46100, now 45690, Coast to Coast, now July 30th.

Any guesses or better still knowledge as to what a light engine path from Liverpool to Milford would actually cost? I noted Mr Smith's remark that a visit to Heaton ( I'm guessing to service the Cleethorpes-Morpeth FS trip) cost over a grand.

 

I'd assume you'd be paying a track access fee for every movement, so it makes sense to minimise costs regardless of what we think about it. Bringing the extra diesel from Carnforth to Milford reduces time shunting about.

 

WCRC Killjoy syndrome.

 

Footage of 45690 this morning at Edge Hill then accelerating away from Plumley.

 

Leander at the Plumley water stop this morning:

 

Enjoying a pint at the North Riding. On reflection, a workaday performance where it counted, and I think this trip shows why the Hope Valley is usually done double-headed these days.

We are no longer in an era where BR can absorb the agro. Instead we have someone costantly breathing down the necks of open access operators.

 

So lets say a grand extra on the tour cost. Even with say 500 passengers that is only two quid each on the ticket price. Well worth it.

 

I suspect it's more than that. Although I don't profess to know the actual fee, for some reason, £5-10 grand is in my head.

Suffice to say, many on here know I'm a regular railtourer, and the recent price increases on what is already on offer means that I'm cutting back after September. As such, I definitely wouldn't want any further increases, otherwise my money will go elsewhere. As such, I'm one for taking the rough with the smooth so that I can at least access then financially.

 

Will the same going rate be charged by WC for stabling at 10A or Southall of locos/stock owned by other parties?

 

Sorry I wrote that too early in the morning though considerably later than 0556!

What I meant was that even a short trip down to Heaton to do whatever service was necessary cost a grand. So like Bulleid Pacific I was thinking 90 miles or so of marginal track access charges for a class 37 and stabling it at Milford would be several times that. In my head I came up with five grand and £10 a ticket. I'm looking to members like Rule55 to nod or shake their heads.

 

Problem is that is what they all say but come the day, come the hour, we all know it goes out of the window as other observers have already posted here today.

 

Happily pay an extra £10. Most is posh class would hardly notice. Quality has a price. Pure steam is quality.

 

Well while you discuss the cost of having no diesel on the back this is what it looked like on a very sunny early Cheshire morning. Can't remember when I last took two shots before half past seven in the morning.

Blowing off crossing Northwich viaduct, and approaching Mobberley & just for fun - same engine, same place, different paint job some 34 years back

 

As you will know from dozens of postings on NP, a vast number of former customers have abandoned the ship in favour of taking shots from "the lineside". My brother and I fit into this category. We used to do around 10 tours a year on and we selected tours that were almost certain to have no diesel on the back. As it is the exception rather than the rule now, we left and have not returned. That said, there are clearly a lot of non enthusiasts filling the trains nicely irrespective of motive power issues.

 

Mods - can you please resurrect the 'diesels on the back' thread and transfer the relevant posts ? I am sure I am not alone in getting a bit frustrated in having to go through pages of the same old arguments (usually by the same 3 or 4 posters). What I actually want to find out is how a tour is doing and look at the very fine videos and pictures - which is what NP is all about!

 

Yes, enjoyed it overall, despite my ramblings earlier.

Quality indeed has a price, but in this instance it's increasingly one I'm not willing to pay. Equally, when I do chase locomotives, I feel bad about not contributing to it being there. If I do get priced out of the market, the heritage railways will benefit, though.

 

45690 at Copy Pit in, literally, the last minute of the evening sun on her way home to Carnforth.