Bluebell Diesels

Or compare the BB with the like of WSR, NYMR, SR and SVR which have regular diesel services as well as steam.

 

But not as a majority of services as is the case on the MNR. It is possible to visit all of the above mentioned lines on days where no diesels are scheduled.

 

I dont think anyone is advocating turning the BB into an all diesel affair. But if they were to have an occasional diesel turn it would probably attract extra visitors.

With regards to having a main line diesel tour to the BB I would put money on it that it would sell out and therefore make money for the BB.

 

I think it's the diesel people who are on a different planet from the rest of us - one where the general public want to ride behind diesels on heritage railways.

 

It also depends on scenery, location etc.

But I seem to remember that revenue quadrupled when 9466 first visited the MNR, for this reason two engines are visiting this year. I should think in the next few years the 'diesel only' image would have gone, certainly for the summer months anyway.


The MNR is still rasing money for a shed!
Maintenance Shed Appeal

 

Ah, at last an outside frame 0-6-0 on the Bluebell. A proud masterpiece of British engineering with steam era technology. The engine got developed a bit too, I wonder if they'll let any other LMS design diesels on their line?

 

There is another issue in expecting people to turn up for diesels - I seem to remember when the Bluebell did offer a diesel-hauled trip a couple of years back, the fares were, shall we say 'excessive' for a round trip behind an ED? Try charging the same for a round trip with Birch Grove and see how many people turn up for it! The optimist in me says it wasn't deliberate :lol: By contrast, the MNR's fares encourage enthusiasts (and indeed the general public) to turn up for a ride behind a diesel.

 

Oh! Another steam vs diesel debate!

I'm not a BB member but some points from the SVR:

Its first service-day that was exclusively diesel was held last year (note - one day) as part of the three day diesel event. The railway reported lower passenger numbers but increased revenue as spend per head was higher.

Its normal Saturday diesel workings are in gaps in the timetable when no other train would run, bringing in additional passengers and revenue.

As a 'diesel person' I only joined the SVR when the Association of which I am a member (WLA) moved there. I am now a life member, shareholder and (non-diesel) volunteer. I won a grant which went equally to the WLA and Hinton Manor. I can think of a senior figure in one of the diesel groups who now predominently volunteers in steam restoration

The diesels on the line also add to the railway in other ways, the WLA for example paid (IIRC) the SVR £7k for a repaint

I know of no diesel enthusiast that wants to the exclude steam fraternity or 'take over' heritage railways. There are some, luckily few, steam bods that would exclude the diesel fraternity.

To paraphrase, everyone's out of step but us. I just find it a bit tiresome.

Patrick

 

At a welll know railway that runs a diesel and steam, it is acknowledged that they have a significant higher revenue per head at the diesel gala than the steam gala.

 

I've also had discussions with people (non-enthusiasts) who happen to turn up on a diesel gala day. They simply don't understand why it isn't steam. It potentially spoils their day. Now, I know the _logical_ thing would be for them to check that steam trains are running, but for many non-railway people it doesn't occur to them that diesels are likely to be running on a 'heritage' railway. Mind you, if you get people in that situation its always worth trying to explain things to them, but its not easy with kids whose only experience of railways is of the Thomas the Tank variety. The Rev didn't give diesels a very good press!

I don't in general believe it is the diesel groups that look after a particular loco that have an attitude over this, but I do believe there are a number of diesel enthusiasts who can be more than a little blinkered about it.

I honestly think there is a pretty good balance between the various interests out there at the moment, and I can't see why there is there is this attitude about the Bluebell. They don't need a diesel service, any more than, say, the Talyllyn. There are several railways who do a lot on the diesel front for those of us that like them. (ELR springs to mind).