TORBAY EXPRESS 2011 Season

Perhaps its the Brunswick Green? :behindsofa:

 

some photos and video from yesterdays 31-7-11 run now at http://keyhamtrain.weebly.com/torbay-express-31-7-11.html and http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=keyhamtrain#grid/uploads

 

Video of the Torbay 31.07.11 plus a snippet of Tangmere light-engine on Saturday! http://www.youtube.com/user/gwrsteam
Pictures available at: http://www.steam-locomotives.co.uk

 

Tornado is a great engine however I do not see the reason in why it should have all of the limelight and others not having any such as Tangmere

 

60163 pulls crowds like no other so you can't blame tour companies for going with it, 34067 has a busy enough schedule anyway covering for other loco's and one of a select band that can fit round places like Kent.

 

As can be seen with the King on the Torbay Express. Same loco, same destination, year in, year out. The only remaining Torbay
Express trains with the King are todays and the final trip on 18th September. It's such a shame but the others are cancelled. <BJ>

 

6024 'King Edward 1' seen hammering out of Flax Bourton tunnel at 09:25, just 10 mins after departing from Bristol TM.
11 chocolate and cream coaches. The train looked very impressive in the atmospheric weather (rain). <BJ>

 

6024 Bridgwater 10:02. <BJ>

 

The King is a very popular loco,the problem with the Torbay's is that the prices are so ridiculous.

TBEL/Pathfinder seem to over charge greatly for steam,for instance in November (26th) there is a trip which is steam from Bristol to Shrewsbury.

There is another operated by Steam Dreams to Shrewsbury the same day,now why is it that the price of a std class ticket on SD all the way from Euston with Tornado is 85 quid and the trip from Bristol with steam is 98 at the cheapest....why?!

 

Good point. Maybe the problem is of price and a lack of variety of locomotive.

On a plus side latest report from Philip Izzard .... ''6024 past Norton Jct.,WSR at 10:44 with lots of whistles and toots from the King and the Duke''. <BJ>

 

We were once regular on the Torbay but the price is ridiculous nowadays. Price per mile is much more attractive with other operators . . who we support! Its a shame as I loved the Torbay runs, great route!

It would be nice to see a bit of variety in the loco's also, an A4 may open my wallet amoungst others! Good to see the King at the head of today however, for the first time this season!

 

6024 N. Abbot 11:44, arr Paignton 12 early at 11:58. <BJ>

 

I wonder how DBS prices compare with WCRC. Is it a coincidence that both Pathfinder and TBEL exclusively use DBS and have the highest ticket prices of any promotor?

 

Surely a promoter would be smart enough to go to WCRC if they could deliver at a better price than DBS ?, i suspect the reason for the higher price lies elsewhere.

 

6024 reported 8 late off Paignton at 17:23, passing Matford at 17:56. <BJ>

 

some photos from today of 6024 on goodrington bank at http://keyhamtrain.weebly.com/torbay-express-8-7-11.html video at http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=keyhamtrain#grid/uploads

 

I thought both companies were owned by Riviera?

 

Riviera trains together with DBS are part of 'The Charter Alliance' providing locos and stock exclusively to both Pathfinder and TBEL to whom (according to Riviera's website) they are 'closely connected' & are specifically advertised as promotors. Very unlikely either company would use West Coast therefore (especially if, as Alberta says, Riviera own them!).
www.riviera-trains.co.uk/specialist_services.htm

 

when the Torbays first started they were very good value,it was a very friendly atmosphere then with the demise of past time it seemed to go downhill,what happens next year we will have to wait and see.

 

I think some of the problem with the Torbay's is that , price wise, we all had it too good for too long! it really was one of the best value main line steam experiences in the country for a combination of fast running, hill climbing , mileage and , of course, the scenery (anyone noticed that RTC's advertising posters at Temple Meads, for the Weymouth seaside express ,shows a view of the seal wall ). For the sake of comparsions I would say that "The Waverley" is a similar trip and a standard ticket on that is £65. So, on that basis, I would concede that the standard TE ticket is about £10 over priced but it shouldn't be thought of as £25 over priced compared to the old "£50 a go". Not wanting to open an old sore it shouldn't be forgotten that PTR lost colossal sums of money. So was their pricing structure ever right?
The atmosphere on board is different now and I guess everyone misses Tom especially. But the TE stewards are friendly enough and do all that is required of them. You can't really blame TE ltd for wanting to put their own stamp on this tour.People are still turning out to watch the trains passage including the good folk of Weston:-the lady in the pink dressing gown and her fellow town resident with the flags and tiger peeping over the wall.And there were birthday celebrations in my carriage. So there is still fun and "atmosphere" there if you want it. I guess its what you make of it.Whether they have got the pricing structure right and the target market remains to be seen. But for now it is keeping steam in the South West on the main line on this fabulous route. From the point of view of steam running the TE certainly hasn't gone downhill. Yesterdays return run was as entertaining as ever with the smoke and thunder noise machine that is 6024.