Speciale rit volgend weekend?

[Jérôme]

Er rijden zelfs twee treinen!

Zaterdag: The Mortal Coil, getrokken door een 55er TVM, een 77er of 88er en een locomotief van het TSP.
Zondag: The Awakening, getrokken door een 12er en een 77er.

De brochure: http://www.merciacharters.co.uk/20111112_brochure.pdf

The problem is that the information in the pdf brochure is wrong [...]

I thank you for correcting me!

[Iain Dobson]

Er rijden zelfs twee treinen!

Zaterdag: The Mortal Coil, getrokken door een 55er TVM, een 77er of 88er en een locomotief van het TSP.
Zondag: The Awakening, getrokken door een 12er en een 77er.

De brochure: http://www.merciacharters.co.uk/20111112_brochure.pdf

The problem is that the information in the pdf brochure is wrong [...]

I thank you for correcting me!

To reiterate, the information on the main web page is the correct route and correct traction subject to confirmation, [nota, onder voorbehoud van bevestiging]. Why the pdf was not updated to show the changed details I do not know but it is something that I would have changed if I were running the tour.

http://www.merciacharters.co.uk/ and click on "Future Tours"

Iain

[Treinen9880]

Al enig nieuws over de uren?

[Stijn91]

Samedi 12 novembre.

Train Mercia Charters organisé par le PFT

Z18050

Bruxelles Midi 8H10
Bruxelles Nord 8H20/8H25
Schaarbeek 8H37

Composition : HLR82 + 4 voitures PFT + HLD 55TVM

Z18051

Schaarbeek 9H10
Bruxelles Ouest 9H25
Halle 9H45
Ath 10H17
Geraardsbergen 10H34/10H37
Zottegem 10H51
Gent St Pieters 11H12
Brugge 11H45
Oostende Zeehaven 12H01

Composition : HLD55 TVM + 4 voitures PFT + HLD PFT

Z18052

Oostende Zeehaven 13H45
Oostende Bundel Plassendale (lijn 202A) 14H10/14H15
Oostende Zeehaven 14H30
Oostende 15H30

Composition : HLD55 TVM + 4 voitures PFT + HLD PFT

Z18053

Oostende 15H52
Brugge 16H11
Torhout 16H26/16H33
Kortrijk 17H03
Burst 17H46
Aalst 17H56/18H09
Bruxelles Ouest 18H41
Jette 18H49

Composition : HLD55 TVM + 4 voitures PFT + HLD PFT

Z18054

Jette 19H00
Bruxelles Midi 19H15

Composition : HLD55 TVM + 4 voitures PFT + HLD PFT


Bron: Facebookpagina Wallorail

[Iain Dobson]

From Wallorail's Face Book Page

Dimanche 13 novembre.

Train Mercia Charters organisé par le PFT (suite)

18056

Bruxelles Midi 8H49
Nivelles 9H09
Luttre 9H17
Marchienne au Pont 9H26/9H27
Lobbes 9H41
Erquelinnes 9H50

Composition 1 HLE12 + 4 voitures PFT + 1 HLD77

18057

Erquelinnes 10H00
Lobbes 10H09
Marchienne au Pont 10H32
Piéton 10H38
Mons 10H59
Quévy 11H15

Composition 1 HLD77 + 4 voitures PFT + 1 HLE12

18058

Quévy 11H30
Mons 11H45
Ath 12H07
Geraardsbergen 12H25

Composition 1 HLE12 + 4 voitures PFT + 1 HLD77

18059

Geraardsbergen 12H35
Enghien 12H46
Bruxelles Midi 13H13

Composition 1 HLD77 + 4 voitures PFT + 1 HLE12

[Treinen9880]

oké bedankt

[Treinen9880]

Welke locs zullen rijden morgen? 55?? en welke van TSP?

[Iain Dobson]

Welke locs zullen rijden morgen? 55?? en welke van TSP?

As I said earlier, the aim of the British hobby is to try and ride behind as many different locomotives as possible. So the Organisers may not know, or a locomotive is specifically put on the train, which has not worked a passenger train recently [called fixing]. Sometimes the locomotives used are first off the line, whatever is at a depot, the first one in the line is used. Usually the locomotives which are to be used are kept secret, as the customers like a surprise!

I should be able to say which locomotives work later on today.

Iain

[Iain Dobson]

The Saturday Train did not go to plan

Z18050, Brussel Zuid 08:10 was 5941 by itself. There was no HLR82 and no driver either! Left Brussel Zuid 30 minutes late.

At Schaarbeek there were more problems. 6077 came onto the train and started to heat the stock, then someone realised that 6077 cannot work on the main line and the train insurance was for four vehicles. So 5941 took off a coach and 6077 was removed from the train. Train was then about two hours late.

Z18051, Schaarbeek 9H10, left with 5511 on the front and 5941 on the back. The organisers would have liked to have had 5509 on the train, but it could not be moved to Schaarbeek because of the strike on Thursday.

Z18052, the train did not travel on Line 202A as the signalman refused access, the train arrived into Oostende 21 minutes EARLY!

The Sunday train left Brussel Zuid at 08:51 with 7737 on the front and 1205 on the rear.

Iain

[luigi]

The Saturday Train did not go to plan

Z18050, Brussel Zuid 08:10 was 5941 by itself. There was no HLR82 and no driver either! Left Brussel Zuid 30 minutes late.

At Schaarbeek there were more problems. 6077 came onto the train and started to heat the stock, then someone realised that 6077 cannot work on the main line and the train insurance was for four vehicles. So 5941 took off a coach and 6077 was removed from the train. Train was then about two hours late.

Z18051, Schaarbeek 9H10, left with 5511 on the front and 5941 on the back. The organisers would have liked to have had 5509 on the train, but it could not be moved to Schaarbeek because of the strike on Thursday.

Z18052, the train did not travel on Line 202A as the signalman refused access, the train arrived into Oostende 21 minutes EARLY!

The Sunday train left Brussel Zuid at 08:51 with 7737 on the front and 1205 on the rear.

Iain

Because we found out early in the morning, there was no 5509, no HLR 82 and no second driver, we (PFT-TSP) immediately began to look for a second driver (which we found within PFT-TSP) and started our 6077 so you guys would have at least 2 engines to do the trip as planned. The reason why the 6077 was removed from the train later on, was because we finally did find another 55 TVM which was available (5511). Although it would take another hour to get it in front of the train, the organisors agreed to wait for the engine, so at least the composition of the train would be like planned.
We did the best we could and we are very sorry things went that way. I still hope you enjoyed the trip despite all things that went wrong. I think Murphy bought a ticket too....

greetings
Luigi (PFT-TSP)

[Iain Dobson]

The Saturday Train did not go to plan

Z18050, Brussel Zuid 08:10 was 5941 by itself. There was no HLR82 and no driver either! Left Brussel Zuid 30 minutes late.

At Schaarbeek there were more problems. 6077 came onto the train and started to heat the stock, then someone realised that 6077 cannot work on the main line and the train insurance was for four vehicles. So 5941 took off a coach and 6077 was removed from the train. Train was then about two hours late.

Z18051, Schaarbeek 9H10, left with 5511 on the front and 5941 on the back. The organisers would have liked to have had 5509 on the train, but it could not be moved to Schaarbeek because of the strike on Thursday.

Z18052, the train did not travel on Line 202A as the signalman refused access, the train arrived into Oostende 21 minutes EARLY!

The Sunday train left Brussel Zuid at 08:51 with 7737 on the front and 1205 on the rear.

Iain

Because we found out early in the morning, there was no 5509, no HLR 82 and no second driver, we (PFT-TSP) immediately began to look for a second driver (which we found within PFT-TSP) and started our 6077 so you guys would have at least 2 engines to do the trip as planned. The reason why the 6077 was removed from the train later on, was because we finally did find another 55 TVM which was available (5511). Although it would take another hour to get it in front of the train, the organisors agreed to wait for the engine, so at least the composition of the train would be like planned.
We did the best we could and we are very sorry things went that way. I still hope you enjoyed the trip despite all things that went wrong. I think Murphy bought a ticket too....

greetings
Luigi (PFT-TSP)

I am glad that people from Mercia and PFT/TSP worked hard to make the tour run. My timeline of the events from the day were texted to me from people on the tour as the day went on.

Iain

[Tim]

Z18052, the train did not travel on Line 202A as the signalman refused access

Why?

[Shrek]

Did it travel lines 1/2 and 1/3 ?

[luigi]

Did it travel lines 1/2 and 1/3 ?

Not as far as I know.

[Iain Dobson]

Did it travel lines 1/2 and 1/3 ?

No it did not, the reason was "Line 1/1- Line 1 - Line 1/2 = Standard coaching stock is banned from Line 1! No exemption given for tour."

Neil Aitkin has said in a newsgroup that the reason given why the tour did not go into Oostende Docks was, "After a few fots around the depot (including the remaining five type 16's) we then found out that we couldn't do either of the booked freight branches - one was closed due to an engineering possession and the other required a reversal in the factory at the end of the line but there was no-one there to let us in!"

Neil also said, the Train Organiser "certainly needs to ask a few questions (as I'm sure the punters would like to hear a few answers) as to why despite all the planning by SNCB, a driver wasn't booked out and two branches which had been agreed then weren't available on the day. In addition, if the schedules are timed for 80km/h (the speed of the AK coaches), why did we keep losing time in every section on Sunday?"

I will declare an interest. I am a critic of Mercia Charters, for a whole range of reasons, and have not travelled on their tours for a number of years.

The original route for Saturday is still on Mercia's website and what they actually ended up doing was a Brussel - Schaarbeek Depot - Oostende - Brussel, on mostly passenger lines, diesel hauled, for €134. Sunday's tour seemed to run well.

Mercia are running in Belgium again, on 28th April 2012, so keep an eye on their website to see what is on offer.

I could write a thesis for a PhD on Mercia Charters, but will not do so in case I get into trouble .

I do not wish to say any more.

Iain