West Coast Railways

West Coast Railways

Industry	Locomotive spot-hire Charter train operations
Founded	1998
Headquarters	Carnforth, United Kingdom
Website	WestCoastRailways.co.uk

Class 57/6 no. 57601 passing Brockhampton, north of Cheltenham, on 16 April 2005, whilst working a Bath-Skegness charter train

The West Coast Railway Company Limited, trading as West Coast Railways (WCR), is a railway spot-hire company and charter train operator based at Carnforth MPD in Lancashire. Using buildings and other facilities previously owned by the Steamtown Carnforth visitor attraction, in 1998 the company became the first privately owned company to be given a licence as a train operating company.

West Coast Railways' operating licence is currently suspended by Network Rail. The suspension came into force at midnight on 3 April 2015,^[1][2][3] for a minimum of six weeks, due to ongoing safety concerns relating to a serious SPAD (signal passed at danger) incident involving WCR on 7 March 2015.^[1][2][3]

History

Before 1998

After British Rail closed the Lakeside branch to passengers on 6 September 1965,^[4] a group of enthusiasts chaired by Dr Peter Beet formed the Lakeside Railway Estates Company, with the idea of preserving both the line and Carnforth MPD, to provide a complete steam operating system.^[5] After agreeing to rent out part of the Carnforth MPD site, but with the counter the development of the A590 road meaning that the complete vision was unsuccessful, Beet developed the visitor attraction Steamtown Carnforth, which became a mecca for steam enthusiasts from 1967.^[6]

In 1974 Sir Bill McAlpine became a shareholder in the company,^[5] allowing his LNER A3 Pacific No.4472 Flying Scotsman to make Carnforth its home.^[7] McAlpine subsequently acquired a controlling interest in the company, in order to fund the purchase of the complete site including the track from BR.^[8]

In light of McAlpine's declining interest, in 1990 his controlling interest in Steamtown Railway Museum Ltd was sold to David Smith, who over the following years has bought out most of the minority shareholders. With increasing Health and Safety Executive regulations, and an increased reliance on revenue from supplying and servicing steam locomotives to power enthusiast trains, the commercial decision was taken not to reopen Carnforth as a museum or visitor attraction for the 1998 season. Steamtown Railway Museum Ltd still exists today as the holding company, and operates an extensive railway repair and operating facility on the site. Smith later set up the West Coast Railway Company Ltd, as a train operating company.^[5]

Operations

West Coast Railway Company (WCR) today is a spot hire company which provides locomotives, stock and crews to other companies within the rail industry. The company operates charter trains throughout the year, many of which are hauled by steam locomotives, and has grown to become the UK's leading special trains operator. The company now provides most of the stock and crews for steam workings on the national network plus a large amount for diesel tours as well. The headquarters, engineering base and depot are at Carnforth, where locomotives and stock are stored and maintained, and where contract work is undertaken for other operators.

West Coast are noted for their ownership and operation of steam locomotive 5972 "Olton Hall" under the guise of "Hogwarts Castle" for the Harry Potter film series, with the "Hogwarts Express" train being featured in each of the films.

March 2015 SPAD and operating license suspension

On 7 March 2015, the 16:35 return up/east bound Cathedrals Express 1Z67 operated by WCR (Bristol Temple Meads to Southend Victoria) approaching from Chippenham, headed by Battle of Britain class No.34067 Tangmere and 13 coaches passed SN45 signal passed at danger (SPAD) at Wootton Bassett Junction on the Great Western Main Line, overrunning the signal by 700 yards (640 m).^[1][2][3] The incident occurred around one minute after the up/east bound First Great Western service 1L76, the 15:28 Swansea to London Paddington passenger service approaching via the South Wales Main Line from Badminton, Gloucestershire and operated by an InterCity 125 set, had cleared the junction at 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).^[1][2][3][9] The signal was being maintained at danger to ensure the safety of train 1L76 after it had passed through the junction, as is standard practice.^[2][9]

The incident was investigated by track owner Network Rail (NR), the Office of Rail Regulation and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). The RAIB launched an investigation into the incident on 27 March, releasing a statement in which they described the incident as a "dangerous occurrence".^[2] According to the RAIB, the SPAD was caused by driver error, after the driver manually switched off the Automatic Warning System (AWS) and Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) on approach to a temporary speed restriction in the area of line immediately after signal SN43, the signal before signal SN45.^[2] These were not reactivated on approach to signal SN45;^[2] as a result, the train was not automatically stopped by the safety systems as it passed the signal at danger.^[2] 700 yards (640 m) down the line, the train was manually brought to a stop by the driver; it came to a rest across Wootton Bassett Junction.^[2]

Following an initial response by WCR to NR over the incident, NR expressed “concern at the WCR demonstrated controls, communication and commitment" considering them inadequate.^[3] Following a further meeting on 30 March 2015 between both parties, in an unprecedented reaction NR suspended WCR's operator's licence effective from midnight 3 April 2015.^[1][3] Operators have been banned from certain routes, but this was the first total network ban since privatisation.^[3] The suspension notice states:^[1]

WCR stated that it was in negotiations with NR regarding the terms of the suspension, and also with other train operating companies in order to prevent the cancellation of many scheduled WCR operated railtours during the period of suspension.^[10] Currently, 57 railtours either run by WCR or its stock are scheduled to be affected by the ban, including the first four 2015 journeys of the Jacobite service.

Services

LMS Black 5 4-6-0 no 45231 is seen at Fort William running around her train after hauling The Jacobite from Mallaig, this is a regular service run by West Coast Railways from early May till late October.

Today WCR operates several regular steam-hauled excursions every summer. The most famous of these trains is The Jacobite (named for the historic Jacobite political movement). It runs along the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig, crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct. It runs Monday to Fridays from the middle of May until the end of October and also runs at weekends from the end of June until the end of August. In 2011, WCR added a second "Jacobite" service, leaving Fort William in the afternoons from the start of June until the end of August running on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 2012 saw this second service increase to five days a week, between June and August.

The steam-hauled Scarborough Spa Express operates from York to Scarborough three times a week between July and September.

In 2007, West Coast Railways took over operation of the 'Cambrian Coast Express' running over the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Porthmadog and Pwllheli and renamed it "The Cambrian". The service ran from the last week of July until the end of August between 2007 and 2010. Before the 2011 season, WCR issued a statement stating that due to Network Rail's implementation of the new ERTMS signalling on the Cambrian Coast, which necessitated new in-cab signalling equipment, the seasonal steam services had to cease running.

Train Operating Company

WCR provides locomotives, stock and crews for many railtour organisers across the country. It also provides crews to some organisations, such as SRPS and Vintage trains, who own their own stock. WCR act/have acted as TOC to the following companies:

• Nenta Traintours
• PMR Tours
• The Railway Touring Company
• Saltburn Railtours
• SRPS Railtours
• Statesman Rail
• Steam Dreams (As of October 2013)
• Vintage Trains
• Compass By West Coast (Formerly Compass Tours)
• North-East Railtours

Former companies operated with:

• The Royal Scotsman (Now with DB Schenker)
• Budgie Transport (Ceased railtour operations in 2011)
• Compass Tours (Ceased trading in 2014, company with similar name now operating)
• Daylight Railtours (Ceased trading in 2004)
• Railtourer (Ceased trading in 2013)
• Shepherd Neame (Ceased tour operations in 2013)
• Spitfire Railtours (Ceased trading after financial difficulties in 2012)

Routes

Routes commonly operated over by WCR include the nearby Cumbrian Coast Line and Furness Line, Little North Western Line, the Settle-Carlisle Line and the West Highland Line. The company utilises several sidings at Hellifield railway station, south of Settle Junction, where the lines to Carlisle and Carnforth diverge, allowing easy access to the WCR home base.

Depots

The headquarters and main depot is at Carnforth MPD. The former London Midland and Scottish Railway depot coded 10A has workshops for steam and diesel locomotives, and also carriage and wagon facilities to maintain the company's fleet of Mark 1 & 2 carriages. The site includes extensive sidings plus a paint shop.

The company's second base is the former Great Western Railway depot at Southall Railway Centre, West London. "The Green Train" is based here, used on "The Cathedrals Express".

For half of the year the company also use part of Fort William depot as a base for the stock and locomotives for its "Jacobite" service.

Rolling stock

Class 47 locomotive no. 47851 'Traction Magazine' at Ely with a charter train in British Railways Two-Tone Green livery

The company owns and operates a fleet of diesel locomotives, which are primarily used to haul charter trains, but have also been hired to other railway operators. The fleet is mainly composed of Class 37 and Class 47 locomotives, but also includes Class 57 locomotives, including the prototype passenger locomotive 57601.

Several Class 37 locomotives were purchased from Ian Riley Engineering, which ceased its spot-hire operations in mid-2004. In 2005, WCR won the contract to haul The Royal Scotsman luxury train. As a result, its two operational Class 37 locomotives and a Class 47 were repainted into a revised maroon livery, officially known as Royal Scotsman Claret, based on that of the Royal Scotsman carriages. In late 2005, WCR sold its two operational Class 37 locomotives (nos. 37197 and 37261) to Direct Rail Services (DRS), and received four Class 33 locomotives in exchange. As of 2011, WCR started investing in more Class 57 locomotives, bought from Advenza Freight, Harry Needle Railroad Company, Freightliner and former Arriva Trains Wales/Virgin Trains locomotives from Porterbrook Leasing.

The company's coaching stock consists of vacuum and air plus dual braked Mark 1 and Mark 2 coaches, mostly painted in the British Railways maroon livery, albeit with West Coast Railways branding on the bodyside. Some of these coaches were built as BR Pullman coaches.

Fleet details

Steam locomotives

Locomotives listed here may be operated by West Coast Railway Company assuming they have the appropriate mainline certification. They are not owned by WCRC and are made available to operate by their respective owners who are listed.

Some engines may not now be operated on the mainline because their mainline or boiler ticket has expired or may be on display away from the national network. 5972 Olton Hall is currently on a 2-year loan agreement from November 2014 to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Leavesden for their Harry Potter tour.

Diesel Locomotives

All locomotives below are owned and operated by West Coast Railways.

Preserved locomotives

Bold = Current number

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Coast Railway Company.

• West Coast Railway Company website
• West Coast Railway Company website
• Information on "The Jacobite"

Coordinates: 54°07′52″N 2°46′22″W / 54.1311°N 2.7727°W / 54.1311; -2.7727