Less steam on the mainline in 2018?

[Kris]

I've just been looking about, and there seems to be less steam on the mainline over 2018 than in previous years. Is this just my perception, or is it correct, if so why?

[Dava]

WCRC does not have enough footplate crew, especially in the South, apparently. Strength of demand and possibly a few more locos coming out of ticket yet to be replaced by newly overhauled ones. Operators that thought they would be able to run their own trips but not yet with full approval [eg Tyseley, Royal Scot Foundation or whatever it's trading as]. General Public wants Flying Scotsman rather than Black 5s and Bulleids, possibly?

 

Dava

[IWCR]

Possibly  also  a  drop  in  customers.

I  for  one  have  traveled  on  several  steam  trips  including  some  high  profile  ones.

Not  once  in  recent  years  has  the  advertised  trip  and/or  haulage  been  delivered.  No  apologies,  no  partial  refund  offers.

I  have  no  desire  to  spend  a  large  sum  of  money  including  hotel  accomodation  to  sit  on  a  slow  train  being  pushed  by  a  diesel.

If  a  diesel  is  advertised  as  part  of the  trip,  no  problem,  if  a  hidden  extra,  Id  rather  not  bother.

 

Pete

[Paul.Uni]

Vintage Trains have had to cancel their West Coast operated railtours for the first half of the year. Press release http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/tour/2018-railtours-update-from-vintage-trains/22

 

Saphos Trains and Vintage Trains should start operating their railtours in April and July respectively.

[Boris]

Might it also have something to do with the often eye watering price of some of these tours?  There's only so much money to go around these days,

[royaloak]

<Train driver hat on>

Good, I am sick and tired of getting stuck behind these things when they run out of steam/water/coal or the loco decides it doesnt want to play anymore, these old chuffers have no place on our modern, fast network and the sooner they are banished from the mainlines the better!

 

<Enthusiast hat on>

Damn, thats not good, I love to see a big steamer working hard at speed with plenty of coaches on the hook and its a shame they have had to cancel the first 6 months of this year program but I hope it all comes together for the second half of the year.

[chriswright03]

I see you are in two minds then!

[Colin_McLeod]

I've just been looking about, and there seems to be less steam on the mainline over 2018 than in previous years. Is this just my perception, or is it correct, if so why?

Well it is still only mid January.

[RANGERS]

<Train driver hat on>

Good, I am sick and tired of getting stuck behind these things when they run out of steam/water/coal or the loco decides it doesnt want to play anymore, these old chuffers have no place on our modern, fast network and the sooner they are banished from the mainlines the better!

 

<Enthusiast hat on>

Damn, thats not good, I love to see a big steamer working hard at speed with plenty of coaches on the hook and its a shame they have had to cancel the first 6 months of this year program but I hope it all comes together for the second half of the year.

 

The treatment for your schizophrenia isn't going well then?

Edited January 14, 2018 by RANGERS

[Davey]

<Train driver hat on>

Good, I am sick and tired of getting stuck behind these things when they run out of steam/water/coal or the loco decides it doesnt want to play anymore, these old chuffers have no place on our modern, fast network and the sooner they are banished from the mainlines the better!

 

<Enthusiast hat on>

Damn, thats not good, I love to see a big steamer working hard at speed with plenty of coaches on the hook and its a shame they have had to cancel the first 6 months of this year program but I hope it all comes together for the second half of the year.

 

I think you need to decide which track your on before you go off the rails completely.

 

Davey

[TEDDYBEAR D9521]

Not surprised lack of steam locos ,crews, high prices,lack of train paths.

 

Some of the steam paths are proving to be very difficult to time in some areas due to number of stops and water stops required.

[Boris]

This is the current piss and whine occuring on faecesbook over a trip from Scarborough to Shrewsbury in February, £89 for a standard class ticket which is a really good price for a part steam part diesel excursion.

 

 

Obviously moaning from people who have zero idea what actually goes into running and maintaining a mainline ashtray, I think mixed traction tours like this will be far more common, I'd go on it if there wasn't a high risk of running into some of local enthusiasts/loonies, I doubt I could get through 12 hours on a train with them without smacking at least one of the more obnoxious ones.

[royaloak]

I see you are in two minds then!

I could be but I am not sure? 

[Steven B]

This is the current piss and whine occuring on faecesbook over a trip from Scarborough to Shrewsbury in February, £89 for a standard class ticket which is a really good price for a part steam part diesel excursion.

 

 

£89!! Where do I sign up? According to TheTrainLine.com an off peak return (no restrictions) between Scarborough and Shrewsbury is £99. Even with advanced tickets on specific train the fare is £55. Not that much extra for steam and classic diesel!

 

Steven B.

[Boris]

£89!! Where do I sign up? According to TheTrainLine.com an off peak return (no restrictions) between Scarborough and Shrewsbury is £99. Even with advanced tickets on specific train the fare is £55. Not that much extra for steam and classic diesel!

 

Steven B.

Its a West Coast tour on the 28th February.

[sidmouth]

It is not just cost but also length of day . Silly o clock AM departure and get back at way past bedtime pm . Add to that little opportunity to see the engine as watering tends to be in loops , not platforms , no loitering by windows and then cost 

 

Go back 20+ years and although the mileage was less , days shorter , you could stand by an open droplight , may even get a runpast somewhere 

 

So the product in the main is less appealing at least for someone happy to take a picnic and wants to enjoy seeing and hearing the engine working 

 

My indulgence each year is the Shakespeare express as it is affordable, enjoyable and a sensible duration 

['CHARD]

This is the current piss and whine occuring on faecesbook over a trip from Scarborough to Shrewsbury in February, £89 for a standard class ticket which is a really good price for a part steam part diesel excursion.

 

Untitled.png

 

Obviously moaning from people who have zero idea what actually goes into running and maintaining a mainline ashtray, I think mixed traction tours like this will be far more common, I'd go on it if there wasn't a high risk of running into some of local enthusiasts/loonies, I doubt I could get through 12 hours on a train with them without smacking at least one of the more obnoxious ones.

 

Good to see the son of one of my mates being the voice of reason on FB!  What were the chances!!!!

[Georgeconna]

What do you mean no loitering at windows? Is it you cant have the window down and lean out?

[PhilH]

I don't think that the 'enthusiast' (and I use the term loosely) market is the future of thees kind of trips...why flog a seat for £90 when you can feed that seat (and the person sitting in it) £30 worth of food and drink and charge them an extra £100 for the privilege. Recent experience with one new TOC and the make up of their coach sets would seem to confirm this.

[Boris]

Yes as the door could fall open and you fall out of the train. These days what I understand you have to remain seated unless you are just going to the toilet. 

I don't think its so much the door coming open, more the risk of folks headbutting lineside structures or passing services, there was that incident not so long ago with that poor chap leaning out the window.

 

I don't think that the 'enthusiast' (and I use the term loosely) market is the future of thees kind of trips...why flog a seat for £90 when you can feed that seat (and the person sitting in it) £30 worth of food and drink and charge them an extra £100 for the privilege. Recent experience with one new TOC and the make up of their coach sets would seem to confirm this.

I agree, I think these are going to go the same way as preserved railways in that the "pretty train ride" tourist market is stronger than the enthusiast marker, enthusiasts are getting increasingly hard to please these days and takings reflect this.

[Classsix T]

Cranks are, on the contrary easily pleased. A few choice red bits and some freight traction for starters will placate most.

But it is now a case of sit down and shut up and give us £107, pleb class. They aren't the enjoyable day out with your mates they used to be.

Not surprisingly the tour ops have geared up catering for Mr and Mrs Normal who will gladly hand over £130 each and not "create" because they've had 57601 already this year, or bellow "DEAAATH!" through Newton Abbot.

 

C6T.

[jjb1970]

If the normal tourist market is both more lucrative and easier to satisfy than the enthusiast market you can't really blame operators for going that way.

[Boris]

If the normal tourist market is both more lucrative and easier to satisfy than the enthusiast market you can't really blame operators for going that way.

Yes, at the end of the day they are primarily in the entertainment business.

[jjb1970]

I know people at work who go on excursion trains aimed at the non-enthusiast market. They are the sort of people who wouldn't know 9F from City of Truro but they do love seeing steam engines and enjoy days out by train. They wax lyrical about these excursions and obviously consider the ticket price to be worth it. If there is a profitable market to support the continued use of steam locomotives beyond us enthusiasts, and which also promotes goodwill for railways in general then I see it as positive.

[Paul.Uni]

Update from Vintage Trains https://t.e2ma.net/webview/8ij8m/4ae36d029c3833fe53b576ff66b1a22e

 

2018 Railtour Program

Whilst we are fundraising and building our new Train Operating Company, we had hoped that West Coast Railways would continue to operate our train program in the first half of the year. Unfortunately, after much discussion, WCR reconfirmed the statement they made in November stating that they are unable to operate our railtours due to crew shortages in southern England. As a result, it was with a heavy heart that we decided to postpone our spring 2018 programme and concentrate on forming our own train operating company and the Tyseley Loco Works engineering business for the first half of the year. It is unfortunate that this will delay the long awaited mainline launch of No: 7029 ‘Clun Castle'.

 

The first steam trains we anticipate being able to run are The Shakespeare Express services starting on Sunday 1st July and running through 16th September. This will be our 20th year of Shakespeare Express operations and to celebrate we plan to include some guest locomotives never seen on the Shakespeare Express in the roster. Further details will be announced and we will begin taking bookings once we receive our passenger licence and we get closer to the Shakespeare season.

 

The re-dated ‘Clun Castle’ inaugural trains will operate in conjunction with the Shakespeare Express trains throughout the summer, followed by our railtour program in the Autumn and Winter.

 

No: 5043 ‘Earl of Mount Edgcumbe’ is due for an overhaul at the end of the year, so it is only fitting that we are planning for the last railtour of the year be the ‘Christmas White Rose’ to York hauled by 5043 on Saturday 22nd December, repeating the ever so successful stop at the newly re-opened Ilkeston station along the way.