Statesman Rail

[The Torbay Expresses have very few enthusiasts on board; indeed, there have been trips with only a dozen or so recognisable enthusiasts on board, the rest of the passengers being couples or families having a day out. The majority don't care what's on the front - the first 4 TEs this year are virtually sold out, without the loco being advertised on the PTR website![/quote]

So how do you recognise the "stereotypical" enthusiast? Is it not possible that enthusiasts take their partners and children with them? Is it not possible for an enthusiast to enjoy both the experience and the day out? It is probable that amongst the perceived non enthusiasts that there are quite a number making the best of both worlds.

With th TE you do know what is pulling the train from a choice of two locos (well three this year). Early TEs have filled due to the scheduled appearnce of Tornado - a major pull for every type of customer...

 

Get over yourself - you know perfectly well what are tourist trains and "bucket and spade specials" and which are enthusiast charters, and advertised traction on even those is hardly guaranteed - (RTC)

You have regularly rostered steam over the S & C - and other routes - forty plus years after it all came to an end. The enthusiast market comes nowhere near paying for that amount of provision.

Why is that not good enough for you?

 

Me,Dad,Gordon,Graham,Mike,James,Robin who else? lol

I wonder if the organiser of the Whiteball Challenge will be rigging it with the crew at Exeter or if he'll play it fair for a change,dirty cheat

Cheers,
Mark

 

Whiteball - what's that???

71000 in 96 put paid to that as some sort of hill

 

96? Shurly shome mishtake?! '06 perhaps? ;-)

 

Maybe the bitter experiences people have had with Kingfisher and XL Railtours - teens of pages on other threads are evidence of that.

Simple fact, if the same locos are advertised by two different organisations on the same day without a word from either, that is wrong.

 

14th June 1995, I think.

 

Criticise Kingfisher, fair enough. As for XL; did they take money off anyone?
But why are you tarring a new operation with the same brush without any evidence?
And you've had the loco situation explained by a number of people. Just try to understand the concept of loco pools. The locos listed for SSE and Fellsman will be based at Carnforth with West Coast. And both trains are operated by the same organisation, West Coast. Locos from that pool will be used on both. No-one is advertising the same loco for a train on the same day.
However, if you insist on thinking the worst, your best bet will be to stay at home, save your money and grumble.

 

June 1995!

The memory plays tricks - but it was 85 round the back of Taunton and 67 over Whiteball with the sound of cinders smacking off the window ventilator baffles as the counterpoint to the exhaust that remains clear.

and 02.22 back into Crewe - yawn.

Mel may have caused some anguish - but we did have some cracking "Days Out"

 

Look at other threads. Lots of people having concerns over the experience of Kingfisher and XL. I really want Statesman to be a success and the Fellsman to run to capacity. Silly me, thinking that a forum was open to expressing concerns...

I can see no other situation where the same loco's are listed on the same dates in different counties. Yes I do understand how the loco pools work, hence on this occasion I believe both operators need to clarify...

 

Clarify what? They'll both be using loco's from a pool of suitable engines; that seems pretty clear to me. If you want to travel behind a specific loco, then travel on a trip where its specifically advertised.

Chris

 

As I said, Kingfisher yes, but XL. They tried to get a railtour business running then took a decision to wind up. Ok, perhaps a few people were disappointed that nothing came of their advertised tours but, I'll ask again, did they take money off anyone?
And I still don't understand why it is that you are still having a go at Statesman when they haven't given any cause for concern - other than this nonsense about the same locos advertised for SSE and Fellsman, we've tried to explain that but you seem not to want to understand. ](*,)

 

Enthusiasts may not be the majority on these tours, but the small number who are wanting to go on these could be the difference between a tour being able to run and not. We all know railtours are costly to run, so surely aiming for as large a market as possible is the best way to cover costs ?

There is a group of us who would like to travel, but we only have an interest in one of the engines. There is potentially £300+ of custom from us, but with no confirmation of locos we are not prepared to book for we don't want to take leave and end up behind something we don't have as much of an interest in. Most companies would be snapping up that sort of custom, especially with the way things are at present. So why aren't Statesman ?

 

will they be doing any steam tours in the south?

 

Just to clarify the post from Lil Bear, the quote listed does not represent my own opinion. The quote is an extract from an email response I recieved from Statesman Rail when I tried to find out the loco roster.

I agree 100% with Lil Bear... Looking at Steam UK, no other rail tour has the same loco's listed on the same dates in different parts of the country. The vast majority actually name the loco they intend to use. Yes, I accept that due to operational issues that may change, but up front they tell you waht you are buying. As I like to utilise the Premium Dining where available or at least First Class, I think its fair to know the intentions of the operators with rostering.

 

Notwithstanding the various comments posted here, the first Fellsman on Wed 29 July is already fully booked. So passengers are evidently not discouraged by lack of knowledge about which loco will work the train. Actually, it's just like the old days, you just have to see what turns up on the day !

David

PS uksteam.info is temporarily off-line as it is moving to a new server. Should be back before long !

 

Not looking too good for the rest of the trips though... loads of seats.

Maybe those of us in the "wait and see brigade" are looking at how the first paying customers fare with the choice of loco and will make in informed decision after the 29th July - make or break day?

 

I assume you have been in touch with Statesman to enable you to make such a sweeping statement about future loadings.
Since your first post on this thread when you wished them luck you seem to have been the harbinger of doom, and I wonder whether you have an ulterior motive.
To have one train fully booked almost 2 months ahead is encouraging -- how many other tour operators achieve this without specifying which loco is involved?
Good luck to them.

 

Just look at the bookings on their website... seats in all classes... not difficult really

Was hopeful at the start but have become disprited now... No ulterior motive. I am just unhappy that all locos are "double booked" on paper.

Hmmm... feel like I have stumbled into a shareholders meeting!

 

The website indicates that there is at least one seat available in some classes on some trains. It doesn't give any indication of how many are available except for those trains/classes which are fully booked. Nor is there any reason whatsoever to assume any locos are double booked.

David