Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

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JMORG
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Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by JMORG » Mon Jul 02, 2018 5:51 pm

We're going up to Porthmadog next weekend. I've seen that some railways currently have a reduced timetable and I was wondering what the current strategy is for fire risk...
Vale of Rheidol did close this weekend due to fire.

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by IanC » Mon Jul 02, 2018 6:41 pm

If the dry spell continues I think it is inevitable that they will operate a diesel service or close. I am aware that there is a steam ban on Llangollen and the East Lancashire railway already.

Southport Model Engineering club have an embargo on steam at the moment too.

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by ge_rik » Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:20 pm

We've booked to climb Snowdon by steam train on Friday. Hope they're still running steam by then.

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by bazzer42 » Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:41 pm

Blooming hot walk without a train :lol:
ge_rik wrote: Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:20 pm We've booked to climb Snowdon by steam train on Friday. Hope they're still running steam by then.

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by invicta280 » Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:18 pm

I wouldn't think the upper sections of the SMR pose much of a fire risk.

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by Lonsdaler » Wed Jul 04, 2018 8:19 am

I was surprised to see the 'Dalesman' on the Settle Carlisle yesterday hauled by a steam train, especially as last week it was hauled by a heritage diesel due to the fire risk. It's certainly no less risky than last week. :scratch:
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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by IanC » Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:24 pm

Did it have a diesel coupled inside or pushing at the rear?

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by ge_rik » Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:59 pm

invicta280 wrote: Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:18 pm I wouldn't think the upper sections of the SMR pose much of a fire risk.
Just received this from the SMR. Seems fire risk isn't the issue .....
Unfortunately due to the exceptional dry weather our coal suppliers are unable to maintain supplies of coal, which is preventing us from running a Steam Service until further notice.  

As a result we have moved your booking to the Diesel Service at the Same time.

If you don’t wish to travel on our Diesel Service  we can offer a full refund.
Rik
Last edited by ge_rik on Wed Jul 04, 2018 6:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by JMORG » Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:49 pm

Unfortunately due to the exceptional dry weather our coal suppliers are unable to maintain supplies of coal,

What?!

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by ge_rik » Wed Jul 04, 2018 4:17 pm

JMORG wrote: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:49 pm Unfortunately due to the exceptional dry weather our coal suppliers are unable to maintain supplies of coal,

What?!
Maybe their water powered mining equipment is suffering from drought ...... !?

It might be that they have had unprecedented demand for trains to the summit because of the clear weather and they've used up their stocks. I've postponed going until they can guarantee a steam hauled train - but knowing my luck it won't be until the mountain is once more shrouded in cloud

How about if I offered to bring a scuttle full with me?

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by IanC » Wed Jul 04, 2018 4:27 pm

ge_rik wrote: Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:59 pm
Unfortunately due to the exceptional dry weather our coal suppliers are unable to maintain supplies of coal, which is preventing us from running a Steam Service until further notice.  


Rik
Whatever next? You couldn't make it up. The website says hot weather and fire risk, rather than coal supplies.

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by JMORG » Wed Jul 04, 2018 5:07 pm

GWR are warning customers that delays are likely due to the weather. How did the Victorian's manage?

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by ge_rik » Wed Jul 04, 2018 6:03 pm

The latest update from SMR
I’ve cancelled your booking, at the moment we don’t know when our steam service will resume, Please give us a quick call on Monday and we will be able to update you.

Kind Regards

My last 'quick call' to them took 33 minutes of listening to piped music, despite being told at the outset that it would be answered in four minutes and that my call was important to them......

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by Tingewickmax » Thu Jul 05, 2018 7:19 am

I have found the Snowdon Mountain Railway a bit of a disappointment in the customer service dept' in the past. Seemingly more a profit generating tourist trap rather than an enthusiast led/inspired enterprise.

The year before they brought in the bookable steam services I visited - Asked when the next steam service would be available, told there were none planned that day. So i took the waiting Diesel propelled service. Next service up the mountain arrived at the top as our train was waiting to return - steam propelled ! GM's response when I found him was, "At the time you asked we had none planned". Funny way to run a railroad. They are more interested in filling the next service up rather than what the customer wants. OK, they are a business, fair enough. Never going to bother going there again and paying their inflated prices.

Flipside - WHR had to fail one of it's Garratts, at Boston Lodge, on the start of their leg of the advertised double headed "Snowdonian" service because of a broken pony truck spring. They moved heaven and earth to get the part from Dinas, fitted and had the loco run light engine to Caernarfon to couple up and provide the service as advertised. Didn't have to, the one loco was sufficient, but it was what was expected - WHR/Festiniog get my money every time.

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by JMORG » Thu Jul 05, 2018 9:50 pm

Vale of Rheidol closed until at least Sunday...

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by TonyW » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:08 am

If you are in the Porthmadog area this week and would like to come for a run on my 32mm line one evening then you would be welcome to do so. Just let me know: tony@rhoshelyg.me.uk
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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:14 am

TonyW wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:08 am If you are in the Porthmadog area this week and would like to come for a run on my 32mm line one evening then you would be welcome to do so. Just let me know: tony@rhoshelyg.me.uk
What an offer.

If Tony permits any photos or video of a running session would be great.

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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by Big Jim » Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:40 am

The railway in Pembrey Country Park is not running steam due to the fire risk.
There have already been two gorse fires caused by people dumping charcoal bbqs and we don't want to be responsible for the third being caused by the railway.
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Re: Will the Welsh railways close due to weather?

Post by IanC » Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:44 am

The East Lancashire Railway and Llangollen Railway have both resumed running steam. It remains to be seen if another prolonged dry spell reimposes the ban. The East Lancs Railway have fitted the locos with additional spark arresting fittings where necessary.

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