Steam Dreams 2013 & 2014 Archive

As it stands there is no way I would book on a SD tour. They are the least likely company to deliver what was advertised, or at least an acceptable substitute.

RT and VT, on the other hand, seem to try harder and offer better value for money. Steam Dreams really seem to have lost the plot, perhaps they should go back to the beginning and revisit their original objectives and values.

 

Like a name change maybe?

"I Dream of Steam" perhaps?

 

They have certainly lost the plot. They should really change their company name anyway to something like "Expensive grub on wheels"*. Steam is definitely becoming a smaller part of the business these days.

*I will never forget the reply of the Lady who sat with us on one trip last year when she was told how much a packet of crisps was. She said:

"I only want one bag not a multipack!"

 

This is 2nd of 3rd attempt they have had at trying to run this trip. Southend seems a popular starting point and they had been asked to run a trip to York( mentioned in SR or HR). I doubt they will run another.

The problem they have with trips starting outside London is, there are only a certain number of destinations that are possible from say Southend before you start repeating them.
I think they need to encourage these people to come into London or drive to a pickup point further than they have done before. The trips need to be at the weekend ( cheaper fares into London and quieter trains and roads) and to be mid distant places such as Bath, York, Worcester etc and ideally 9am start and 9pm return.

I am will drive a reasonable distance to a starting point but only at weekends. Driving to Watford Junction tomorrow to pickup the Cumbrian Coast Express.

 

From the home page of the Steam Dreams website.

''Wonderful days out by steam train''.

* ''A day out on The Cathedrals Express is one to be remembered''.

* You can't argue with the second statement. <BJ>

 

This trip was never advertised with full steam both ways. To be fair I don't think anyone could possibly expect or justify 16 hours of mainline steam from somewhere at the end of the earth back to somewhere at the end of the earth, but this happens to SD far more often than the other TOCs, and has done for quite some time now. Something is amiss, and I suspect its because they start out with unrealistically ambitious plans and end up missing even a reasonable compromise. To be frank, given their worsening reputation and the number of tours they get cancelled, (and the subsequent drop in income) I wouldn't be surprise if they don't survive.

I have done some trips in the past with RTC, and in all honesty I wouldn't risk my money on a SD trip.

 

I believe 34046 is back at Southall after having its tender wheels turned at Ilford. But I agree that Cath-Ex, despite allowing anyone to book on rare mileage sections on their multi-day tours (Kyle of Lochalsh being one), appears to be getting increasingly watered-down in the steam mileage stakes. From my perspective, I'm willing to compromise when RTC cancel their trips, as when they do run to plan, they tend to be:

a) more adventurous, yet seem to be more achievable, and

b) better value for money

Having experienced it twice, Premium Standard appears to be a gimmick to ensure that they cover their costs due to a potential lack of popularity amongst 'ordinary' enthusiasts. The fact that I was willing to travel up to Inverness to do the Kyle line should be proof enough that there is a market beyond London, and that they are merely shooting themselves in the foot at the moment by not venturing too far beyond the M25 for their start points.

 

Rather a pessimistic outlook I think. Their reputation may be worsening on this board and among the enthusiast community at large but are they still filling their trains with the "ordinary" punters - the ones who don't mind shelling out £180 - 200 a ticket for "premier dining"? So long as they are, I guess they'll be happy.

Personally I preferred them when all their tours started from London, but that's partly because I live close to London and can get there in half an hour. I see what they are trying to do with the remoter starting points but the result is tours that start at 7 am and finish at 11pm and it is understandably proving difficult to provide steam throughout. Personally I liked the "premier standard" when it was first introduced since your paid an ectra £10 and got in the first passenger coach in at least one direction. Now there is no guarantee of that and the tablecloths and "free" tea and coffee are unnecessary extras in my opinion.

I wonder whether anyone from SD reads this forum? Maybe not - I know Nigel from RTC does from time to time.

 

Marcus and a number of staff travel on most trips and are from the South East so with the travel costs and hotels, and taking them away from running the business for longer so I doubt it would stake up. The own caterers are also from the South East.

 

In that case, its a flexibility issue, and it runs the risk that if the manager can't go on the tour, it won't run. There are ways around it, such as volunteer staff administered by one or two employed representatives of the company who travel to the start point wherever it is and acts as train manager and the main point of contact if there is a problem. Its not a dereliction of customer service, as it means that there is a company representative on the train who is able to settle issues there and then. I stand by my comment that there is a wider market out there than London.

 

As somebody who gave up UK mainline steam for the sort of reasons discussed here when dealing with a now defunct promoter (neither Steam Dreams nor any other "Railtour company" are a TOC), I am confused - I seem to recall reading all these charges, including especially "they are far worse than any other promoter" on another thread recently but am sure it wasn't about Steam Dreams, but another company entirely.....

I have also sort of had the impression that The Cathedrals Express tends to offer more non-Premier Dining than most other companies, albeit now with no actual "Standard Class" - most railtour formations seem to include about 1 TSO and a Buffet car (just over 100 seats) of Standard.

(Vintage Trains are an exception)

Is the reality that the demands of the modern network, how trains have to run and what is actually necessary to sell seats on board the trains mean that all promoters are ending up offering different variants on the same core product?

Is it also the case that arguably that core product looks a lot like how many BR steam specials worked 30 years - steam sections in the Cumbrian Hills or along the coast and long diesel or electric sections to get there and back?

Steven

 

There's nothing wrong with that method of operating, but I think that the root of the issue is that Steam Dreams has suffered a greater degree of 'diesel-creep' in their programme of late than anyone else, which seems to suggest that such tours were unrealistic as originally envisaged. Whilst other providers have also suffered 'diesel-creep,' they still manage to get a substantial amount of steam mileage into the overall package whenever Network Railway allows it. I need not repeat my misgivings about Premium Standard, as I guess its all depends upon what the individual wants to get out of their trips.

 

Steven

Steam Dreams typically run 11 - 13 coach trains ( that includes Support Coach and Kitchen Car) Train lengths can depend on restrictions at destination and also demand.
If 13 usually as follows ( but have run with less Premier dining when there is more demand for Standard).

Premier Dining 5
Kitchen Car 1
First 2
Standard 4
Support coach 1

Generally some of their trips have always appealed more to enthusiasts than others. Some trips you see most of the regular faces , while other ones less 10.

Paul

 

I wonder how many paying pax there were on board the recent SD diesel trip with some steam involved. 13 car train

 

Steam Dreams has gained its reputation for customer service based on the way it currently operates. I see no point in going for addtional turnover and providing a reduced customer service on some trips.I would rather all charter business run what they can effectively control, consistantly meet their own standards of customer service and remain profitable, rather than go for turnover.

 

Thanks Paul - that seems to be one or two more standard coaches than is common elsewhere, in part permitted by a longer train.

I do wonder how much the extra diesel mileage is down to having to adapt to not being able to use 60163, which tends to be seen as one of the longest range steam loco if i understand correctly. How many past trips would have worked with anything else.

Steven

 

Actually Al, there was no mischief at all intended in that comment of mine.

I'd like to know if the train, which was clearly a mixed traction effort, had a good level of patronage. Which could rather give some emphasis to the point I have made earlier that maybe SD know their business better than we do.

I would certainly not try and "have a go" at SD here. As far as I am concerned their past glories with a number of SR steam specials will live on in my memory for some time to come. Those days may have gone now, but I am extremely grateful for what they and the others involved achieved on those days.