Steam Dreams 2013

I just seen the following tours have been added to the Steam Dreams website : -

Thu 14Feb13 Day trip Valentine's Circular to The White Cliffs Steam Locomotive TBC
Fri 01Mar13 Day trip St David's Day to Cardiff & Swansea A1 Tornado
Sat 09Mar13 Day trip London to Exeter & Plymouth A1 Tornado
Thu 14Mar13 Day trip London to York A1 Tornado
Sat 16Mar13 Day trip Southend to Bath and Bristol Steam Locomotive TBC
Tue 19Mar13 Day trip Kent & London to Oxford & Worcester Steam Locomotive TBC
Thu 21Mar13 Day trip Peterborough to Bath and Bristol Steam Locomotive TBC
Tue 26Mar13 Day trip Newbury & London to Canterbury Steam Locomotive TBC
Thu 04Apr13 Day trip Surrey & London to Lincoln Bittern
Sat 13Apr13 Day trip London to Beverley & Scarborough A1 Tornado
Thu 18Apr13 Day trip London to Salisbury, Bath and Bristol
Sat 20Apr13 Day trip London to Chester, Caernarfon & Holyhead A1 Tornado
Tue 23Apr13 Day trip London to Settle and Carlisle A1 Tornado
Thu 25Apr13 Day trip Colchester to Settle and Carlisle A1 Tornado
Tue 28May13 Day trip Lewes & London to Salisbury A1 Tornado
Thu 30May13 Day trip London to York A1 Tornado
Thu 06Jun13 Day trip North Kent & London to Cambridge & Ely
Sun 16Jun13 Day trip Edinburgh to Inverness A1 Tornado
Fri 21Jun13 Day trip Par & Truro (Diesel Hauled)

 

Hopefully third time lucky for Tornado in Sussex after failing before her last 2 appearances. Shame the date for the Lewes trip is mid week again.

What locos will be available to SD next year now they are using DBS. 60163, 4464, 34046, 70000, 35028, 71000 and maybe 6023 and 4472. Anyone know any others seeing as 6024 and 6201 won't be around?

 

60009 maybe? Unlikely, I know, but maybe one of Ian Riley's Black 5s? I can dream...

James at SVN

 

I think the plan is for 5029 to work with DBS next year.

 

Seeing as she's a JH loco and that his other mainline locos 4464, 70000 and soon 34046 are run by both DBS and WCRC so would make sense for 5029 to be run by either both WCRC and/or DBS.

Isn't there a plan by SD to run an trip with A4's for Mallard's 75th so maybe 60009 and possibly 60007 could be used or maybe have WCRC involved in a one off trip.

 

Don't think 6023 will be included as it is vac only, saying that it might be able to be used with another air braked loco as I believe it has air through piping.

 

Don't see why that would need WCRC involvement, all 3 Mainline A4's are airbraked and theoretically availible to work for DBS providing the paperworks in order by that time.

Theoretically 46233 and Riley's Black Fives are availible too, I think after that the only other Mainline Loco's are eligible Vac only Loco's if you stick 100% with DBS (70013, 45305, 30777, The Tyseley & Carnforth fleets).

 

What will be interesting is if there's anymore backtracking on Vac Braking by DBS as it seems the policy now is Vac Braked only Loco's will be considered, providing the Loco is through piped and the train is dual braked so an Air Braked Diesel can rescue it, in practive so far all this has resulted in was one run with 61994 to Kyle, the question is, was that a one off or will more follow once SD have their singing and dancing new rake ?.

 

Just read the list again, 10 out of 18 trips are booked for Tornado??
Nothing wrong with Tornado, but a bit of variety? The one different engine is also an ex LNER pacific.
See what the "TBC's" bring.

 

Probably not suprising with Graham Bunker having a foot in both camps, plus 60163's water range probably mean it's the only loco that can make some itineries (London - Holyhead for example) possible.

 

Tornado is a big draw to the non-enthusiast market so it's not that surprising she has such a presence especially when, as noted above, GB has an involvement with both 60163 and Steam Dreams. Regarding other locos (and their brakes) it should be remembered that Steam Dreams/DBS used John Cameron's K4 this year with only the addition of a through air pipe. In the grand scheme of things that's a pretty cheap, non-invasive, and easy modification if you're putting an engine on the mainline.

 

Add Plymouth, Swansea(From Victoria mid week) and Scarborough,as well as speed restriction on slow line/ pathing( cannot remember where) for mid weeks trip to York. Gauging issues for trips from Lewes - suspect only 60163 or 70000 (Class 7 or above) will fit, until 34046 is ready.35028 only seems to do trips that start from London.

 

Doesn't look like we will be doing many of their trips next year as our local pick-up points seem to be mainly Reading for 2013. It costs enough to go on the railtours without the fare from Aldershot to Reading. I notice also some of the prices have been bumped up to £105.00 for premium Standard. It seems they are going out of our price range.........

Hopefully RTC will have a good number of runs picking up on the SR next year.

 

Probably trying for the VSOE market. If they want to drive customers away, then that's their lookout. Steam tours are unpredictable enough without paying a fortune for the privilege.

 

First class is still advertised as being in a compartment of 6. No good for single travellers or couples who want a table for 2. Will this change when they bring in their own stock?

 

Ah, breaking the £100 barrier - although the £99 price was, to me, like fuel prices being priced at xxx.9p - a bit of psychology...

In real terms it's an increase of 6% - well, how much have fixed costs gone up, particularly fuel?

Yes, it sounds a lot, but should we expect a business simply to keep absorbing rising costs?

I suspect that it won't affect numbers too much, but, as ever, time will tell.

Mark

 

The longer trips this year, since Super Standard was introduced, have been £ 105.00 such as KX to Durham ( if you wanted to travel to York it was £99.00), and Paddington to Kingswear ( Exeter £ 99.00) so no further increase.

 

From the conversation I had with Marcus earlier this year that should be the case. I don't care as I go standard when on my own but the wife will only come if we get a table for two like you get on RTC tours.

 

I hope so, as I prefer first class, if I'm either travelling alone or with a friend. With the current seating arrangements I will not be travelling with SD (as will many others I suspect), so in my view it would be helpful if SD could clarify the situation.

 

Clan Line is the rostered loco for the Exeter trip on 30th June.