Steam Dreams 2015

But they also have to pay to maintain both loco and stock so suspect it's swings and roundabouts.

 

Yes, but Statesman rail is diesel shoving, DCEs are diesel Weymouth- Southampton, Royal Duchy starts too far away from my home (and runs on Sundays. I don't book on railtours on Sundays) and I suspect the WSSE is going to be a very long day out. Am I really the only person that just wants about 150-200 miles of steam, like the original SD tours to Salisbury and Canterbury? I find it hard to believe that everyine else prefers these marathons, particularly if they take their wife with them.

 

Indeed, it's very difficult to produce something for everyone, while conforming to all the regulations / restrictions with which we're all familiar.

One itinerary I always thought worked really well in this respect was SD's Sunny South Express to Weymouth which offered a range of pick ups / destinations, and fares. Like the Torbay Express in the South West they offered a selection of dates with a mixture of locomotives. Never really sure why this disappeared from the calendar, but I guess the DCE has kind of replaced it ?

 

Yes, it's funny that the DCE seems to be working for RTC but Weymouth has more or less disappeared from SD's schedule. Mind you, the DCE has lost its USP - the steam banking up to Bincombe Tunnel. I'd love to do Weymouth by steam again, but, I guess like a few others, I am waiting for the long-promised turntable to be installed before booking.

Another point that has mystified me: places like Bournemouth, Weymouth and Swanage are very much associated with summer holidays, but why do no operators show any interest in running trains on this line in the autumn, winter or spring? Again, maybe it's me being a bit of an oddball here, but the winter CMEs do nothing for me at all - a very long day, over 300 miles of diesel or electric haulage and hours of travelling in pitch- black darkness. Obviously, enough people feel differently or else they wouldn't run year after year, but if a path through Wimbledon can be found (and it seems to be possible, at least on Saturdays) a trip from Waterloo to, say Swanage or Sherborne in February or March seems far more appealing. It could be 100% steam, a much shorter day while still featuring plenty of fast running and hill-climbing. Granted, the scenery isn't quite up to S&C standards, but it's still very pleasant. Oh, and in February, the New Forest shouldn't be tinder dry.

 

Lack of demand I believe. Graeme Bunker advised a group of fellow passengers some years ago now that the most popular destinations were Bath, Canterbury and York. He also was quoted in Steam Railway that if there was demand they would run a trip to York once a month.

 

Had the new SD brochure arrive in the post today with "Glorious Days out by Steam" written on the front cover...................

They certainly haven't felt that Glorious the last few years.

 

I think like some other Promoters recently, they've been somewhat bitten by the "marketing will sell anything" school of thought, so successfully practiced by Apple.

 

I think you've put your finger on it there Al, and it's this that those behind these decisions are falling back on. If ever evidence were needed that those running these tours pay little heed to the interests of the humble enthusiast, this set of circumstances has to be it !

 

Didn't I read somewhere that the late running fine was increased by 50% for 2015? This must be putting more pressure on the TOC and if the promoter - as SD has - has hired in a Class 5 and a bit locomotive - any tight timings must be seen as a high risk of delay fines. Let's face it, I doubt there would have been a diesel on any SD train this year if a Class 7 locomotive had been the hired in locomotive. A B1 really isn't fit for purpose for the busy commuter lines of the Southern is it? It just wouldn't get to 75 quick enough with a break even load which has to be 10 minimum? At least the timings for March 1st aren't tight. I've been told by SD that it is their 'intention' to run steam only, but if WCRC decide that for performance reasons a diesel is needed then there will be one assisting again. It's down to SD not WCR as the choice of engine is theirs. I'm not booking any more trains with them until the big engines are available.

 

A well written response to the current situation, to lessen the load, to stand a chance of dropping the diesel requires a higher ticket price for less coaches.

The fact that many tours are either overloaded for the loco, or become once the diesel is attached is a real issue, and if NR are playing hardball with the TOC, its the "steam fan" that loses out.

Because many more dining seats are becoming available, at a higher cost, expect the "steam fan" not to be considered in future, many diners are just out for a day, doing something different.

Its the just the name of the game, its evolving, into a marketplace where easier money can be made, to the detriment of the "steam fan", cannot see it changing soon, as the next excuse will be a drought, followed by leaf fall season.

 

Just trawling through UKsteam.info and there is a trip from Southend to Kingswear and back with the steam not coming on until Taunton! Also a trip from Paddington to Plymouth again with no steam until Taunton. That's a lot of box mileage for a steam trip.

 

Are they perhaps becoming too ambitious in how far they want to go for a day trip? Also, while the "outside London" starts are their thing and have worked, perhaps starting a trip from the far side of London to somewhere not a million miles away from Cornwall isn't their best idea ever?

By my rough reckoning using Google Maps it's only going to be steam for 1/4 of the distance. At what point does "Days Out By Steam" start to become an optimistic sentiment?

 

There's no doubt that adding a long stretch of diesel mileage will shorten the day somewhat. I hate to think how long it would take to do Southend to Kingswear and return by steam alone. Hardened gricers would take it in their stride but I doubt they are SD's core market.

 

An SD trip Paddington to Kingswear hauled by Tornado - steam all the way out 8.06 and back 23.12 with 2.5 hours at Kingswear so add a further 2 hours each way including addtional water stops.

 

All this is bringing back fond memories of the times we had with Days Out Limited!!!! Never a dull moment; changes to timings and routes on the fly and some of the best and longest steam days out of the preservation era, emphasis on the steam. Unfortunately Al I think SD are there already for us, the genuine mainline steam enthusiasts. But dreams sometimes come true and perhaps 1st March will be the day when we see what Mayflower is capable of.

 

On the Southend to Kingswear trip on the 30th June, expect more diesel mileage between Paignton and Kingswear, a provisional 2 hour turn around isn't long enough really, especially working around two service trains and having to hand over with NR as well. Don't get me wrong I love the fact that Steam Dreams are experimenting with new itineraries and days out but they have to be realistic timings and be a good length of a trip, mainly with more steam miles than diesel.