Steam excursion - CANCELLED

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Steam Dreams - http://www.steamdreams.com/ - running from Banbury, Radley, Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to  Exeter St David's, Paignton and Kingswear.    Provisional timing - 07:30 from Swindon, 08:00 from Chippenham, 08:15 from Melksham, arriving back 20:15 (Melksham), 20:25 (Chippenham) and 20:50 (Swindon).

Fares from £99 to Exeter, £109 to Paignton or Kingswear

Note

This trip will be diesel hauled between Banbury & the West Country in both directions.

and

YOUR LOCOMOTIVE: 34046 Braunton is a ‘Bulleid Light Pacific’ express passenger engine designed by Oliver Bulleid.

I've checked with Steam Dreams - current plans are Vintage Diesel to Westbury, with Braunton from there to Kingswear and back.

[ChrisB]

I guess that's why they show this photo beside the write up

FFS^▸ (for goodness' sake (a more polite definition))

[grahame]

I've checked with Steam Dreams - current plans are Vintage Diesel to Westbury, with Braunton from there to Kingswear and back.

And now the changeover has been moved to Taunton, with differing messages as to whether Braunton's being taken off there on the return or working through.   Also to note: not sure if it's vintage or modern diesel for the Banbury to Taunton section.

[grahame]

Topic temporarily moved to moderator's area.

I have taken a phone call from Steam Dreams to tell me that the train has been cancelled.  They have just sent letter out first class, and would rather the news reaches customers from them, with background, rather than by reading about it on a public forum.

Tomorrow I'll go round the TIC^▸ (Tourist Information Centre) and various other places in town that there's literature from SteamDreams and 'pull' it!

[grahame]

An update from SteamDreams posted to passenger on 1st September

24 SEPTEMBER 2016: BANBURY TO EXETER, PAIGNTON & KINGSWEAR

It is with great regret and profuse apologies that we write to advise you that we have taken the difficult decision to cancel this trip due to several issues that we have only recently been made aware of.

We have been advised this week by the custodians of our rostered steam locomotive 34046 ‘Braunton’ that it has been withdrawn from this trip due to ongoing issues with its wheelsets sustained on another tour a little over a month ago, and unfortunately repairs will not be complete in time for our trip on 24 September.

Additionally, we have been informed of overnight engineering works which close the railway line between Oxford and Banbury. These come into effect before the time we would pass back through to Banbury, which means that the train would have to terminate at Didcot. The engineering works were not scheduled or known to us when we planned this tour last year.

We do not take the decision to cancel any of our tours lightly, however, with no likely steam locomotive available and gauge cleared for the route in the South West to Kingswear, we are left with little option but to cancel the trip.

Letter goes on to describe options available to passengers who were booked on the train

[bobm]

Additionally, we have been informed of overnight engineering works which close the railway line between Oxford and Banbury. These come into effect before the time we would pass back through to Banbury, which means that the train would have to terminate at Didcot. The engineering works were not scheduled or known to us when we planned this tour last year.

These late notice engineering works have also prompted GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to suspend seat reservations on the 18th September while a revised train plan is drawn up.

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17396.0

[ChrisB]

There is still a poster up on the Banbury Community Notice Board at Banbury - it will be removed this evening.

[grahame]

SteamDreams let me know on Thursday that - with deep regret - they have had to cancel the heritage service scheduled to traverse the TransWilts and call at Melksham on 24th September;  now that all passengers who were booked will have received notification in the post, I can pass on the news on the public boards (this thread has been in the moderator's area for a couple of days).

We have been advised this week by the custodians of our rostered steam locomotive 34046 'Braunton' that it has been withdrawn from this trip due to ongoing issues with its wheelsets sustained on another tour a little over a month ago, and unfortunately repairs will not be complete in time for our trip on 24 September.

Additionally, we have been informed of overnight engineering works which close the railway line between Oxford and Banbury. These come into effect before the time we would pass back through to Banbury, which means that the train would have to terminate at Didcot. The engineering works were not scheduled or known to us when we planned this tour last year.