6024 King Edward 1

I think Railtour patronage for non-enthusiasts has to be so much so much tighter run than for the likes of me. It's worth remembering what an average enthusiast will put up with and still come back for more :-

On Saturday I went on UK Railtour's visit to East Lancashire Railway behind two Heritage Class 50s and with some help with a DB Class 66 on the back to make reversals easier. I enjoyed my very long day and will be back for more at some point later in the year but there is a time approaching when I think I'll need to stop as they wear me out! . Without wanting to put down any of the hard working people that put on these Railtours, let me share my day.......

The trip started and ended at Watford Junction - departing 06.53 and returning 22.46. Quite a few will have booked hotels for one or more nights as connections for these sort of times are limited, especially on a Saturday night. The tour picked up at Bedford and Kettering but later changes were made as the route wouldn't allow drop-off at these stations late on a Saturday - so passengers affected needed to get up earlier and drive to another station option - Bletchley in my case. The recommended Bus option from MK would have seen me home after midnight.

I travel in Standard class and am not wanting dining option ever. At Leicester, the first Class 50 had failed (suggested an electrical issue related to ETH for the rake of nine coached made up of 8 Mk111s and a Mk2 I believe). Leaving Leicester with the remaining 50, we were 30+ minutes down but this would be made up during the schedule that took in Toton (rev), Beeston (rev), Castle Donnington, Uttoxeter, Stockport, to Castleton where the single class 50 reversed the train onto ELR metals.

Token exchange delays held us up at this point so arrival at Bury was delayed such that the local preserved Class 56 attached to the 66 at the head of the train to save time. Turnaround at Rawtenstall was a few minutes only as the train needed to make up time to ensure it didn't miss it's schedule back at Castleton at 16.30. Thus making the visit to ELR a brief encounter before we're off again in and out of Bradford Interchange then south via Wakefield, Moorthorpe and Beighton Junction as far as Leicester, reverse at Nuneaton and 50049 is hauling again back to Watford Junction.

I can say that the coaching stock from Eastern Rail Services to be clean and comfortable but I can't recall a tour where there hasn't been issues with toilets, electrics (affecting Buffet) or a/c - this one being no exception.

Whilst my wife likes the occasional steam tour to somewhere interesting, a tour like this would be completely out of the question, being marketed for those interested in heritage diesel haulage, unusual route/track and the brief visit to the Heritage Railway at the destination which likely didn't see much additional revenue from the tour passengers given the shortness of time.

It's interesting to hear Heritage Railways quoting that enthusiasts only bring in a small percentage of revenue but lose those enthusiasts and what happens to the rail tours like this one, the plethora of volunteers and those passionate about restoring the infrastructure, stock and locomotives to haul all of the non-enthusiasts in their fine-dining Pullman coaches?

 

If there's nobody to pay for the service, they'll have to find something else to do. This may sound a bit blunt, but these things cost big money even with volunteer labour, if there's not the income coming in, where is the cash going to come from?

 

Has any of this anything to do with 6024?

 

No

We've been off piste for four pages of posts......

 

Iirc we paid c. £700 ea. for a 3 day tour to Inverness and Kyle with the Midland Pullman. Despite the lack of steam it was an unforgettable experience in terms of service, food & drink, comfort and scenery etc. All in all good value.