Steam Dreams 2022

True, did not Days Out (or I believe Days In as they were known) advertise a loco for a trip and it was four years until it eventually hauled a tour, by which time of course the company had ceased to exist.

 

I don’t know where they get the motive power choice from, it certainly won’t be 6201 or various Black Fives, they will be up at Fort William and I think Galatea has now been withdrawn for overhaul. I could be wrong on the latter point

 

Didn’t know about that one but not surprised! As @Johnb says above where do they get their motive power info from? From the above list I suppose you could sub 46201 with 34067 maybe?
Could 35018 be a possibility? Slightly interesting that it’s not mentioned, but 48151 is (one’s complete and in theory good to go, the other isn’t as far we know)

 

Cut and paste with a bit of wishful thinking perhaps?
I think the only Railtour company that had a really good track record of accurate loco allocations was Daylight Railtours operated by the MHR. The only occasion I can think of when they didn't have the rostered locomotives on the front was when a long awaited doubleheader to Weymouth with 34016 & 73096 was changed to two Class 33's at the last minute due to severe fire risk alerts being issued.


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But how long would a phone call between Kings Lynn and Carnforth take before sending something out? I appreciate that people like ourselves are a bit more aware of what’s available (eg 46201/34067) than the general public.
I appreciate its not easy from RTC’s point of view as they hire in loco’s and stock from a 3rd party, but you would imagine there must be constant communication about what’s available and what isn’t.

 

Do you mean Guildford?

I think there's a lot of cut and paste involved in those web pages. Last year, with 62005 in operation up north, including a Black Five as a possibility would have been reasonable. What you don't want to do is be too restrictive six months ahead of time if the reality is that you are drawing on a pool.

 

I’m thinking of RTC, apologies.

 

What’s the situation with regards to the Scotland tour after yesterdays news? The reason I ask is that how long will it take to get Mayflower air braked?

 

The entire Steam Dreams program seems to be variable now. Next Thursdays Chesterfield trip has been cancelled and practically all of the trips, including the Scotland one, are now "awaiting a confirmed Steam Loco"
Assuming Mayflower gets Air Brakes soon they may continue as planned, if not, another engine would have to cover the tours, or they would be postponed. The difficulty being now that as Steam Dreams are LSL operated, it would require an LSL loco, unless an Air Braked Loco not on LSL's books can suffice?

 

It will also need loco crews with suitable route knowledge, probably the most difficult problem

 

I guess it may not be a easy task to simply transfer future tours to LSL when they have already been taken into the planning stages by WCRC. They may have to be re-planned from scratch (unless WCRC are co-operative .. which, I suspect, may be unlikely)

 

One would have hoped that, as part of the 'due diligence' process when buying SD, the senior people at LSL would have worked out how they would resource SD trips that were already in the diary (or whether it would be acceptable reputational damage to cancel some/all and refund the passengers).

If the contract to operate the tour had already been signed between SD and WCRC, and any deposit changed hands, would WCRC be contractually obliged to provide the stock and crew (albeit begrudgingly) and act as TOC if LSL couldn't do so?
LSL would still take home any profit that SD would have made on the tour, even if it was less then they'd make if everything was 'in house.'

 

Only one problem with that, WC are not contracted to supply a loco so what would haul it?

 

True, though this presumably wouldn't affect those trips already rostered for Bahamas.
WCRC would also struggle to argue that they couldn't operate Mayflower, a Black 5 or a Scot if LSL provided them, on grounds of unfamiliarity.

A formal announcement from either party would be helpful, the SD social media has been 'Business as Usual'.

Was anyone booked on the Chesterfield trip and given a reason for its apparent cancellation?

 

From other threads ( I think it started on the NYMR thread) I understood it was only diesels you had to be "type certified" on. If you can drive steam you can drive any steam loco seemed to be the answer, unless of course mainline rules are different? Although what would be unfamiliar about Mayflower, a Black 5 or a Scot other than air brakes, as WCRC either have or regularly crew all three types.

 

Something like confirmation

We are writing to let you know as of the 1st June, The Steam Dreams Rail Co. has come under new ownership and are now owned by Locomotive Services Group (LSG). LSG have been involved in the railway industry for many years and bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge as well as a large stable of locomotives and different carriages. It is an exciting time for Steam Dreams and in turn for you, our loyal passengers.

Mayflower will continue to haul some of our trips but you can also expect to see a range of additional steam locomotives including Sir Nigel Gresley, Royal Scot, Britannia, Sherwood Forester and Braunton to name a few.

We are very committed to ensuring our current advertised programme runs as planned but will be in touch prior to your trip detailing any variations to the rostered locomotive and seating arrangements, should that be necessary.

All credit notes and gift vouchers will still be valid. You will still see the same friendly faces on board when you travel and will receive all the usual personal touches that make The Steam Dreams Rail Co. so special.
Our office team will be handling queries as usual by telephone and email, and taking bookings online via our website at www.steamdreams.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you back on board in the very near future as we enter this new exciting chapter

 

The website states : -

 

That’s how it used to be in steam days and o don’t think it’s changed apart from having to be passed out as competent on air or vacuum brakes.

 

List of locos has been updated on SD website.
Bahamas not included as vacuum- braked.