Steam Dreams 2022

DB will operate Tornado, Prince of Wales, Clan Line and King Edward I regularly along with possibly Duke of Gloucester too when it returns.

 

Wow - I can only admire your optimism!

 

Apart from the Duke they are all registered with DB and so is the Duchess but it doesn’t mean they will be operating them all

 

Is 6233 registered with DB still?

 

I thought it was but I have to admit it may now not be. 6201 was EWS/DB operated a lot years ago but in its 2 most recent mainline stints (2016 & 2019-21) it was only operated by West Coast.

 

Read last months steam railway magazine and DB have made a huge commitment to increase steam operations. The four locos I stated as being DB operated are the four that were quoted by Richard Corser at DB Cargo. 71000 wasn’t quoted but as I can’t see it running solely with Vintage Trains as well as the fact it is not part of the LSL fleet at Crewe means it is likely to be DB operated especially as the owners fell out with West Coast. If it is registered with West Coast it could help out with the RTC runs in the south but I expect 71000 to be mostly DB operated. I can’t see any others being regularly DB operated but you never know and 60103 could do an occasional DB run. Not sure what will happen to 60103’s steam dreams work as a result of LSL taking over but if it didn’t work with steam dreams then RTC would be 60103’s regular tour promoter.

 

Yes it is

 

If you're driving a route that you haven't signed you need to take a conductor, but I don't think the conductor needs to be qualified to drive steam.

 

Think the last time the Duchess ran under DB was on the 19th March 2016, The Mid Day Scot from Manchester Victoria to Edinburgh, run for RTC when WRC was 'suspended' from mainline running.

 

As far as I know the route conductor needs to have steam experience even if they aren’t qualified. They are examples of route conductors being used in Scotland with West Coast in the past with DB also in Scotland.

 

The only likelihood of it operating with DB is filling in for Clan Line on the Pullman. It will be interesting to see what hauls the Pullman during Clan Line’s next overhaul. With Tornado and Prince of Wales being concentrated on operations elsewhere it will be interesting to see which loco ends up doing it.

 

The next overhaul is not until 2027

 

Thanks for that. Having seen BIL earlier this year will try to see Clan Line the next time I’m in the London area as it would be good to get a photo of it.

 

Not my understanding. I know at diesel driver who did it once, said he got so filthy he has no intention of ever doing it again.

 

It has but you need to view the likely reasons LSL made the purchase. These are only my assumptions but they would stake up in other industries in a similar situation.
1) Suddenly on the market due to reported health issues of the owner.
2) A main line ticketed largish loco, a support coach and a kitchen car. Maybe not exactly as rare rocking horse s**t, but quite close. Only air brakes needed, although the length of time out may imply other issues.
3) An established brand in the south east (may be less so to the enthusiast community).
4) So you buy the company.

Look at why large airlines swallow small ones, not because they want them, but because they have slot pairs at slot controlled airports.

So I suspect the Mk3 saga surprised LSL as it appears even the "public" were unhappy with the stock.
Yes there are bad reviews on Trip Advisor and the like, but more likely to complain than praise if it takes time to compile.
I have read reviews of trips I have stewarded on (not SD) and do not even recognised the review as the same tour on many of them.
Many seem to hate Ryanair for poor service, yet they are one of the most profitable airlines.
A few heavily discounted trips next year run without issue and I suspect it will all blow over.
They may have also dodged a bullet as the on off steam ban was a perfect excuse to not to have to run.

2023 will tell, IF people have money to spend on that sort of thing.

 

Strongly believe that much of the remainder of the 2022 program will happen due to coaching stock behind Braunton.

 

There are only 3 Saphos tours left this year so I agree with your analysis.

 

Is the Chichester & Goodwood Festival and afternoon tea tour still on? And if so whats the motive power? All the required paths have appeared on RTT

 

Braunton see https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/le-movements-ecs-and-test-runs-2022.1420511/page-15

 

Super Thanks