The Southend - Oxford/Worcester 'Cathedrals Express' headed by 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' on Saturday 19 March is under threat as tour organiser Steam Dreams will need to find a new train operator following the ORR/HMRI issuing a prohibition notice to West Coast Railway Co following a number of serious safety related incidents. If it goes ahead with another operator, the train will the first time 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' has run over the Barking - Gospel Oak route and the last steam special to run over the line before closure for electrification works.
Glenn Wallis
Secretary
BGORUG
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Steam Watchers had better make the most of 'Flying Scotsman' this coming Thursday 25th Feb then - it could be months before steam is seen around here again.
'Flying Scotsman' is due around 0745 at Harringay station (precise time not yet available) on its way to York, where it will stay as part of its return to traffic.
Given the amount of publicity (e.g. BBC News story here) there will be many more watchers than normal - and it's in the middle of the rush hour.
For the foreseeable future, the only other steam hauled excursions will be the Belmond Pullman (aka Orient Express) trips from Victoria, hauled by 'Tornado' which is not operated by WCRC.
PS Link to ORR Prohibition notice to WCRC here which has a link to the detailed letter of prohibition. Reading the letter, I was reminded of the recent criticisms about autocratic leadership, lack of clear management structures, insufficient internal controls, at Kids Company. I hope this turns out better.
Its very difficult to kmow what will happen. The ORR has issued a prohibition notice, not revoked WCRC's license to operate. There is the court case over the Wooton Bassett SPAD pending and WCRC have to prove to ORR that they have effective systems in place to operate safely on the main line. Gordon has already alluded to the owner's management style, which has been well known for many years, predating the formation WCRC, when Carnforth ran specials in BR days. Knowing his temperament, its quite possible he will cancel his operators license and rely on Carnforth's engineering business to supply steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock to train charter companies using another train operating company to run the tour.
Belmond, UK Railtours and Pathfinder Railtours are the only companies who never used WCRC. The only other TOCs with national operations licenses to operate railtours are the frieght operators DB Schenker (DRS) and GBRf. Government owned Direct Rail Services (DRS) has operated diesel railtours. Railtours, especially steam ones, are very much a periphery activity for these operators and there must be doubt if they can take up all the slack created by the sudden departure of WCRC.
We may see Princess Elizabeth on 19 March running on DBS's license, we just have to wait and see!
Re Flying Scotsman, the uksteam.info site reports that today's (Monday) test run York-Scarborough-York has been cancelled because of a broken spring.
Flying Scotsman is booked to travel from York to London on Tuesday (scheduled timings here) so it's unclear if that will happen Tuesday, Wednesday or at all.
I see the NRM are now using DBS as their operator, no news yet about what Steam Dreams are going to do, so the 19 March trip with Princess Elizabeth over the T&H is still in doubt.
Re Flying Scotsman, Tuesday's trip from York has been deferred to Wednesday - details here. If it runs, it will be at Harringay about 1600 - and it may be hauled by a diesel rather than running on its own.
And if 'The Inaugural Run' happens on Thursday, it should pass Harringay about 0745, (not 0755) based on a "0740 approx" Kings Cross departure (source, the Flying Scotsman/Steam Dreams websites).
Steam Dreams have confirmed that their 19 March Cathedrals Express with 6201 Princess Elizabeth from Southend East/Basildon/Upminster and over the T&H Lane to West Hampstead/Oxford/Worcester is going ahead. I assume DB Schenker has taken over as licensed train operator. It remains to be seen whether the regular WCRC owned maroon Cathedrals Express coaches will be used or if, as with Flying Scotsman on Thursday, Riviera Trains will supply the coaches.
This train will be the last steam hauled train before the closure for electrification and so we are unlikely to see another steam train on the line until late 2017.
Bad news! Just checked Steam Dreams' website. The 19 March Southend East/Basildon/Upminster/T&H LIne/West Hampstead to Oxford/Worcester Cathedrals Express is going ahead BUT will be diesel hauled to West London (probably Hanwell Loop) before 6201 Princess Elizabeth comes on the train. This is a huge disappointent as it would have been "Lizzie's" first trip over our line and now we won't see another steam special on the line until after it reopens in a year's time.
Ho! Hum!
Glenn Wallis
Secretary
Barking - Gospel Oak Rail User Group
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