Canberra - gone but still not forgotten:-

[Not so ancient mariner]

Not even in non cruise circles..... As seen at Winchcombe over the bank holiday weekend.

See: http://www.gwsr.com/news/latest-news/%2 ... combe.aspx

[gouty-man]

And congratulations to the railway workers, both current and (ahem!) past, for receiving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service today.

[Silver_Shiney]

Ah the English Electric Canberra - a very fine medium bomber, also used as a tanker and photo-reconaissance platform.








What?

[Mervyn and Trish]

So the next time I'm on a Virgin Trains Pendolino I can sigh and say it's not like Canberra

[Ranchi]

Used to like to use the train to go to Southampton ( never managed to use a boat train) however with earlier sailing times it isn't really feasible to do it on the day anymore ( from NE England or NE Scotland) and it seems expensive to get rail tickets & overnight accommodation in Southampton. We have used the sleeper service before but that's no longer viable. The other downside is the wait on Southampton station is pretty long (& miserable) on your return, so I guess it's car, travelodge & CPS for us.
There was a company a couple of years ago that ran a limited service charter train from Edinburgh & Glasgow alternatively but I guess it didn't make money so it has now stopped.

[Not so ancient mariner]

Ah the English Electric Canberra - a very fine medium bomber, also used as a tanker and photo-reconaissance platform.


(and known for freezing the assets of its crew!)








What?

[Not so ancient mariner]

So the next time I'm on a Vermin Trains Pendolino I can sigh and say it's not like Canberra

I doubt if any of your fellow cattle, passengers sorry, customers would have the faintest idea what you are on about.

[david63]

There was a company a couple of years ago that ran a limited service charter train from Edinburgh & Glasgow alternatively but I guess it didn't make money so it has now stopped.

... or maybe more to do with the fact that on one of its journeys it was late and the passengers, literally, "missed the boat"

[Ranchi]

Didn't hear about that, David. Any more details?

[Mervyn and Trish]

We are planning to use the train for a winter cruise in 2017 and we will stay over in Southampton on the way down and back to avoid the hanging around bit. We'll also be sending most of the luggage via the Baggage Company - so definitely not the cheap option. But it will hopefully be more relaxing than several hours on the motorway in winter weather and because we're not parking we've got some OBC to help offset the cost a bit.

[Manoverboard]

Didn't hear about that, David. Any more details?

It was a charter train organised by Bath Travel. The train missed the ' boat ' and the company were more than a tad miffed when P&O didn't delay the sailing so they stopped organising it ... was my appreciation of events at that time.

[Quizzical Bob]

Didn't hear about that, David. Any more details?

It was a charter train organised by Bath Travel. The train missed the ' boat ' and the company were more than a tad miffed when P&O didn't delay the sailing so they stopped organising it ... was my appreciation of events at that time.

It broke down twice, if I recall correctly.

[Dancing Queen]

Didn't hear about that, David. Any more details?

It was a charter train organised by Bath Travel. The train missed the ' boat ' and the company were more than a tad miffed when P&O didn't delay the sailing so they stopped organising it ... was my appreciation of events at that time.

It broke down twice, if I recall correctly.

Weren't there two ships sailing that day with passengers for both on the train ?? one ship delayed sailing but the other one didn't ??

[Quizzical Bob]

It was a charter train organised by Bath Travel. The train missed the ' boat ' and the company were more than a tad miffed when P&O didn't delay the sailing so they stopped organising it ... was my appreciation of events at that time.

It broke down twice, if I recall correctly.

Weren't there two ships sailing that day with passengers for both on the train ?? one ship delayed sailing but the other one didn't ??

We were on one of the ships but I can't remember which. I have a vague recollection that Oriana sailed leaving some behind who were then flown out to Madeira. Or something like that.

[Dancing Queen]

It just struck me as strange and was obviously the Captains decision if one sailed and the other waited, I thought it a bit mean at the time ok for those who flew out to Madeira but I believe some went home because they wouldn't/couldn't fly.

I remember a few Xmas's ago when the weather was atrocious and there were many delays with people getting to Southampton and sailing was delayed, Captain Burgoine (sp) was asked what time we would be leaving and his reply was 'when my wife arrives' I guess it helps when one has the 'right' connections

[Mervyn and Trish]

I guess whether they can delay or not depends on the next port and whether they'll be able to make the time up.

[Dancing Queen]

I guess whether they can delay or not depends on the next port and whether they'll be able to make the time up.

I don't believe that any schedule is that tight that a couple of hours would make that much difference, I know if I'd been on the ship that sailed I would have been more than happy to miss a port or have reduced time there rather than those who couldn't fly to Madeira to miss out altogether through no fault of their own.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I guess whether they can delay or not depends on the next port and whether they'll be able to make the time up.

I don't believe that any schedule is that tight that a couple of hours would make that much difference, I know if I'd been on the ship that sailed I would have been more than happy to miss a port or have reduced time there rather than those who couldn't fly to Madeira to miss out altogether through no fault of their own.

Maybe you would, but others are perhaps less forgiving. When you hear the demands for compensation when a port is missed because of bad weather can you imagine the scenes if it was so someone didn't miss the boat?

[Ranchi]

How can you claim compensation for missing sport due to weather? The T&Cs seem clear enough to me. We went on a 4 day jaunt in March & only 1 port was made as scheduled. No one complained.

[Mervyn and Trish]

How can you claim compensation for missing sport due to weather? The T&Cs seem clear enough to me

Quite so. But it doesn't stop some people.

[Not so ancient mariner]

How can you claim compensation for missing sport due to weather?

Exactly - or the bookies would be suing the racecourses every time a meeting was cancelled because the ground was frozen/waterlogged or thick fog etc.

[Ranchi]

Fat fingers or predictive text I'm afraid NSAM.

[Mervyn and Trish]

How can you claim compensation for missing sport due to weather?

Exactly - or the bookies would be suing the racecourses every time a meeting was cancelled because the ground was frozen/waterlogged or thick fog etc.

I agree Notso. But we see people bleating about missed ports ruining their lives all the time.

[Not so ancient mariner]

A passenger on Oriana once observed in a voice loud enough to be heard by all those queueing at reception, "They should be addressing their complaints to the Almighty, not to the crew!"

[Frank Manning]

Interesting to read of the Bath Travel train saga. In Peter Bath's day they had all sorts of ideas like that and we did enjoy some of them. Sadly they weren't all completely thought through, but that was Peter, ever the entrepreneur. They are to all intents and purposes gone now they have been taken over. By coincidence we are going to P&O promotion with them today.....(I am hoping it will convince Sue to let me book another cruise!!).