End of Southern Steam (RTC) - 9/07/22

My video of the down and up workings:

 

Its a typo mistake, should be 18.04 as I was close to Upwey and thats 18.04 on RTT

 

We have of course had much discussion about diesels on the back.
I will make two comments.
1) I have a chart of all my tours, this comes in at No 4.
I admit the list is highly subjective, could be performance, uniqueness or weather (e.g. snow) that puts its place on the list.
2) I was not on the platform at Weymouth long before departure but during that time 4 different groups of NB passengers asked if the EOSS was their train.
Bearing in mind that it was still 45 minutes before their scheduled departure, (like every other tour at Weymouth they were late) the stock was maroon not Pullman colours, nor did it have "Northern Belle" in large letters under the roof line on each coach, or that they had only got off the train about 5 hours before, this fact seemed totally lost on them.
I would suggest ergo the presence of a diesel on a steam tour would mean little to them, if they even noticed in the first place. Remember most of the railtour market is no longer enthusiasts.

 

98% of them aren't bothered as long as the food and the wine keeps flowing.

 

Thank you for the results from your most comprehensive nationwide survey. <BJ>

 

Is that sarcasm or do you have something constructive to say?

Fact is, if you accept it or not.
The demographic of charters has changed.

You aren't gonna fill a train without the normals now, who don't care what's on the front or the rear, long as the food etc keeps coming and they get to where was advertised.

 

I can’t agree with that as virtually none of the passengers on the Belmond are enthusiasts but they are happy to pay extra for steam haulage. Many of them come up to see the locomotive before or after the run and ask a lot of questions showing a genuine interest.

 

Uncertainty limits on that figure?

 

The also run diesel hauled same principle

Long as they get there and get their food it doesn't bother them.

 

I know they do and that’s my point, if they didn’t care why would they pay the extra to travel behind steam? If they weren’t interested they wouldn’t bother chatting to the support crew about the engine

 

As west coast can now operate Clan line, as well as BIL, It would be interesting how the crews rate each engine, I suspect each will have its own differences, after all no two class members are ever the same, but it does get you wondering, Will we ever see a tour using Clan line, Tangmere, and British India Line on the same tour, maybe to strange parts, of the country that rarely saw Southern Locomotives.

 

I asked the driver who took us down to Exeter on the Atlantic Coast Express trip, he reckons Clan Line is the stronger engine but BIL is smoother riding. I found the latter surprising as it has been rebuilt from a Barry wreck and as a common used engine cannot have the same attention lavished on it as 28. As far as presentation is concerned it is, of course a no contest.
I doubt if Clan Line will work away from the south again, there’s no need with the Belmond work and now RTC but who knows

 

Nonsense? Are you sure a moderator should be using such language, When you should be setting an example.

Disagree with me by all means.

But keep it pleasant.

 

Still doesn't detract from the point I made that most really don't care its a novelty to them.

They are the bread and butter now, Fill a train with 8 coaches of them , then if you are lucky 2 coaches of standard for the railway fraternity.

You have to realise times have changed and we are lucky we have some variety left.

 

Sorry but my experience of meeting passengers says you are wrong

 

All of a sudden the result of the survey has been amended from 98% to just under 80%. That was quick <BJ>

 

If you write nonsense there is nothing wrong with someone saying so.

 

One for another thread most definitely but it would be interesting to know the feelings of those that operate these machines what they prefer to work on, especially with multiple examples of the same class in operation,
I wonder what certain crews from 10A think regarding their experience’s on the stud of 5XPs they’ve recently operated?
(I know your biased towards the green one John )