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Steam Dreams 2015

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by steamvideosnet, Nov 13, 2014.

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  1. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Southend is a popular pickup for them and people there appear to accept more diesel mileage if they have a local pick-up. There was a Southend to York trip ( due to demand ) which was I believe 13 coaches which fesatured more diesel than steam, while a another promoter had a Kingscross to York on the same day, all steam but was only 9 coaches. They could have had a shorter day and more steam mileage if they were prepared to travel into London.
     
    Paul42, Feb 23, 2015
    #61
  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    When you think about it, why on earth be stuck on a train for an eternity to end up at Kingswear for only a couple of hours on what will hopefully be a beautiful June day. It's a delightful location that's a shame to miss. Having said that I suspect that it'll be Kingswear for any enthusiasts but many others will drop off at Paignton where you'll get much longer.

    It really is, in my view, quite an odd itinerary. Why not make it a trip to Torquay and Kingswear? Drop the day trippers off at Torquay for a decent stopover. Run to the exchange sidings at Paignton where SNG is detached for servicing and then the DSR takes over for the last leg?
     
    Big Al, Feb 24, 2015
    #62
  3. TorbayTrains

    TorbayTrains Member

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    I agree, it would be better to offer more drop offs along the way. Chances are the 25 will double head with SNG up to Churston where SNG will come off for turning and the 25 will take the train down to Kingswear. SNG will then go to Paignton for servicing before heading back down to Kingswear to pick up the train. Be aware that it is already a two train running day of the DSR so it will be tight timings.
     
    TorbayTrains, Feb 24, 2015
    #63
  4. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    Remind me where trains can pass on the DSR, please. Paignton, Churston and Kingswear? How long is the loop at Churston? Can it hold the full SD train (11 or 12 vehicles?) and 2 locos? The DSR signalman is going to busy that day...
     
    Steamage, Feb 24, 2015
    #64
  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Having watched the performance of 61306 on her outings so far it's beginning to look as though the optimum load for the loco, as judged by the TOC, is less than the optimum load for typical SD charters. I wonder whether that may sadly mean that she will go most places with something attached to help out.
     
    Big Al, Mar 1, 2015
    #65
  6. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    Let's hope that as today she goes most places with an appropriate load.
     
    Enterprise, Mar 1, 2015
    #66
  7. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    I fear you are correct. On today's trip with 9 on,once you take away the support coach,kitchen car and brake van thats only 6.5 coaches. The economics for SD compared with 11 or 12 on must be massively different.

    Still,its very reassuring that having said weeks ago that today's trip would run unassisted,SD and WCRC have delivered.
     
    alastair, Mar 1, 2015
    #67
    agalpin likes this.
  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I've been in contact with Steam Dreams over the past 48 hours to try and plan a few trips with them and also link with when the B1 is next going to run on its own. I can't say that everything I was told was particularly pleasing but that's not the point.
    I spoke to someone who answered all my questions and that helped me to decide what to do, which in some cases was what not to do! I came away with the impression that the SD booking staff have been briefed well. They've always been fine to my mind but now seem even more aware of what is going on or may happen. Perhaps the recent publicity over the March 1 trip is further evidence of that.
     
    Big Al, Mar 6, 2015
    #68
  9. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    Are you able to share anything with us,even in a general way? Thanks
     
    alastair, Mar 6, 2015
    #69
  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Sorry - not being secretive. I was interested in when the B1 was next out on her own and it doesn't look as though that is an immediate prospect. For example, the York trip takes a diesel as does the Canterbury trip and the diesel comes back with the B1 to London on the first leg of tomorrow's Bath trip. The Bluebell to Ely trip is full. But TBH, if you want to know then it's wise to ask them directly as things can change. As I said, they tell you what they can. Not so confident about the way that RTC staff are briefed though but perhaps the new website is a signal of more information......:rolleyes:
     
    Big Al, Mar 6, 2015
    #70
  11. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    It's a shame that 61306 looks likely to be accompanied by a diesel for most of the remaining trips with SD. I've just come back from Cardiff on VT's Red Dragon, hauled by 4965, and this excellent trip shows that a well-maintained 5MT is more than capable of holding its own without diesel assistance given the right route and the right load. Bearing in mind that a B1 is somewhat more gauge-friendly than a Hall and also is permitted to run at 75mph as opposed ot 60mph, it ought to be possible to devise a number of itineraries which 61306 could handle unaided. However, I think you made a valid point in an earlier post - that few of the sort of trips SD prefers to run come into this category. Out of interest, does the Bluebell to Ely trip feature a diesel?
     
    John Petley, Mar 7, 2015
    #71
  12. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    1st April's Oxford-Kingswear shouldn't need a diesel provided the load is 10.
     
    1020 Shireman, Mar 9, 2015
    #72
  13. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

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    The 1 in 55 up Torre bank on the return with a speed restriction at the bottom will be the limiting factor on this trip.
     
    gwr4090, Mar 9, 2015
    #73
  14. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    Is the speed restriction steam specific out of interest, or does it effect all trains on that route ?
     
    spicer21, Mar 9, 2015
    #74
  15. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    How severe is the restriction David?
     
    1020 Shireman, Mar 11, 2015
    #75
  16. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    After what I was told last week by them I hope that today's trip to York was fully booked. If not then SD will have lost hundreds of pounds worth of bookings by not finding a way to signal that the trip would run as solo steam - much as on March 1st. A pity.
     
    Big Al, Mar 12, 2015
    #76
  17. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    If it was fully booked, despite the uncertainty, then there's little incentive for SD (or RTC or whoever) to provide firm information well in advance. But if there were lots of empty seats, then it was a missed marketing opportunity.
     
    MellishR, Mar 12, 2015
    #77
  18. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    .....yes, as I said.
     
    Big Al, Mar 12, 2015
    #78
  19. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Sorry, I read your post as implying that you wouldn't want promoters to have the incentive. But it seems we agree.
     
    MellishR, Mar 12, 2015
    #79
  20. Phil K

    Phil K Member

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    Letter has been received today postponing the 10th May trips until Tuesday 22nd September. Delays with the overhaul of Oliver Cromwell and engineering work being cited as the cause. Locomotive for the revised date is a locomotive scheduled to return from overhaul in teh summer representing Battle of Britain Class Lord Dowding (Braunton I assume) or a reserve loco such as 61306 Mayflower.

    I am tempted to ask how Oliver Cromwells overhaul has affected the availability of Britannia though.
     
    Phil K, Mar 23, 2015
    #80
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