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East Lancs Railway Freight Train Ride

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by Foxfield_Rich, Dec 10, 2014.

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  1. Foxfield_Rich

    Foxfield_Rich New Member

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    We at the ELR are looking for a bit of feedback.

    We intend to start running monthly full line freight trains for people to ride on, on selected Sundays from April. However we want to sell them at a reasonable price.

    So we are asking you, the potential customers how much you would pay for a FULL LINE round trip in a Toad or Queen Mary.

    Factors to consider are that our full line return ticket is £14.50 which includes access to Bury Transport Museum. The Freight Train ticket would also travel on a service train later in the day and access to BTM.

    So, thoughts please.

    Many thanks, Rich
     
    Foxfield_Rich, Dec 10, 2014
    #1
  2. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    £25?
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 10, 2014
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  3. BillR

    BillR Well-Known Member

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    The GWSR did a similar thing this year.

    "You will shortly be able to book either a footplate ride for just £100 or a brake van ride for £30 - including a full rover ticket for the day, a hot drink at the Coffee Pot Café at Winchcome and a discounted rover ticket for a friend for just £10."

    Full story at ....
    http://www.gwsr.com/news/2014/july/...–-on-the-footplate-or-in-the-brake-van!-.aspx

    Hope that's of some help.
     
    BillR, Dec 10, 2014
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  4. 3855

    3855 Member

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    Steam or diesel hauled?
     
    3855, Dec 10, 2014
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  5. Foxfield_Rich

    Foxfield_Rich New Member

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    For the first instance it would be steam hauled but if there is demand then diesel could be facilitated.
     
    Foxfield_Rich, Dec 11, 2014
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  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The al fresco experience would be novel and worth a premium price. Probably you could get away with up to £30 if it were a package and you threw in a free drink.
     
    Big Al, Dec 12, 2014
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  7. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Chuck in a tour of Buckley Wells.. it'd appeal to the same crowd... even if the tour was conducted during a Brake Van shunt.... indeed maybe have the tour finish in the BV afterwards in BTM yard too... it'd start to feel a bit like an SLS railtour then.
     
    ADB968008, Dec 12, 2014
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    black5 likes this.
  8. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    What's the break even revenue?
     
    26D_M, Dec 14, 2014
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  9. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    If the freight is booked to run as timetabled as a demo, then there is no break even, so any monies garnered are a bonus!
     
    Duty Druid, Dec 14, 2014
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  10. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    I'd assumed loco costs would be incurred.
     
    26D_M, Dec 14, 2014
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  11. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    There would be, but if its booked to run anyway, then its a "take it on the chin" cost - so whatever you get from those riding in the BV is a bonus........ lets say the freight is booked to do 2x returns in the timetable. cost of coal & water circa £200 for the loco......... the BV is a BR Brake, and can accommodate 20 - assuming both trips are a sell out, and just charging for riding in the Brake ie a supplement to the main fare - charge each pax £10. the first trip breaks even, the second makes a profit = worth doing............. and to me a tenner a head is a reasonable sum to ask......... if you included it in the day rover people would baulk at the price, but charge it separately, then foe some psychological reason, paying ten quid for being bounced about in a Brake has an enduring appeal to Joe Public..........
     
    Duty Druid, Dec 14, 2014
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  12. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    Would it require another service loco?
    If so what is the total cost of that? "£200 coal and water" plus daily hire fee?
     
    26D_M, Dec 14, 2014
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  13. andi

    andi New Member

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    It would be operated on Sunday's when there is a dining train out. Urilising the diner locomotive. So the locomotive would be steamed anyway. The extra coal and water plus a fraction of the steaming fee I would imagine.
     
    andi, Dec 14, 2014
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  14. Foxfield_Rich

    Foxfield_Rich New Member

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    Thank you for your feedback guys. We will be making an announcement soon.
     
    Foxfield_Rich, Dec 15, 2014
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  15. 49010

    49010 Well-Known Member

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    I'd definitely be up for this, would there be just one freight trip per day or two - all I'm thinking is that riding a brake van would be thirsty work (especially going through those tunnels) so a stopover at Rawtenstall for a few refreshing and nutritious beverages would be nice.
     
    49010, Dec 15, 2014
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  16. razrobinson

    razrobinson New Member

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    And ofc on the return trip - the 4 loos per breakvan can be utilised :)
     
    razrobinson, Dec 15, 2014
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  17. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    From reading elsewhere on here, I'm glad you've decided to use the QMB........ 20 in a BR Brake is rather cozy, on a QMB, at least you'll be able to breath, and the most important person on there, the guard, can at least get to the vac handle & the brake wheel should the need arise! ;)

    Hope the rides prove popular at the gala. :)

    BTW, once you've run the gala - can we have the QMB please?....... the only Rly in the South that doesn't have one, needs one...... :(............... just stick it on the low loader that brings the 9F's tender back down South! ;)
     
    Duty Druid, Dec 15, 2014
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  18. Foxfield_Rich

    Foxfield_Rich New Member

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    Foxfield_Rich, Jan 12, 2015
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  19. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Nice idea, could appeal to those without the kind of budget for a firing course and a nice family present for "grandad the enthusiast"..

    Small thing but, the ELR has 3 tunnels, not two :), unless Bolton st tunnel became a bridge :)
     
    ADB968008, Jan 14, 2015
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  20. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I appreciate this is a bit late, but the footplate ride for £100 was a sell out and the brake van rides were sparsely populated IIRC...
     
    flying scotsman123, Jan 14, 2015
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