East Lancs February 21 & 22nd Steam Gala

We are pleased to announce that Caprotti Standard 5MT '73129' will be visiting for the event.

More details here: http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/...ve-for-the-february-steam-gala-announced.aspx

Rich

 

Great to see it back only a shame its been away so long.

 

The beast returns. Best ever ride on the ELR behind that.

 

There was also a poster at one of the stations indicating WD75008 will be attending the gala

 

WD75008 aka Swiftsure is in need of some attention prior to it entering traffic on the ELR. We hope that it will make it.

 

Is there any news on the usual gala nightshoots, or mini-charters for this event? Thanks in advance.

 

There's remarkably little gen on this even considering it's in 13 days' time.

 

Steam line-up is now confirmed:

Visiting Locomotive: BR Standard 5MT '73129' courtesy of the Midland Railway Centre.

• 45407
• 44871
• 80080
• 12322
• 13065
• 61994

There will be a morning run past at Burrs on Sunday morning using 73129 and engineering wagons. Full details available via the website here: http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/...am-weekend-and-transport-collectors-fair.aspx

 

Will be in Altrincham this weekend for our twin granddaughters' first birthday on Saturday, so even if I had wanted to I would not have been able to spend a full day at the ELR in any case, but on seeing this I did consider negotiating with SWMBO about being allowed out for an early morning flying visit, weather permitting, prior to setting off back to South Wales on Sunday. However, when it became apparent that 3P20 would be expecting a £40.00 '"donation" (They have even put the word in quotation marks themselves on their flyer.) if I turned up at Burrs on spec for at most 90 minutes photography, I have reluctantly decided not to bother. Considering that the going rate for these mini charters used to be a tenner until quite recently (and I do accept that costs only go in one direction), £40 is definitely on the wrong side of extortionate. "Biting the hand that feeds you" is the expression that comes to mind.

 

I think the hand that feeds is the folk who buy tickets for a ride.

 

I see why stand alone charters cost so much, as the loco is being steamed purely for the charter. But these early morning runs are an extra to a day when the loco would run anyway, so any money is a bonus. I wonder how many people would turn up on spec if the price was still a tenner, compared to now it 40 notes. I'm sure most full day charters only cost £20 extra.

 

When we first started these run pasts. Coal was only about £60-70 a ton, water wasn't metered, diesel to shunt the freight together was nowhere near £1 a litre.

The prices of these runpast had been a tenner since we started these 10+ years ago. We burn in excess of 1 1/2 tons on the runpasts due to the uneconomical nature of lifting a train up the gradient then setting back and lifting it again..... And the creation of some "textured exhaust".

We use 1000 gallons of water maybe more dependant on engine/load. Now these trains are only run for people who take photos. No passengers ride on them so the only revenue they put into the event are from the photographers which are, and let's be honest a fickle bunch.. So if there's a bit of cloud or a drizzle of rain they (and quite rightly so IMHO) stay in their nice warm bed. so in February or indeed January or October we cannot predict the weather. (Some mornings we have taken a mere £100)
You will notice we used to do runpasts on both Saturday and Sunday and now only sunday. The reason for this being the finances didn't stack up (even at £20 a head)
All of these factors are telling me that these runpasts are maybe not economically viable anymore even though I'm one of the few trying to keep them running from the event organisation/railway management team. It used to be the only time freight trains ran. Now they are getting used for other projects where they do make money and the need isn't there to run them at events.

I'm sure there's some biting of hands that feeds you. But not from the point of view being discussed here.

Also to add another point the imminent construction of the caravan site at Burrs will scupper the runpasts for good.

Harsh realities but true. We would love to run these and still charge a tenner. We simply can't. The point of these was to open the photo charter market to the people that was out of that circle. Just seems the modern world is making it impossible.

 

Just to add a note of clarity to the debate. The morning run pasts are £20.

I quote: "The expected "donation" is £20.00 if booked and paid in advance or £40.00 on the day for those watching the weather forecast!"

As you will all appreciate, to operate a train costs money. The principle applied here is no different than our dining operation. If we don't get enough bookings in advance then it doesn't run - meaning we save money and the event makes a profit therefore in turn supports our fundraising appeals for £250k.

Hope this makes sense.

Cheers, Rich

 

Did you mean the construction of a station to serve the caravan site and country park?

 

I'm not 100% sure what's going on. It was my understanding that the caravan park would be extending as well as the station being built.

 

I did hear of the intention to build a station, but I've no knowledge of the caravan site being extended.
I'm a member of the Caravan Club (the site owners), so I'll keep my ear to the ground.

 

Not too close to the ground I hope as it was rather muddy around there the last time I was at Burrs.

 

It maybe my mind that's thought that one up. But I thought that was why the foot crossing was closed. I knew of the proposed 8 coach "halt". But will believe that when I see it.
Time will tell as they say. On a more positive note. The TT with allocations is currently being checked and will hopefully be issued before much longer.

 

Plans are afoot regarding Burrs, however there is still a lot to do before a sod is cut.

Rich

 

http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/...ort-collectors-fair-timetable-with-locos.ashx

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