The Waverley

Maybe an LE move to York was not needed?
I think that the 8f could have done Hellifield-Carlisle-York than be ready for the SSE's for the week.

Also, I can understand Carnforth's urgency to Get Galatea home. I guess they would have any number of options. One of which to Use the 47 off the Waverley to get her home in the Evening right after the Waverly?

 

Did think the 50Plus through Bingley was pretty effortless...

 

I would argue that enthusiasts have become marginal business because in many cases they have been marginalised. It's not so very long ago that the vast majority of steam tour passengers were enthusiasts of one type or another. For whatever reason the majority of seats are aimed at the dining/first class market. It would be interesting to see how a tour aimed mainly at gricers would fare.

 

My guess Is that it would be cancelled due to lack of bookings, resulting in lots of moaning on here from all of those who were looking forward to photting it.

 

So you think the crowds of us who used to book the tours in the past would no longer do so in sufficient numbers?
I agree the market has changed but have tour organisers been proactive in this rather than reactive to the needs of the market?

 

My shots of the train at Church Fenton and Ulleskelf are now on at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-walker/9547726809/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-walker/9547668991/in/photostream/

Cheers,
Mark

 

But the tours I'm thinking of back in the 70s and 80s did run repeats on a weekly basis over a set route with a pool of locos. CME, CCE and North Yorkshireman based on Carnforth, York Circular and SSE based on York, NWCE based on Crewe, Shakespeare Express based on Marylebone.

 

10 years ago I used to know or recognise most of the people in the front coach on steam charters, these days I hardly see anyone I know. The only exception was the 15 Guinea special, which, at least in standard, seemed to be mainly cranks.

 

From the WCR point of view, do we honestly think they want to spend money on diesel to shove 100+ tonnes of steam Loco around ? or that they want to have to use/hire two locos and crews if they could only use one ? Aint no anti steam crank conspiracy here, no plan to 'con' the public, you can only play the game with the players you have and the rules given...some might argue its their own silly fault that they havent got Tornado on the bench, (but that can of worms is on another shelf)

 

My word that would be a happy tour, with all the moaning and groaning I could see violence by the end of it!

 

Wholly agree, this idea that WCRC are doing stuff to alienate people and con the market is verging on the paranoid.

 

The tours I went on back in the 70s and 80s were usually very happy tours. Mostly a train load of enthusiasts having a no frills day out and enjoying the thrash.

 

Amen

 

I think all that spirit/type of tour died off in 2009 sadly.....we all know why.

 

Amen indeed. Looking forward to reliving the experience next Spring in Germany. A head out of every window and finishing the tour looking like I've just finished a shift down a coal mine.

 

Anyone know motive power for this Sunday
H

 

47 or possibly 37, I imagine. Probably an ornamental steam loco on the front too.

 

lol