'The Royal Duchy' - 30/08/20

In some glorious late evening light 44871 takes Hemerdon in its stride

 

Another good day on the lineside in 2020..
Heres my video of the day.. Lovely weather and a nice break at Buckfastleigh between the outward and return so all in all an excellent day!!

 

It seems to me there are two models. The predominant one is where the organiser promises a steam trip, possibly naming a particular loco or possibly one from a pool, but the deal is that stuff happens and you might end up with a different loco and a diesel on the back. That deal (pre-covid) costs pretty much £99 for standard for an all day trip like the Royal Duchy. Where I'm doubtful is if you can ever make money on that deal with only eight revenue coaches.

The other one is where the organiser offers a package--- an eight coach train, pretty much a guaranteed loco (subject to last minute FTR etc), a separate diesel path, a first class rake of coaches, no standard class. Looking at the GB 14, the optional day out on that basis is £199. So I'd say that's some sort of pre-covid measure of the premium to guarantee what the steam enthusiast like people here including me ideally want. That's a minimum because in the case of the GB 14, the train is organised, the people are there, and the optional day is an add-on.

Let's just hope and pray we can have something like these options in the post-covid world.

 

Interesting thoughts and we expected a 'Covid-19' premium to be added as we're talking about less than 50% of seat availability with no mitigation like full height screens between each row of seats. What level could you set it at though when so many potential passengers are probably short of money due to furloughing and job insecurity? There's also the issue of long prebookings like we often make, 6 months in advance, sometimes longer if an offer comes around. Would promoters be able to refund all monies and start again? Not an easy situation for promoters to be in.
The train length would, as you say, probably have to be based on the Class of locomotive likely to be available. Playing safe would say use a Class 5. Would expect the premium to be 50% or slightly more.

 

Two clips at Hemerdon, one at Tiverton Parkway and one Pughams Farm . Did the 47 ease off on the shoving at Hemerdon ? It looked to me that it might have done .

 

Hells teeth, that second clip was close........I ducked out of the way!

 

I was standing on a wall with the road behind me then there was a wooden fence between me and the line so I was right side of fence but for sure it was frightening at that speed.. I was really hoping for a slow slog up there which would have been great but with the 47 shoving like mad it flew up there as you can see...

 

https://flic.kr/p/2jBEbRP

44871 leaving Bristol Temple Meads.

 

I think it needs a combination of both. My better half thinks £100 to go to Carlisle in four hours when you could do it for £20 in two and a half is not shoestring. (Yes I know). The trouble comes when people think they have paid for model 2 but it turns out to be model 1. But then again the bulk of the trip advisor comments are nothing to do with this aspect. The main market is not pure steam buffs, we are just lucky the main market exists to support our interest.

 

Totally agree. And, for those of us living in the real world, where disposable income seems to be increasingly limited, a 50% mark up would be immediately curtains for our hobby.

 

Huish, Beambridge, Exminster, Rattery, Plymouth, Hemerdon, Cockwood, Tiverton & Flax Bourton. Half the family on the train, the other half filming produced:

 

Great coverage of the run...
I was on the other platform and saw you dash off after the train had gone.. I wondered where you were going to go..now I know!!

 

Amazing shot

 

Thank you

 

Ah, that was my son who was chasing the train, I was on board! Tiverton turned out to be a good choice, the loco was opened-out just before the station.

Interesting thing about Hemerdon was the diesel was wound back as we approached the summit of the 1 in 42 and boy the speed dropped like a stone! You can see it in the video(s) and also 44871 being given another turn on the reverser, playing to the gallery? Made a great spectacle!

The other thing to say is how noticeable it was running Taunton-Bristol with a 60 mph loco when you're used to 75 mph, everything seemed to take an age. Not a complaint just a comment!

 

Oh sorry, still great footage though...

 

The problem is the majority of passengers aren’t enthusiasts