West Somerset Railway General Discussion

In my 40 years experience in the Transport Industry as driver and Owner of HGVs it was found that even though we were operating safely , if it wasn't recorded then we weren't . We put in simple systems of recording and all were happy . We had 3 HGVs + 3 vans , so a much smaller operation than some but still the same systems . If it wasn't recorded then it hadn't happened . Was this the problem with ORR and WSR ?

 

Liking these now and then comparisons.

Thxs for posting

 

That would bring in fares I’m sure, I don’t Recall mayflower being on the line before

 

Mayflower visited 26/27 November 2015. For photos, search 61306 on wsr.org.uk.

I expect with the present financial situation, it would only run on service trains on the WSR if there was a certainty that the fares generated would be greater than the cost of hire.

 

Indeed, there are some events staged on heritage lines that are very profitable and a good advertisement for the line encouraging people to return another time. Equally some lose money - for many reasons and can be counter productive. I expect the WSR does have insight into what was worthwhile and what has not been, so do not be too dismayed if things aren't quite as they used to be.

 

Fares - yes. Profit (after hire/transport costs) - ??

 

I think you missed the fact it would be there already? Still hire fees of course.

 

61306 is booked for a photo charter while it's there.

 

You might get half a carriageload of additional passengers, to be optimistic, but she's hardly likely to be a crowd-puller despite the rarity of Thompson locos

 

No transport costs as it comes and goes by rail.

 

More than this. If a normal day would bring in (say) £3K and cost £750 in loco costs and using a hire loco brought in £4K total and hire loco cost £2K, it would still be profit but it would be less profit than the normal day.

 

Steve,

Your arithmetic is sound. However, it assumes that the same number of people travel, and I don't think that's a fair assumption to make.

If I knew that 61306 was running a service train on a day that I hadn't plan to visit the line, I would certainly make the trip.

 

I think @Steve has allowed for that in his arithmetic: he is specifically saying that even if a visiting loco draws extra passengers (in his example, increasing daily revenue from £3k to £4k) it may still be a bad idea if the cost of hire increases by more than the increased revenue expected.

Tom

 

Yes, misread the original post. Apologies to @Steve.

 

That's essentially what I was trying to say. It applies equally to all special events that replace a normal operating day. If the resultant 'contribution' does not increase, financially, it isn't worth doing.

 

No problem.

 

That's very much a bean counter's view of the whole thing (which is not to presuppose what the @Bean-counter 's view might be)! There can be more value in events than simply the bottom line on the day.

 

The train does have a few stops en route any way it is Easter time so it might be well supported. Hopefully I will see the loco in South Devon. 2020 is the 400th. anniversary of Mayflower setting sail for the Americas so maybe she will be heading SW for that event.

 

But there will be steaming costs for each day the WSR "hires" it