GWSR General Discussion and Operations

Which lines?

 

Are you serious?

I live in Wales where nothing has changed this week.

In England where majority of you are, you can go to the park and play tennis with your mates!

 

Are you the same JBTEvans who earlier this evening was writing:

Tom

 

Dean Forest https://deanforestrailway.co.uk/experiences/
Gwili https://gwili-railway.co.uk/product/santas-magical-steam-trains-24-december-2020-1255/

No doubt some others

 

Yes Tom, for the summer season - hence the 'July at the earliest' comment, not on about December.

You've taken out of context, again.

 

Also RE Santas.

I'm sure toys could be bought nearer the time. Yes, it might not be the norm, but it's not like toys are hard to come by on Christmas Eve even!

Also snow has called off Santa events in the past. That is unforeseen and could happen at anytime.

Why cancel an event that isn't usually on sale for another 3 months anyway? I just don't see the point. This situation is changing frequently.

 

Like I said, 2021! I'm sure some trains will run before then but they might only be for test, training and or insurance purposes. The amount of effort required to produce a successful Santa Special programme like that of the GWSR is pretty hefty from what little I've seen of it and it starts around August. I would not be at all surprised if this little bounder of a virus pops up again and starts working its chaotic way over the UK in December. Christmas 2020 is cancelled (probably).

 

Are you sure though? Have you ever had to buy ~5,000 toys, with ~8 different types according to age and gender, *and* then make a profit on them? The nearer you get the harder it will be, and consequently more expensive too.

Yes, we've had some Santas snowed off before. But it was only 1 week, not the whole month, and in the context of a successful operating season.

As for posting them, don't be silly.

The GWSR board have been on the money throughout this crisis, often preempting most other lines when it comes to announcements of closures.

Even under the best case scenario we'd still be having to practise rigorous social distancing by December, and that just won't work with santa experiences.

 

Snow may have caused Santa’s to cancel previously but then it is possible to insure against this risk. It would be impossible to do the same with the present circumstances.

 

I think you are mistaking websites that have not been updated for railways that are planning to run services. For example the Gwili Railway website is taking bookings for steam sunday lunch next sunday. Likewise, Dean Forest is currently advertising everything.

 

No, the Dean Forest do not sell their Santas until August traditionally and this was brought forward.

https://www.facebook.com/deanforestrailway/posts/3669347909774004

 

You are making out like kids toys are a rarity and the post is deliveried once a week by one company.

Better order them Mince Pies for 2022!

 

That facebook post was made on the 23rd of March at 00.30

Lockdown was declared in UK 23rd March 20.36

 

I somehow doubt rigorous social distancing will still be around in December.

Maybe in England if the rules are relaxed too quickly, better not be playing tennis doubles saes!

 

So. They still put it on sale when it was obvious the DFR wouldn't be operating anytime soon. Infact they had just cancelled the weekend before services, and made the decision to sell the services 5 months early. Something they could have retracted easily in the 7 weeks since.

 

A website not being updated is forgivable. Selling tickets when you have no reasonable idea when you will be able to re-open seems foolish in the extreme. Let's hope no money is being taken yet.

Still, on the plus side, the Dean Forest can hoover up all those people who are unable to go to the GWSR for their Santa Special. Assuming of course that they can get the volunteers, there are no social distancing rules (what is Santa going to throw the toys at the children from a distance?), No risk of Santa or his elves getting Covid, and everyone is tested and healthy.

Yeah, good luck with that one.

 

Yoy seem to know an awful lot about organising santa events, which railway:s do you help organise our of interest?
Believe it or not, a volunteer doesn't go to Toys R Us the week before with a big shopping trolley.

Also curious on why you think social distancing measures won't be in force for the rest of the year, I seem to recall the government's chief scientific advisor said as much not too long ago.

 

Those advertising events and suggesting you book will feel the pain if they are unable to hold these events and train services. Refunds are not going to help bank balances. The WSR is also advertising all sorts of things, one which has time elapsed.

 

Ahh yes December the time when the sitca percentage of the population have to have a jab for something very closely related to Corona. I won't repeat what I said as it was reported last time I did , I will however say by that line from the Sitcom involving Ms Hart and Hadland springs to mind yet again.
Seriously have a little think before you post, it's really not that fair away some businesses have to start thinking about the fat man on the red suit.
From the industry I'm involved in we're already having informal chats about next years beer festivals. Tough decisions have to be made.

 

Would you risk it though? No one knows. No one has the foggiest what the next few months will bring.

Maybe it will be back to normal, and GWSR will be able to sell every seat on their trains. Maybe it won't. Best case scenario, you sell alternate bays of 4 in a TSO. That's a half full carriage. Or you have to leave a set of empty seats between each bay. That means you can only sell 3 or 4 bays per coach. A quarter of the capacity. Not financially viable. How do you sell tickets on that basis, if you have no idea how many you can sell?

What if the carriages need cleaning between trips? You could lose half a day just cleaning!

I think GWSR have made the right call. They've already got appeals running to cover day to day costs plus the embankment repairs. They'll have had no other income in that time. No Easter, no galas, no wartime weekend. It would be a braver person than I to sign off buying thousands of toys and spending tens of thousands of pounds advertising something you can't guarantee will go ahead.