Steam train SPAD at Wootton Bassett Junction, 7 March 2015 - RAIB investigation

[whole diary]

[Adelante_CCT]

Yes it was, it ran via Newbury outwards and then encountered the problem via Swindon on the Return leg

[Cynthia]

Does this SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) raise some difficult questions about steam locomotive drivers on main lines?

[bobm]

Think that had better wait until the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) publish their report.

[Chris from Nailsea]

In the interests of clarity and continuity, I've now moved / merged both topics relating to the same incident here. 

[ChrisB]

The train involved with the SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) was Tangmere on a Bristol to Southend trip. Has Southend got a Cathedral?

[ChrisB]

you've got some sorting of threads/responses to do now :-)

[Tim]

Does this SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) raise some difficult questions about steam locomotive drivers on main lines?

agree with bobm that we should wait for the report before saying too much on driver actions.  But my assumption would be that the people who drive steam locos on the main line are usually also qualified to drive modern traction on the main line as well.  They will be people who work for a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) or FOC^▸ (Freight Operating Company) who have driving steam locos as an extra string to their bow rather than a separate category of drivers with very little mainline experience. 

[thetrout]

Has Southend got a Cathedral?

No it hasn't. Although Southend-on-Sea has applied for City Status. It has yet to gain it and as such remains a (very large) Town.

It does have 4 Railway Stations however: Southend Central, Southend East, Southend Victoria and Southend Airport. Prittlewell could also be debated as a 5th Railway Station for Southend. As this is the only Railway Station between Southend Airport and Southend Victoria

Now how many stations connected to the main line network does Wells have? Which is a City

[ChrisB]

Suspect it was the Cathedrals Express on the 7th March which was later involved in the SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) at Wootton Bassett Junction.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=15554.0

[Adelante_CCT]

All west coast railway operations have now been suspended because of this for at least six weeks.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/statement-west-coast-railways-suspension-notice

[PhilWakely]

All west coast railway operations have now been suspended because of this for at least six weeks.

Could have some far-reaching consequences looking here http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs15.htm.

I guess a number of the tours will just be re-scheduled, but I notice that the 9-day 'Great Britain VIII' railtour is using WCRC staff and stock and that is currently scheduled for 28th April to 6th May, which may not be quite so easy to re-schedule.
 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

Quote from westcoast facebook https://www.facebook.com/westcoast.railways?fref=ts

  Network Rail and West Coast Railways
West Coast Railways are working hard to reverse the current suspension imposed by Network Rail by fully satisfying their concerns. Passengers booked to travel with West Coast Railways and on their associated trips should not be concerned, if necessary West Coast Railways will charter the service of another licensed operator using the same traditional carriages and trips will be unaffected, but West Coast Railways hope this won^t be necessary and trust any issues will be resolved to the satisfaction of network rail.

[JayMac]

Just one minute earlier and there could have been a collision with a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train), according to RAIL magazine.

http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2015/04/02/west-coast-railways-operating-licence-suspended

[bobm]

Fifteen seconds earlier and there could well have been a derailment as the points were, until then, still set for the HST^▸ (High Speed Train).

[chrisr_75]

For those interested, a link to the PDF download of the full suspension document from NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to WCR:

To download PDF immediately http://cdn.prgloo.com/media/download/b7098d6b804f4b85b49fd8581943c40e

Link to document page http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/resources/wcr-suspension-notice

Doesn't make for good reading from WCR's perspective, it seems there are a lot of shortcomings in their operation and it appears they also had a serious falling out with NR earlier this year.