North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

Comment like these makes me wonder how the Wensleydale Rly, or example, manage? I don't have the answers, I made a suggestion, but as your response seems rather more definitive, perhaps you do?

 

Those that run Steamlights for Christmas seem to get sold out and seems repeatable year to year, perhaps one up the North might succeed also ?

 

They used to , but it's another event that has been dropped. I'm not sure why - probably it was "unprofitable" but I think that may have been down to timing (too close to xmas or before it gets sufficiently dark early on), or an uninspiring lighting display, for example. Perhaps it could be staged with more designed theming and storytelling- e.g. a Wizards event - factored in for the October half term?

 

You need a handy number of people within a short drive to make a lights train work. Needs big numbers really.

 

I went on th NYMR one a few years ago with my wife. The music was far too loud for us and she just wanted to get off. To me it wasn't a gret experience, either. Not sure if others do things differently.

 

I can only go by what I observed here at Swanage in the past two years, but all the Polar Events appear to follow the same rules. Others such as @Jonnie at the Spa Valley may, depending on contract restrictions, be able to explain more.
https://pnpevents.co.uk/polar-express-locations/
If you go into any of the locations and drill down you get this message related to each specific location.

"THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at Wensleydale is licensed by Railevents International and is operated and managed by PNP Events Ltd, Registered in England and Wales. Company Number 11056091. VAT Number 320329051, on behalf of Wensleydale Railway PLC Company Number 04093919"

What I saw at Swanage in 2023 was materials started arriving Nov 6, and building work commenced the next day or the day after. There were test runs Nov 15 & 16 and the first trains Nov 17 for 29 days finishing on Dec 31.
2024 it all seemed to be about a week later. Test runs Nov 21 and 22 first train Nov 23 running for 21 days.

Seemed to take about 2 days to break it all down, my wife who does local Facebook said they were advertising for performers on there, and meetings appeared to be held onboard the train on certain days. There was also a vast amount of very professional looking theatrical equipment in wheeled containers that arrived in large HGV's with what looked like a roadie crew.
To be honest from what I saw I would not have relished standing on the platform singing songs dressed only in a sweater in December, maybe Yorkshire "volunteers" are made of sterner stuff.
The organisers even seemed to have their own bouncers, although I am sure PNP have a better name for them.

 

They’ve never particularly appealed to me, but when I realised there was music I went from “meh” to “no way”

 

The success of the PE brand lies directly in the film. As it is Warner, I suspect they would take a very close interest in any attempt to recreate it on an amateur level.

 

At which point I'm interested in just how far they've been willing to allow deviations already.

 

Some deviations are better than the original, Bulleid's and Black 5's to name but two

 

How about having Blue Peter and Tornado at the same time?

Sawdust.

 

Embsay are doing PE as well I see.

Sawdust.

 

Sounds like the sort of thing the NYMR management would be all too keen on - volunteers not needed/invited for the most part - let "professionals" do the shouting at customers!

 

I suspect they'd rather have a large percentage of a small cake, than a small percentage of a large cake. Even if the latter meant more cake overall.

Sawdust.

 

Have done for a few years. Looking at websites they appear to do it trough Rail Events International and not PNP Events although both seem to be part of the same organisation.

 

From what I was told when we last ventured up there it was income from the PE trains that had paid for the rebuilding of platforms 2&3 at Bolton Abbey Station, and the significantly improved car park there.

 

You need a big car park for PE. I think it would be very difficult to organise at Pickering, in the middle of a town.. I'm not sure the NYMR would want the hassle when it can generate cash with its own events.

The regular Santas do bring in a good amount. I heard the Wensleydale may receive £240k from PE.
How much did the revamped Santa trains at Pickering bring in? Was it mentioned at the AGM?

 

Don't know the answer to that, but I'm guess it was probably ca. half what it brought in when trains ran from both ends of the line!