WCRC steam suspended again

[craigybagel]

Pretty much so, although it didn't quite fit with :



As I understood it, requirement for double manning of 125mph services had been ended, and the TOC stopped it to save costs; the train and track were fitted with ATP but the TOC would not train on or maintain the equipment, to save costs; then the AWS became defective but the crew were just expected to continue and the train was not reversed on Landore triangle to put the defective cab at the rear, to save costs on an extra movement being billed by Railtrack.

What was that you don't get from regular TOCs?

At the time, that was within the rules. A driver doing what this west coast driver allegedly did at the time that he did it is very much against the rules.

 

[cjmillsnun]

From memory, ATP was switched off as it was faulty and not mandatory at the time to have it on. AWS was disabled and at the time there was no requirement for the train to be double manned or run at a reduced speed.

All points which have since been addressed via rule changes which is why these WCR incidents have been taken so seriously.

From my memory the ATP was fully operational but was isolated because FGW weren't bothered with it and Driver Harrison did not feel competent in using it. The AWS was isolated because of a fault.

 

[HH]

From my memory the ATP was fully operational but was isolated because FGW weren't bothered with it and Driver Harrison did not feel competent in using it. The AWS was isolated because of a fault.

And thankfully lessons were learned. Except, it seems, by WCR.

 

[waterlooroader]

Sorry but I don't accept that. If this train was going around with its TPWS isolated legitimately then the signaller would know about it. You DO NOT just isolate on a whim. And this is not the first time either. The RAIB said it was investigating to see if it was a common occurrence for WCRC crews to isolate the TPWS, and clearly Wootten Bassett was not a one off by a rogue crew. They clearly either do not know their rules for the mainline or are quite happy to violate them. Either is a perfectly good reason to get them off the mainline permanently.

Spot on, I know that we cannot jump to conclusions, but if this incident has occurred due to the deliberate isolation of the TPWS without authority (and that is what it looks like) then given the evidence available (A potentially catastrophic SPAD incident, the AWS isolation incident and now this) I don't see how they can honestly be given authority to remain operating on the mainline.

Hell, given such a record, I wouldn't trust them to operate a heritage line!

 

[yorkie]

We've had complaints by knowledgeable rail staff of inaccurate posts being made, and also complaints of off-topic discussion. If anyone wants to talk about something else, please make a new thread.

Some posts have been moved to Ladbroke Grove accident - driver & HST set

It's probably best that we now wait until further information comes to light.

I have now locked this thread, however if there are any developments or if anyone has anything significant to add, as always please do contact us (by PM or the Contact Us form) and we will look at whether it's appropriate to re-open the thread at that time.