If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Polar Express in Birmingham

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Sidmouth, Nov 6, 2018.

  1. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    2,505
    Likes Received:
    3,248
    Location:
    Powys
    There was an interview in Steam Railway a few years back with the owner of the Churnet Valley S160's, mainline was being considered then. I guess commercial opportunities would be limited, but once the connection to Stoke is reinstated perhaps it is something that would be looked again? The Ffestiniog branch was another option mentioned.
     
  2. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,906
    Likes Received:
    3,704
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    [​IMG]The Polar Express locomotive was based on this one: Pere Marquette 2-8-4 Berkshire type.
     
    green five and mike1522 like this.
  3. David likes trains

    David likes trains Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2014
    Messages:
    804
    Likes Received:
    3,317
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Colchester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Looking at VT's Facebook page, looks like the rehearsal runs they did on Saturday were well received by those on board. However, also looks like they have been late sending the tickets out and therefore been inundated with phone calls from worried customers! Not great seeing as they've got a set number of trains planned and therefore a finite number of tickets to sell, so surely you can plan and resource to meet that demand? Hopefully those attending will be won over by the experience, seeing as it's clearly attracting a different group of customers to the usual rail tour market. I say all this a shareholder so I want it to be a great success.
     
  4. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2005
    Messages:
    9,635
    Likes Received:
    8,303
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Alderan !
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    trying to word this diplomatically but those of a nervous disposition would best keep away from the VT facebook page .
     
  5. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2018
    Messages:
    1,523
    Likes Received:
    634
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    W yorkshire 56f
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes im booked on this xmas special from moor street tyseley return. the V.T. staff have announced to me if you dont receive your tickets by the 30th november just bring your comfirmation form or by email and you will still have proof your aboard with this and find your seat number on their guest list i assume and this applys to all who have booked and not received their tickets the days leading up to the event and futthermore my ticket would have to arrive tomorrow and not friday cos i live in cleckheaton nr bradford w.yorks and take me nearly 3 hours birmingham and cant wait in 4 the postman on fri 30th nov cos they dont arrive until aft 10am on my estate and im booked on the 3pm performance of the P.E. that day. Not really a good start 4 V.T. But understandable the amount o booked tickets they have to send out anyhow the P.E. Should be a good money spinner 4 V.T. if its a sell out!
     
  6. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2008
    Messages:
    2,857
    Likes Received:
    2,793
    For on-line bookings there is surely no need to rely, these days, upon sending tickets by post unless the customer requests it? Sounds like a ‘learning from mistakes’* opportunity for VT :)

    *management-speak for what used to be called a bollocking.
     
  7. oldmrheath

    oldmrheath Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2006
    Messages:
    2,265
    Likes Received:
    2,452
    I think part of the issue is that they are special 'Golden Tickets' , with the idea that the magic starts before the family sets out. I still prefer a proper ticket when going to see a band rather than an e-ticket and I'm old enough not to be so fussy.

    Jon
     
    Miff likes this.
  8. 6136

    6136 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2007
    Messages:
    366
    Likes Received:
    40
    Looks like it's selling well. The web site shows 37 of the 68 trains booked out.
     
  9. zep108

    zep108 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2006
    Messages:
    331
    Likes Received:
    210
    Occupation:
    logistics
    Location:
    BIRMINGHAM
  10. zep108

    zep108 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2006
    Messages:
    331
    Likes Received:
    210
    Occupation:
    logistics
    Location:
    BIRMINGHAM
    you were right - not that big but a lamp all the same
     
  11. NathanP

    NathanP Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2017
    Messages:
    695
    Likes Received:
    820
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Worcester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2018
    Bluenosejohn and Greenway like this.
  12. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2013
    Messages:
    2,882
    Likes Received:
    3,590
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    TBC
    Location:
    Birmingham & Arley
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I was expecting the loco to be done up like a Xmas tree !
     
  13. NathanP

    NathanP Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2017
    Messages:
    695
    Likes Received:
    820
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Worcester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I wasn't expecting the leg from Moor Street to Tyseley to be diesel-hauled. It never occurred to me that there wasn't a run-around on the bay platforms. From the video it doesn't look as if anyone minded though!
     
  14. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2007
    Messages:
    3,619
    Likes Received:
    1,636
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired SPM
    Location:
    Close to Spike Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    A nice touch putting on "POLAR STAR" nameplates.

    Cheers, Neil
     
    Shoddy127 likes this.
  15. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2018
    Messages:
    1,523
    Likes Received:
    634
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    W yorkshire 56f
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Any 1 know which month of 2019 R.A.H. 4965,s main line ticket expires and what happens to her then?
     
  16. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Cue the rivet counters complaining that it was not renumbered 4005! :confused:
     
  17. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,906
    Likes Received:
    3,704
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  18. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2008
    Messages:
    2,857
    Likes Received:
    2,793
    It’s a such pity they didn’t renumber it 4005
     
  19. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,330
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Well, all Western engines look the same...
     
    MikeParkin65, steamvideosnet and Miff like this.
  20. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    8,659
    Likes Received:
    6,415
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    A64D5D09-ED8B-4552-AF27-06D9B99B85FD.jpeg
     
    Copper-capped and Miff like this.

Share This Page