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Swanage Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Rumpole, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    The frailties of a volunteer operation
     
  2. 80104

    80104 Member

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    Sadly so. Attracting volunteers is becoming more and more challenging for many organisations for many diverse reasons. Without wishing to stray too far off topic, or be excused of being negative, this is why expanding the SRC "business" requiring more volunteer input is a risk.
     
  3. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Which is why a decent catering operation is unlikely to reap much in the way of rewards at Swanage. The NYMR has recently refurbished its catering outlet at Pickering and made it smaller. A while ago it purchase Mulberries, a tea room adjacent to the station with the intention of increasing visitor catering spend. It didn't last long before being turned into offices. It hasn't a catering option at Whitby. There's too much competition at these places. Goathland and Grosmont, however, have reasonable catering facilities as there's little competition. but even these aren't great money-spinners. Both the SR and NYMR are means of getting to a destination, not a destination in itself. Whatever the rights and wrongs of that modus operandi in some peoples eyes, that is what they are.
     
  4. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    He's here all the time. Haven't you noticed? :)
     
  5. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

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    Went to Roads to Rails yesterday was a fun day.

    Does the Swanage people here know if the event go well from a financial sense? Hopefully it covered its costs at least.
     
  6. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Same day, same loco, very different weather.
    For the 10:00 departure the signalman avoided the drain cock steam by walking the token down to the loco before the departure, and the 15:00 service at New Barn Bridge.
     

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  7. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

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    I am told that visitor numbers/receipts were OK but not all expenses have yet arrived at HQ.
    It certainly seemed to me to be a larger event [more stands; visiting rollers/road locomotives; etc.] this year - than 2021 - so costs are likely to be higher I guess.
    Thank goodness for a dry Friday as 'cow pats' were easier to avoid and I'm glad I didn't choose to go during the weekend after some rain. ;)
     
  8. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    "Trespass" near Wilderness, but this seemed to move them on.
     

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  9. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    I know a few weeks before the event, Swanage Railway were appealing for sponsorship and support to cover the costs. Seemed a bit odd to me. Surely the purpose of a special event is to cover its costs and make a decent profit. If donations are needed to run an event, then it’s not worth doing.

    I’m not sure how it worked out in the end though.
     
  10. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    You sure about that?
     
  11. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Yes I received an email from the railway about that issue.
     
  12. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Yes 100%, and Gladiator has confirmed the same.
     
  13. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    Ok Gents thanks for confirmation
     
  14. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    As the Great Dorset Steam Fair will take place in August this year (was not run in 2021), can see the SR management being nervous that the 2022 Road to Rail might not make a profit, hence the appeal. Hopefully will have worked out OK.
     
  15. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    It sounds like perhaps it was getting close to the event, ticket sales weren’t on track to meet their expectations, and they got nervous about making a loss. Hence the appeal.

    Hopefully it worked out ok. Remains to be seen if they consider it worth running the event again next year.
     
  16. 80104

    80104 Member

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    It poses an interesting question about advance sales. Why would anyone book in advance for an event which wasnt capacity controlled (ie there isnt a limited number of tickets)? Many customers would prefer to pay on the day in case they couldnt attend (for whatever reason eg illness) or perhaps adverse weather may reduce the appeal of attending.

    Of course the way most organisations encourage advance sales is by offering tickets purchased in advance at a lower price than pay on the day. But that of course reduces the revenue. There then becomes a trade off between advance sales guaranteeing some revenue (de-risking the event) but reducing the revenue. A typical "is a bird in the hand worth two in the bush" scenario.

    I wonder if the price reduction required to encourage significant advance sales (for an event such as Roads To Rails) now has too great an impact on total revenue to be worthwhile?
     
  17. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I'd also be careful about overthinking - sponsorship is always part of the equation for events, and can be a great way of getting them underwritten.
     
  18. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Indeed. If 100% of costs can be sponsored, then all receipts swell the coffers .... including the Gift Aid reclaimed on the sponsorship monies!
     
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  19. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    The Betton Group obtained sponsorship for there Steel Steam and Stars events held in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2015. Although the last wasn't as successful as the others due to weather and late issue of dates, it was still considered a success.
     
  20. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    I see Wimbledon attendance is 10% down this year.
    Will be interesting to see how the Mid Hants line is doing as they have increased pay on day tickets for normal services to £24 (SR £17) but discount advance online sales to £20, they are promoting £30 annual membership which give 50% discount on online ticket sales. Whereas SR annual membership is £24 and only 33% discount on ticket sales.

    Ideally prices for struggling families should be kept low so they won't be put off traveling on an heritage railway, so can see a management delemia.
     
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