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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Tech arms race erupts in bid to beat fare-dodgers
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on: Yesterday at 07:21:04
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* Remove loopholes in the system that make it easier to avoid paying the right fare in the first place
Split tickets cause all sorts of challenges. They may offer the traveller a cheaper journey, but they cause all sorts of challenges to the operators. I have heard stories of folk purchasing split tickets for their journey; showing the relevant part when asked to show their ticket; and then applying for a refund for the tickets not checked - and openly boasting about it! That is certainly a form of fare evasion. |
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions / Re: Guest locomotive / running on the wrong lines
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on: June 09, 2025, 22:04:49
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I appreciate that this topic relates to visiting locomotives on heritage lines, but it is very disappointing to see mainline steam railtours using locomotives from other BR▸ Regions. I know it is down to ownership and where the locos are based, but why use ex-LMS▸ or ex-SR▸ locos on the likes of the Royal Duchy or Torbay Express when there are ex-GWR▸ locomotives available?
A couple of years ago, an 'Atlantic Coast Express' commemoration railtour from London Waterloo to Exeter St David's via Salisbury and Yeovil Junction was hauled by a Black 5, whilst a Merchant Navy was being used on a Settle and Carlisle railtour!
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions / Re: Champion Reflections
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on: May 13, 2025, 22:38:01
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The return from Plymouth started 40 minutes late after being held up by control who, we were told, were concerned that if we departed on time, there was a risk of delaying scheduled services because of the time it would take to "cross onto the South Devon Railway at Totnes". If this really is what was the cause, it's the biggest load of hookum I've heard in a long time.
Sort of true! The timing of the tour meant that departure from Totnes and crossover to the branch was just 3 minutes after the last scheduled SDR service of the day, so there would have been a possibility of blocking the main line until the scheduled SDR service had cleared Staverton. Also, that scheduled SDR service was timed to take 30 minutes to get to Buckfastleigh, but the tour only 20 minutes - so something had to give. |
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions / Champion Reflections
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on: May 10, 2025, 23:06:43
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Vintage Trains ran the 'South Devon Explorer' railtour from Birmingham New Street to Plymouth via Banbury, Bath and Bristol on Saturday, 10th May 2025. The tour was headed throughout by an immaculately turned out Class 52, D1015 'Western Champion'. The return leg had a brief diversion up the South Devon Railway to Buckfastleigh and was assisted from the rear by Class 37, 37240. Weather conditions for photography were perfect. I photted the outward leg of the tour at Ellerhayes Bridge, between Cullompton and Exeter; the South Devon Railway deviation at Dartington; and finally at Gibraltar Bridge, Cullompton. As you would expect, photters were out in their numbers! I would have liked a wider angle shot of the tour by the River Dart, but any wider than this would have resulted in a swarm of cameras and photters in the image!     |
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Journey by Journey / Heart of Wessex / Re: Closure of Bridport branch
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on: May 05, 2025, 21:15:55
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The Dorset Echo also has a piece about the closure today IT has been 50 years since the railway branch between Maiden Newton and Bridport closed.
This railway closed on May 5, 1975, the goods service having been withdrawn on April 5, 1975.
The line first opened on November 12, 1857.
It was extended to West Bay in 1884, but the extension was not well used and it closed to passengers in 1930, however the extension remained open for goods until December 3, 1962.
Although it was a little used service, on the last day 50 years ago extra carriages had to be laid on for the huge interest with local people wanting to ride the last train.
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/25128279.50-years-since-bridport-maiden-newton-railway-closed/ The caption on the image at the top of the piece is incorrect. The train is at Bridport station, not West Bay! |
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Journey by Journey / Heart of Wessex / Re: Closure of Bridport branch
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on: May 04, 2025, 16:19:01
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Quoting from a previous thread relating to a proposal to reopen the Bridport Branch..... Although I no longer have any direct connection with Bridport [both my parents and all grandparents came from Bridport or surrounding villages], I have retained an interest in 'the Bridport railway'. Knowing closure was imminent, Mum and I wanted a photographic record. The quality is not brilliant as the pictures were 'home' developed and the negatives were kept in a drawer in the loft for many years before being recovered and scanned. A photographic record of the Bridport Branch |
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions / Re: Steam excursion - except there's much more diesel than steam!
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on: May 03, 2025, 13:03:00
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https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/05/steam-locomotive-34046-braunton-to-pass-through-dawlish-this-saturday.htmlThe tour starts with a diesel locomotive at Poole, where it will depart at 06:34. The train will then pass through Bournemouth (06:47), Brockenhurst (07:17), Southampton Central (07:40), Eastleigh (07:56), Salisbury (08:50), Warminster (09:16), Westbury (09:25) and Taunton at 10:23, where 34046 Braunton is attached.
With 34046 now on the front of the train, 34046 Braunton will pass through Tiverton Parkway (11:15), Dawlish Warren (11:52), Dawlish (12:10), Newton Abbot (12:16), Paignton (12:34) and Kingswear at 13:15. [personal opinion piece] So that's about 4 hours behind a diesel, half an hour for a loco change, an hour and a quarter behind a steam engine on the main line, then a final section on a heritage line where you could travel behind a steam engine anyway. Said excursion passing Ellerhayes Bridge, between Cullompton and Exeter. Braunton only acting as a figurehead with the diesel(s) doing the work!  |
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions / Re: Steam excursion - except there's much more diesel than steam!
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on: May 01, 2025, 13:13:42
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Many moons ago, on 14th February 2009, as a 30-year long-service award, my company paid for myself and my wife to be pampered aboard a British Pullman dining experience behind Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific, 35028 'Clan Line' (if I'd paid for it myself, I'd have needed a second mortgage!). You barely noticed that you were behind a steam locomotive! The onboard experience was the attraction (I won't say the scenery - unless you enjoy the south London suburbs and Surrey Hills!).
Rather more recently, I treated my daughter (who is an avid Harry Potter fan) to a weekend around Glenfinnan. As part of that weekend, we boarded a Scotrail Class 156 unit and travelled from Fort William to Mallaig and back. We saw exactly the same scenery as the tourists on board The Jacobite at a (huge tiny) fraction of the price. We witnessed The Jacobite cross the viaduct from a couple of lineside vantage points.
As an avid railway photographer, I would gladly phot a steam excursion from lineside, but as a participant of a railtour, it really does not matter what the motive power is.
*** Edited to correct one word which meant exactly the opposite to what I meant to convey! ***
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