RPSI Steam Failure sees NIR to the rescue!

goingnowhere

Chrisplayfair wrote: »

I can confirm there are still 5 drivers on NIR who sign for 141 class locomotives....Its all about being competent to drive rather than 6 months etc

Its quickly forgotten that the Gatwick set had a 141 on the front many a time.

I'm guessing you could turn up a few C class drivers as well...

Chrisplayfair

Interesting to see how the RPSI have wiped their "booked" locomotive for future trips up until December trains.....

flyingsnail

Rud wrote: »

Why is this exactly?Why can't RPSI hire and train steam drivers themselves and leave IE or NIR out of it?

IE / NIR are the only companies here that maintain a pool of qualified drivers. As part of their day job these drivers maintain their licences, route and rules knowledge ect.

flyingsnail

Chrisplayfair wrote: »

I can confirm there are still 5 drivers on NIR who sign for 141 class locomotives....Its all about being competent to drive rather than 6 months etc

I find it a bit strange that they would be allowed to drive them again without any refresher training but I am not that familiar with the inner working / rules on NIR so I will take your word on that.

Chrisplayfair wrote: »

Emmmm....I do believe because it's their railway funnily enough....Its not like England where Network Rail own the track and West coast and DRS (Private operators) operate. To operate on the NIR infrastructure, all train drivers must have a train driver's licence, which I doubt any RPSI *yard* driver has.

Indeed, the RPSI train there own yard drivers to move loco and stock in the yard just like most preserved railways but mainline running is a different thing altogether.

Chrisplayfair

flyingsnail wrote: »

I find it a bit strange that they would be allowed to drive them again without any refresher training but I am not that familiar with the inner working / rules on NIR so I will take your word on that.

What refresher training is there to do?? They are identical driving to a 111 class GM....

Hungerford

Losty Dublin wrote: »

I trust that you were at last weeks RPSI AGM to raise this vital matter which worries you so much, you that are willing to help out to achieve your suggestions which are obviously things the RPSI never ever thought of, able to donate cash to see your plans to fruition, train in drivers, fit safety equipment, marshall trains, sell tickets, plan trips et al :rolleyes:

So for my criticisms of the RPSI to be valid I need to have money, be a Baby GM driver trainer, a fitter, a guard, a ticket seller and a trip planner all rolled into one? :eek:

It's remarkable how every criticism of an Irish organisation is dismissed as begrudgery. My comments are constructive criticism centred on the fact that the society has suffered multiple failures and is now reliant on NIR/IE motive power but has the means within its disposal to have avoided such an unfortunate situation.

corktina

in view of the Mk2 stock used nowadays (which doesnt look too good ) 141 or 2 cut in behind the train loco wouldn't look too amiss and would guarantee they got home.

Losty Dublin

Hungerford wrote: »

So for my criticisms of the RPSI to be valid I need to have money, be a Baby GM driver trainer, a fitter, a guard, a ticket seller and a trip planner all rolled into one? :eek:

It's remarkable how every criticism of an Irish organisation is dismissed as begrudgery. My comments are constructive criticism centred on the fact that the society has suffered multiple failures and is now reliant on NIR/IE motive power but has the means within its disposal to have avoided such an unfortunate situation.

Not at all but at this stage voluntary groups all over the world are well used to your sort of talk. They should do this, that, not this, do it another way, rebuild, relay, renew, retrain etc etc. So with that in mind, are you offering your services to, as you see it, improve the RPSI?

Somehow I doubt it

flyingsnail

Chrisplayfair wrote: »

What refresher training is there to do?? They are identical driving to a 111 class GM....

While the general look and cab layout maybe the same the are far from being the same to drive. With different power ratings, braking and acceleration curves and equipment layouts they are very different locomotives.

CaptainFreedom

Judgement Day wrote: »

Care to enlighten us as to the source of your knowledge? :rolleyes:

Many sources, most of which actually set out what they planned to achieve

CaptainFreedom

Hungerford wrote: »

And that situation is entirely down to the RPSI's obsession with steam. It has obtained diesel locomotives in the past and has allowed them to rot. One of the two NIR 101-class engines given to the society was even turned into razor blades.

Dont forget the state NIR allowed them to get into, 103 was stored for a long time outdoors at York Road and later Ballymena until it was cut up there in 1997 http://jandjcottrell.zenfolio.com/p435508671/h32bbffa8#h8fb5

Also 101 was stored in the outdoors at Adelaide Yard, so by the time it got to Whitehead it was in poor condition. 102 was worked on for a time at Whitehead, but the main person involved in the project suffered an unfortunate accident. It was only a 'pet project' anyway.

In railway preservation you must be a realist, not a dreamer

dowlingm

CaptainFreedom wrote: »

Dont forget the state NIR allowed them to get into

Look at the state the Gatwicks were allowed get into, and the Assembly being told they were part of the active fleet! :rolleyes:

Judgement Day

CaptainFreedom wrote: »

Many sources, most of which actually set out what they planned to achieve

Great post and thanks for confirming your identity.

DannyGrey

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Not at all but at this stage voluntary groups all over the world are well used to your sort of talk. They should do this, that, not this, do it another way, rebuild, relay, renew, retrain etc etc. So with that in mind, are you offering your services to, as you see it, improve the RPSI?

Somehow I doubt it

Losty

You always have a answer to most questions .Well tell me this people have a right to view their thoughts online if they want thats what forums are all about just imagine if the internet was around 30 years ago what views would be said about societies back then .

If people pay memberships per year to certain societies well i think they have every right to speak out .

Tell me this is there a fare reduction fo this Sundays Portrush Flyer as it will not be steam hauled my ticket was bought for steam

Salmon Leap

C hrisplayfair wrote: »

Interesting to see how the RPSI have wiped their "booked" locomotive for future trips up until December trains.....

I would think they will want to give themselves every chance of having both 461 & 186 sorted out for the Santas both north and south. Diesel-hauled Santas 2 years running in Dublin would no doubt attract a lot of negative publicity which they can well do without. These are without doubt the most popular trains they run to the public eye. They have also taken off the Halloween trains and Mullingar and Sallins trips.

Niles

Hungerford wrote: »

My comments are constructive criticism centred on the fact that the society has suffered multiple failures and is now reliant on NIR/IE motive power but has the means within its disposal to have avoided such an unfortunate situation.

As is stands, do they have the means though? Who would maintain/upkeep/certify them?

CaptainFreedom

Judgement Day wrote: »

Great post and thanks for confirming your identity.

No problem - I am Captain Freedom, heres a photo of me promoting my workout video on the ICS network in the near dystopian future

Cookie_Monster

corktina wrote: »

in view of the Mk2 stock used nowadays (which doesnt look too good ) 141 or 2 cut in behind the train loco wouldn't look too amiss and would guarantee they got home.

A valid point, all mainline steam running in the UK must have a diesel in tow now, would make sense to do similar here as above.

Our man in Havana

That must be a killer for the steam fetishists.

Cookie_Monster

Our man in Havana wrote: »

That must be a killer for the steam fetishists.

it's alright, they hide it down the back

gawker

461 was no longer in Newbridge tonight, I guess it was moved on yesterday.

gawker

461 was no longer in Newbridge today, I guess it was moved on yesterday.

flyingsnail

gawker wrote: »

461 was no longer in Newbridge tonight, I guess it was moved on yesterday.

461 was hauled by an 071 to Inchicore last night, arriving at about 03:15.

Our man in Havana

I wonder how much IE will charge for renting that bay?

steamengine

corktina wrote: »

in view of the Mk2 stock used nowadays (which doesnt look too good ) 141 or 2 cut in behind the train loco wouldn't look too amiss and would guarantee they got home.

===> more on IRN 'RPSI 2012 thread'

Chrisplayfair

http://chrisplayfair.smugmug.com/Railtours/2012-Railtour-Photos/RPSI-Portrush-Flyer-19th/24857666_CDbm6G#!i=2062686123&k=HwM32wm

Photos from 112 on todays flyer

dowlingm

Does it make anyone else uneasy that the only go-anywhere loco in NI is not only rescuing stock but also running service from Whitehead? I'm sympathetic to the RPSI's plight but if 112 failed hauling that service and another service needed a 111 to rescue it, then what?

Also - way to not reinforce a stereotype lads.

I know, I know, I'll get me coat...

Hungerford

dowlingm wrote: »

Does it make anyone else uneasy that the only go-anywhere loco in NI is not only rescuing stock but also running service from Whitehead? I'm sympathetic to the RPSI's plight but if 112 failed hauling that service and another service needed a 111 to rescue it, then what?

I'm quite uneasy given that it's also the only locomotive available for permanent way use on the NIR network east of Coleraine at the moment. Plus if 112 goes pop, who's going to rescue it? NIR have nothing else at the moment which could go to Portrush and rescue it.

Our man in Havana

071's to the rescue!

Salmon Leap

flyingsnail wrote: »

461 was hauled by an 071 to Inchicore last night, arriving at about 03:15.

Is 461 still in Inchicore and is there any update on her?

Captain Chaos

Give them back 209 for the time being as a thunderbird loco. They can repaint it like 208 while it's sitting around York Road.

Hungerford

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Give them back 209 for the time being as a thunderbird loco. They can repaint it like 208 while it's sitting around York Road.

You are Dick Fearn! 209 travelled up North yesterday. :eek:

Captain Chaos

Hungerford wrote: »

You are Dick Fearn! 209 travelled up North yesterday. :eek:

I should have done the lotto numbers for tonight and all.:eek:

Long time since 209 was on NIR metals.

Chrisplayfair

Incorrect.

209 ran light TODAY leaving Connolly at 1455hrs...First time north since Oct 2010

Cyndaquil

sorry realise old thread, please delete :)