Weymouth - summer weekend loco-hauled services - 2008

[whole diary]

[Jim]

Yes I always enjoyed Watching the loco hauled specials  working their trains up the bank from Weymouth to Bincombe Tunnel from my back garden when I used to live at Upwey just outside Weymouth there is a lot more atmosphere from a loco hauled Train.

And all the windows lined with cranks..........

[Chris from Nailsea]

... there is a lot more atmosphere from a loco hauled Train.

Isn't it called 'pollution' these days?   

[devon_metro]

You'd be surprised Chris!

a 67 + 6 mk2s has one engine (admittedly a large one)
158+158+158 would have 6 engines all chucking out pollution,

So loco hauled travel is remarkably environmentally friendly!

[vacman]

You'd be surprised Chris!

a 67 + 6 mk2s has one engine (admittedly a large one)
158+158+158 would have 6 engines all chucking out pollution,

So loco hauled travel is remarkably environmentally friendly!

Not a great comaparison there D_M, a 67 engine chucks out about as much pollution as about 10 unit engines!!!!

[BRADNOCK]

Yee Gods.First you complain that there is no Extra trains  in the summer period when there is you complain about the thing is highly polluting and the customers are all cranks.Cranks they may be 67's  may be more polluting than DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)'s which are obviously not available. But at least they encourage more bums on seats  more revenue and hopefully it may encourage. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to improve the service.

[devon_metro]

You'd be surprised Chris!

a 67 + 6 mk2s has one engine (admittedly a large one)
158+158+158 would have 6 engines all chucking out pollution,

So loco hauled travel is remarkably environmentally friendly!

Not a great comaparison there D_M, a 67 engine chucks out about as much pollution as about 10 unit engines!!!!

Bah, most modern loco I could think of!

[tramway]

MkII stock in IC^▸ (Inter City) livery at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) last week between platforms 3 & 5 IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), thought they might have been on their way for a Weymouth service although I didn't see them at Westbury yesterday PM, anyone know what they are destined for?

Fragonset had a rake with 31's in matching livery for a while.

[Timmer]

If the weather this weekend is as good as it has been these past few days, I think FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will need to strengthen their Weymouth services this Saturday. FGW if you are reading this then its something worth considering bearing in mind all those who have been longingly looking out their office windows at the lovely weather these past few days will doubtless want to get out and enjoy it this weekend.

For any of you thinking about taking a trip to Weymouth please bear in mind that the winter timetable is still in operation and that there are no direct Weymouth services this coming Sunday in the morning with what afternoon services that run in the winter TT replaced by buses for part of the journey.

[John R]

Or you could go to Minehead instead.....

[oooooo]

MkII stock in IC^▸ (Inter City) livery at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) last week between platforms 3 & 5 IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), thought they might have been on their way for a Weymouth service although I didn't see them at Westbury yesterday PM, anyone know what they are destined for?

Fragonset had a rake with 31's in matching livery for a while.

The coachs you were on about were destined for storage at Long Marston. Had actually come from Meldon Quarry....

[Timmer]

According to the Western Daily Press the summer loco hauled service began operating this past weekend:

http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146238&command=displayContent&sourceNode=146064&contentPK=20712742&folderPk=100268&pNodeId=145795

Now all we need is for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to really promote this extra service so it gets used. Nothing as yet on their website but it is appearing on the online journey planner.

They need to at least get some return on their investment.

Use it or lose it.

[grahame]

Use it or lose it.

I have to echo that sentiment ... but it's no guarantee. Sorry - I still smart under a use it or loose it dictat that we were given for the Swindon to Southampton service that turned out to be use it AND lose it

Modified sentiment.  Use it, document your use, tell people you're using it, get the whole world and his dog to use it ... it's not as catchy but it'll give you a better chance of having it next year too 

[John R]

^300,000. Ouch! 16 days of operation, so ^19k each week. How many seats? 5x70 say = 350. So ^54 per return seat if everyone is filled each day it runs. Take into account rainy days (like saturday) and I can see why FGW^▸ (First Great Western) baulked at operating it.

 

[devon_metro]

Problem is that it sits at WEymouth all day. Could probably run it up to Westbury and back in the time earning extra income.

[CliveD]

If it hadn^t been for the fact that I decided to go out and about on Saturday, I would have not known it was running. The only ^publicity^ I have seen regarding the additional was an A4 page stuck onto the booking office doors at Frome Station Saturday morning showing the times of the additional and the other trains between Bristol and Weymouth, which certainly wasn^t there on Friday afternoon.

Whilst on the one hand, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) certainly deserve praise for running the train throughout the summer rather than on certain dates, they also deserve critism for the way in which they have dealt with this, but then again I'm not surprised given FGW's "love" of the ex-Wessex empire.

Although crewed by EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))), it is advertised as a First Great Western service, and should be treated equally as such. I am led to believe from the on-train staff that there are negotiations on-going to enable the train to run on weekdays (presumably during the school summer holidays). Perhaps if FGW used the train on an actual timetabled services between Bristol and Weymouth ^ like Wessex used to do ^ then they might get more benefit out of it.