Saphos 2024

The thing I find somewhat surprising about this debate is we are talking not about a couple of people who happened to see an advert and thought this would be a nice day out, but folks related to a member of this forum since 2007 and has over a 1000 posts.
Personally I find it inconceivable that during that time @hatherton hall has not become fully aware of the risks that mainline tours are subjected to, and would have advised the travellers of the potential risks.
If you add potential issues caused by the TOC, to those which are caused by NR through infrastructure failures timing or gauging, or regular TOC's delays or industrial action of some sort or another it is not at all unlikely that your tour will be delayed.
Take this week, on Wednesday there is the Swanage Belle on a day where at least at the London end temperatures may nudge 30C. I fully expect the return if not the outbound to be delayed by some failure, track circuits, points, signals, due to the heat, as that is what normally seems to happen on hot days on the Weymouth line.
And all of this is before you factor in PHBT or people climbing on infrastructure or trespass.
I think booking something in advance during a tour layover is an amazingly ballsy decision, especially where someone close to the passengers must know how these tour work.
It would be like me telling a friend who asked to believe airport minimum connecting times.

 

I suggest a read of the Consumer Rights Act, and considering how that may come up against those T&Cs if push came to shove - and that's accepting that, on the day, these were necessary changes.

I don't know why @hatherton hall's acquaintances booked, but to suggest that because you book in a particular spirit that should define everyone's booking is absurd. Their motives have been described, and deserve to be seen in good faith - as do their reactions.

That is what matters, and telling them they're wrong simply doesn't cut it.

 

Could not agree more!

 

Looking at the times on RTT, I assume that today's Welsh Marches is now diesel hauled right through to Shrewsbury northbound, with one of the LS steam fleet working back as far as Bristol this afternoon?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U15966/2024-06-25/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U15971/2024-06-25/detailed

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U15103/2024-06-25/detailed I expect that this is 61306

Andrew

 

Thanks Andrew. That's what I'd originally expected and I see it left BTM late: plenty of time to change engines. A very early departure had been shown as Expected earlier.

 

I was watching the movements at Bristol TM on Open Train Times. I believe that there may have been a problem with one of the 47s again as there appeared to be several light engine moves. [BJ]

 

The height of the sun in summer isn't the best time for photography but needs must as I'm busy all afternoon.
After being looped at Wooferton to allow a service train to pass, 61306 is working well up the 1 in 112 climb at Little Stretton (and sounding superb) - and me managing to be in a gap in the building cloud

(a ps: for anyone venturing down the A49 this afternoon there are roadworks at Leebotwood and two sets at Church Stretton all with lights)

 

Does anyone have a link for the LE move from BTM to Bishops Lydeard this evening ?

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U15973/2024-06-25/detailed

 

Thank you very much.

 

Without its support coach?

 

Today's (Paignton)- Bristol- Shrewsbury with 61306 Mayflower approaching Leominster today.

 

I notice [very belatedly!] that this tour was delayed severely at Poole because the consist included a Mk III coach with long swing link bogies - which are banned from 3rd rail territory I believe.
My informant said that the errant vehicle had to be removed and placed in sidings behind Poole Speedway stadium before the train resumed it's journey to Weymouth reached around 3 hours late.
It left after only about 90 minutes in the resort - and still 36 minutes late.
I had heard a rumour that a road haulier had inspected the site in Poole and decided he wanted nothing to do with coach recovery.
Presumably the Mk III is not still at Poole. Does anyone have any news as to what happened to it please?

 

I'm on Saturday's tour to Weymouth so I'll try and have a look in the sidings as we leave Poole if you like. The coach affected was one of the ScotRail liveried Mk3s. Passengers had to be re-seated in other coaches although, looking at the Trip Advisor reviews from affected passengers, the onboard staff dealt with the situation well.

By the way, the tour affected was the Dorset Coast Statesman on 15th June, so not actually the Saphos one being discussed upthread.

 

My original post was moved to this Saphos thread by a Moderator.

 

A headboard less Gresley heads through Bamber Bridge with todays Fellsman

 

That diesel on the back does look very smart.

 

It was still there last week, when I went past on the train pictured in Railway Herald taken by a friend (from a drone). Afaik it still is. It does look a very difficult site to get it out by road. I suppose they could turn the power off one night between Poole and Weymouth and send a 47 to take it via Pen Mill ( or cut it up on site?)
It was of course at Statesman trip, but we do not seem to have a Statesman thread. They should be having another go this Saturday to get to Weymouth without any issues.

 

After failing to turn out for last week's returning Scarborough Spa, Oswald was in need of some mainline steam. Unlike the sunny south today was very much, welcome to the soggy north, the rains of June had returned/continued. The forecasters had somewhat conflicting opinions about when and how much rain would fall but both agreed that there would be rain - Oswald reached for the WD40 (again)! I had planned to head over to Hoghton but with an iffy forecast decided to go to Brownhill instead (where the car can be parked only a few yards away). I thought that I might try the grassed area just behind the new houses - but events conspired against me.

Diego did not leave for his "other" home until around 10pm last night but at 8am this morning he was already waiting to come in. His "mum" had already left for work and I have no doubt that he would have been fed but that didn't stop the "Tubby Tabby" from wanting another breakfast with us. Having fed him I left Mrs W in charge and headed for the car.

Thankfully it was not raining but the sky was as dull as an England football match. I headed towards the M65 junction at Guide, the traffic was heavy but moving as I approached the first set of traffic lights (through in 4 changes), the next lights weren't working and, despite having to turn right, I sailed through them faster than had they been in operation. It was a very slow stop, start approach to the lights approaching the M65 junction where again I needed to make a right turn. There is a right turn lane and a right turn signal on the lights, but the road was solid with traffic and nothing could turn right. After 3 changes of the lights and no progress I decided to take a detour. The straight on lane was empty so I switched lanes and headed towards Oswaldtwistle - never a bad thing! At this point it started to rain but on the plus side there was no traffic heading in that direction, a left at the roundabout towards Knuzden, then a right, through the school traffic and finally onto the ring road. I arrived at Brownhill, where it hadn't rained, at 08.48 with the train due around 09.00.

There was already a photographer waiting, I set up alongside him (not enough time to wander round in the grass picking a suitable spot). Sir Nigel was in Blackburn station. Another couple of photographers arrived, they had already photographed the train on Hoghton Bank. Everyone was happy to see that the sun was hidden by the cloud (if it shone it would be on the "wrong side").

RTT showed SNG left Blackburn 3L - not long now. Away to the west there were some gaps in the cloud, hopefully too far away to be of concern. Some white exhaust over the trees to the right as 60007 worked away from Daisyfield towards Cob Wall. Finally onto the long straight and coming our way, there was plenty of lovely white exhaust. As the A4 came nearer the sound of the Kylchap grew louder, 60007 was giving it plenty. Nearer still, I gestured for a blast on the chime whistle and got one - if you don't ask you don't get! Thank you. Sir Nigel sounded and looked spot on, the coaches passed by and finally 57.311 on the back. The diesel engine was running but the loco was "doing nothing", making a load of 14+ coaches up the 1/127/162r from Daisyfield. 11C, around 7L & 34mph. A proper treat! As I set off on the journey home the sun came out, later in the journey it started to rain - Lucky Oswald!