Great Western Coffee Shop

Journey by Journey => Plymouth and Cornwall => Topic started by: Kernow Otter on January 26, 2021, 18:43:54



Title: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Kernow Otter on January 26, 2021, 18:43:54
As suggested by others, and collated into a poll by me. 

Given the opportunity to convey visiting world leaders, by train on the St Ives Branch line, what rolling stock would you choose.

Thanks all.


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Electric train on January 26, 2021, 19:12:33
Wester Region classics double heading either -

2 Class 52, 4 Maybach's

or 

2 Class 50, the throb of 2 English Electric's

We should only provide such raw power for the world leaders


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: johnneyw on January 26, 2021, 19:25:57
It's only a short hop. Showcase a battery powered DTrain.*



*If they fly to Cornwall.

Edit to add proviso.


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: bobm on January 26, 2021, 20:55:18
Is the Royal Train cleared for the branch or could it be after this month?s track work?


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: RichardB on January 26, 2021, 23:19:40
Is the Royal Train cleared for the branch or could it be after this month?s track work?

It probably is and always was fine, Bob, but given the Queen herself changed at St Erth from the Royal Train on to the branch 150 in 2013, I think the hassle is just too much unless, say, it's a winter Sunday.

Can see Boris and Joe Biden in the front coach of the 150 with the travelling public in the other three coaches (specially strengthened train).  Hope it happens.


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Andy on January 27, 2021, 01:07:48
For a steam special what would be the most appropriate haulage: Mallard? Princess Elizabeth? Britannia? Bodmin? City of Truro?

For a top and tailed diesel consist, I'd have:
At either end, Merkel in a DB Schenker liveried 67 and Biden in the cab of a 66 or a 70. The Italian PM (whoever that will be) in a Pullman coach, Japan's PM Suga in a Hitachi Javelin coach, President Macron in a Eurostar coach, and Trudeau in a Voyager coach. Ideas for PM Johnson might include a 1940s dining saloon, Caroline, or a Wickham Trolley.


 


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: CyclingSid on January 27, 2021, 07:21:46
To keep up his "long-distance" cycling exercise, how about Boris on one of this "see-saw" trolleys much loved in films. https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/08/c6/6c/d3/lincolnshire-coast-light.jpg (https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/08/c6/6c/d3/lincolnshire-coast-light.jpg) I will leave others to suggest who should be pushing/pulling the other end of the handle.


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Bob_Blakey on January 27, 2021, 10:04:28
It surely has to be the most modern, technologically advanced machine available. And, possibly tempting fate, preferably designed and/or built in the UK (if such a thing exists).


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: stuving on January 27, 2021, 10:14:01
It surely has to be the most modern, technologically advanced machine available. And, possibly tempting fate, preferably designed and/or built in the UK (if such a thing exists).

Yes, Joe's known interest in trains has been in new, shiny, fast ones. Much the best for commuting from Delaware to Washington. Does he have any known interest in the other kind?


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: grahame on January 27, 2021, 10:28:51
It surely has to be the most modern, technologically advanced machine available. And, possibly tempting fate, preferably designed and/or built in the UK (if such a thing exists).

Yes, Joe's known interest in trains has been in new, shiny, fast ones. Much the best for commuting from Delaware to Washington. Does he have any known interest in the other kind?

The alternative, perhaps, is an activity that gets picked up by the press and promotes tourism for when these things start again, for the mutual benefit of the long distance travel sector in the USA, the UK and the other countries attending.   The beautiful countryside and lovely lines, and old(er) and heritage lines right across Devon and Cornwall would suggest a sparklingly clear 150 or a the Railmotor.    How much is Joe (who has one or two other things on his plate) and how much is the marketing exposure for our local tourist industry?


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: ellendune on January 27, 2021, 11:09:50
I am going to be unpopular here, but I am going to suggest bringing in a battery electric train from somewhere. Here is why:

1) Climate change is a key item on the agenda of the conference.
2) UK is already seen as harking back to days of empire not looking forward so heritage trains would just add to that impression.


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: TonyK on January 27, 2021, 13:29:00
I am going to be unpopular here, but I am going to suggest bringing in a battery electric train from somewhere. Here is why:

1) Climate change is a key item on the agenda of the conference.
2) UK is already seen as harking back to days of empire not looking forward so heritage trains would just add to that impression.

Good idea, but the way these things usually go, we would probably have the train delivered on two lorries, with a third bringing the back-up batteries, and a fourth the diesel generator to charge them, plus a fifth with a backup generator. Plus a couple of two trucks on standby in case the lorries break down, and two diesel locos brought down specially from Aberdeen for if the train sits down. Oh, and a reserve Intercity Express Train -(IET) . Following in a fleet of armoured cars flown in from the US by C17s would be the secret service detail, with our own police and SAS in case they get too trigger happy, the presidential medical team in an ambulance, a separate car with that suitcase that makes the world go boom, all overseen by a couple of V-22 Ospreys, recently arrived from North Carolina. These would all need fuelling, as would the couple of hundred people needed to make sure the president can enjoy some time alone, so we can expect a number of pizza wagons and a tanker.


Edit: VickiS - clarifying acronym.


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Bmblbzzz on January 27, 2021, 13:57:35
Nine-car Intercity Express Train - (IET) . Each of the seven leaders with their staff gets a carriage to themselves. One car as a mobile conference room and the final one for general staff: security, catering (at-seat service*), media, psychosocial therapies for highly stressed heads of state**, et cetera.

*Sounds more impressive than 'trolley'.
**Provided by Lego and Hornby.




Edit: VickiS - clarifying acronym


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Red Squirrel on January 27, 2021, 14:57:28
I'm with johnneyw and ellendune - we should be showcasing something forward-looking and carbon neutral. TonyK makes a good point that it's no good just giving lip-service to this, but the optics matter.

We can't do much about the size of the presidential entourage!


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Jamsdad on January 27, 2021, 15:12:49
Do keep in mind that St Erth to Carbis Bay only takes 7 minutes!


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: broadgage on January 27, 2021, 15:46:41
The preserved blue pullman liveried High Speed Train (HST) would be impressive, and the get you home redundancy of two power cars would avoid exceedingly embarssing failures.
A steam railmotor is tempting but unlikely to have the capacity.

Something new and green and forward looking would send out the right messages, but do we have anything that is available, reliable, of sufficient capacity, and comfortable ?


Edit: VickiS - clarifying acronym


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: TaplowGreen on January 27, 2021, 17:12:54
Nine-car IET. Each of the seven leaders with their staff gets a carriage to themselves. One car as a mobile conference room and the final one for general staff: security, catering (at-seat service*), media, psychosocial therapies for highly stressed heads of state**, et cetera.

*Sounds more impressive than 'trolley'.
**Provided by Lego and Hornby.

I get that some (most) of these suggestions are whimsical and aren't 100% serious, however have you considered how the security services may view the idea of the 7 most powerful people on the Globe stuck together on a train in this way, and what a soft target it would present?


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: RichardB on January 27, 2021, 17:13:34
It surely has to be the most modern, technologically advanced machine available. And, possibly tempting fate, preferably designed and/or built in the UK (if such a thing exists).

Yes, Joe's known interest in trains has been in new, shiny, fast ones. Much the best for commuting from Delaware to Washington. Does he have any known interest in the other kind?

The alternative, perhaps, is an activity that gets picked up by the press and promotes tourism for when these things start again, for the mutual benefit of the long distance travel sector in the USA, the UK and the other countries attending.   The beautiful countryside and lovely lines, and old(er) and heritage lines right across Devon and Cornwall would suggest a sparklingly clear 150 or a the Railmotor.    How much is Joe (who has one or two other things on his plate) and how much is the marketing exposure for our local tourist industry?

We'll be using the G7 to bang the drum for Cornwall's scenic railways as much as we can.  


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Witham Bobby on January 27, 2021, 17:43:48
As a director of the owning company of ex-GW 2-6-2T 5542 and auto trailer W233, which do have documentation to run of the big railway, maybe I can help?


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Clan Line on January 28, 2021, 14:46:46

1.  Would this fit into a C17 ?
2.  Could this be coupled to a 150 ?

(https://i.postimg.cc/hvz6KwbB/IMG-08375-731x535.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: grahame on January 28, 2021, 15:10:30
Noting "Philadelphia and Reading", I wondered if there's a Philadelphia in the UK - amazing what you learn when following links - see ((here)) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1815_Philadelphia_train_accident) - a new one to me!


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Jamsdad on January 28, 2021, 18:12:34
Philadelphia Tyne & Wear


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: grahame on February 15, 2021, 17:11:36
Subject has gone quiet ... I have marked poll to close in 24 hours ...


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: johnneyw on February 15, 2021, 19:27:42
Forgive my ignorance but is the "Royal Train" still in existence?  Showcasing the latest "green" rail tech might be the right thing to do but the temptation to use that might prove irresistible.I

Edit:  Apologies to Bobm, who I now see has already suggested this option.


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Lee on February 16, 2021, 00:15:39
Oh, come on - It has to be the Presidential People Mover, surely?

(https://friendlycreatives.co.uk/ppm/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FE3F796F-EE2F-4562-8D0F-DA03C4048B79-1018x460.jpg)


Title: Re: Presidential Rail Travel
Post by: Clan Line on February 16, 2021, 12:01:33

I assume the TOCs are just Biden their time before making their more sensible suggestions ........................



This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net