I did not realise where the UKSteam info came from as you may have realised I thought it was the operating companies that provided the info, so thank you. I agree with everything you've said. At the end of the day the loco owners have to run them as a business, cos if they didn't then we wouldn't be blessed with the huge range of what's currently out there, so they're going to send their locos to wherever they need to to make the money, which subsequently hopefully goes to keeping the loco steaming hence win win for all I will never moan about loco changes as it's great to see any steam loco on the mainline, it just gets a little annoying sometimes when you get these last minute changes / uncertainty as I need to plan quite a bit in advance at times when I can nip out of work etc, but that's my problem & it's never my intention to 'make a big deal' out of anything!

I do have a question re. UKSteam, Network Rail etc & it's just to get an understanding of how things work really & nothing else. I take it the company operating the tour apply to Network Rail to use a particular route at a particular time do they? And just how flexible on the day is that routing & timing, or is that like asking how long is piece of string cos I guess it would depend on many factors such as the amount of traffic on that route? I guess a good example of timing flexibility was this Saturdays The Lakelander, as since it was an hour or so late at its destination, it was decided to leave an hour later for the return trip - I doubt you'd be able to do that down here with the traffic levels. From a routing perspective, say purely for example that we use tomorows tour, the original path via' Winchester & the current UKSteam path via Romsey - do RYTC still have permission to use the original path & times should they end up using Steam both ways full the full distance as that would be the appropriate route, or as they've now taken the current route do they sacrifice their option of using the original route regardless of motive power & what would be deemed as the more appropriate route???

 

Please do NOT quote my name in your posts without my express permission, which I have NOT given! Please remove it with immediate effect or I will request further action against you from the forum staff! I am not whining, just stating facts nor have I mentioned anything about taking photographs or getting a "steam fix". This particular tour does not even pass through my area for a start. What makes you think my "steam fix" only comes from the lineside anyway, you should get your facts right before you start making accusations. By the way I have not said anything about uksteam either.
If you want to make a sermon, go to church!

 

Not sure where the times on the brochure came from but they would take some keeping to especially 16 minutes from Redbridge pass to Bournemouth stop!
They are also different to the times in RTC's advert in the Bournemouth Echo on 6th July 2011. All the info I have seen for this week suggests 60019 down to Weymouth with diesel back to Southampton - would be delighted if it had changed again! DH

 

Where are the mods when they are needed? This discussion is getting nasty and needs calming down especially if David Randles has to step in to protect
his own corner.The result of this bickering could end in David becoming really annoyed and throwing in the towel. What a mess we would be in then. <BJ>

 

I am only trying to protect myself, I strongly object to my (user)name being dragged through the mud on a public forum & people trying to put me down. Not once have I mentioned uksteam or David.

 

Due to 34067 staying in Crewe for the next friday Scarboro' David is,as usual, correct!
60019/DoNZ to Weymouth+back from Southampton via Andover. I spoke to Mr Dobbing to confirm in the last hour.
I am reluctant to post updates because of the lack of good manners+general respect. If this improves I will restart posts. There are MANY hot items at present.

I am posting to support David/UK steam. Many equivalent sites in Europe are dying-most recently the Italian one!
Mods--please tidy up this thread,please.
No PMs please

 

christ talk about a tatrum! Its a forum dude, you do not need permission to mention your name, get a grip

back to the tour! i shall be out taking photos of this tomorrow over near pirbright, for one i am really looking forward to my first look at the A4 in garter blue, i hope all on this have a most enjoyable day out
Matt

 

Ray

Thanks for the confirmation.

Paul

 

Likewise. It's a shame that nobody told RYTC staff, who were insistent on the phone throughout the day, that this was not the case!