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SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by acorb, Jul 26, 2009.

  1. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Any chance of 1501 being in steam next weekend?
     
  2. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    82045MS: The table C 10-35 departure is normally steam, it is the earlier 09-55 that is booked for a diesel.

    Andy2857: No criticism intended in any way of the volunteers, paid staff and the various Groups. I am absolutely sure they do their very best> I blame the Management and Board for allowing the SVR to drift back into this crisis situation with insufficient working steam.
     
  3. Andy2857

    Andy2857 Member

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    No offence caused at all! Restoration of steam locos is very much an example of swimming against the tide, and the BH staff are experts at doing so. It's frustrating for everyone involved (perhaps apart from the magic box boys) the situation we're in but it'll turn around. This week will see bits going back onto no less than four locos, ranging from springs and brake blocks on 42968 to the boiler of 2857!

    RE: 1501, i have no idea whether it will be in steam, there is still some engineering work to do on it, albeit a relatively small amount. It will be on display though, and I can promise you it is worth a look at!

    If anyone is planning on coming down to peep, do come and say hello and make yourselves known. I'll be the youngish chap swearing at 2857!
     
  4. Ruston906

    Ruston906 Member

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    The board i assume have different priorities i assume making sure there planned budgets are kept to. I dont think they should be running around try to hire in locos to fill short term gaps.
    They have put one long term hire in place that might not have been available for use as quick as was wanted but with a newly restored loco they would have know that was a risk.
    The managements first priority is to make sure the railway breaks even or runs at a profit everything else is secondary they have not cancelled any trains are people making a mountain out of a molehill.
     
  5. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Mountain out of a molehill maybe, but how many customers are being let down by turning up for what they think is a steam-hauled train, only to find it diesel hauled?

    Frankly I dont know, maybe the general public dont mind. If the main aim is the finances, and what hauls the trains is secondary, then there is no problem.

    I expect steam, particularly on the 10-25 or 10-35 KDR departure, but hey I'm an enthusiast, and we are in the minority on normal service days.

    I'll agree to differ with you on this issue. I respect what you say.
     
  6. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    From experience, quite a lot are upset to find it's diesel. Last weekend we were able to guide them on the steam services, while yesterday it was harder cos it was just one.
     
  7. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    If there is fault then it stems way back to a period when sufficient financial priority & the necessary tighter management attention was not given to long predicted MPD issues. The current managment is doing much more than is commonly realised to reverse the previous downward trend in steam loco availability & it will take a period of prolonged effort to achieve the necessary results even though the short term outlook is better. With a steam mileage of around 65,000 miles per year as many as 10 locos are needed in service for each to receive a sensible level of use.

    Remember also that the SVR suffered major physical & financial damage as a result of the 2007 flooding. Financial recovery from this near terminal situation is probably not yet entirely complete as no doubt other railways which have recently suffered in similar unexpected ways will find over the next few years.
     
  8. Ruston906

    Ruston906 Member

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    I assume the management dont see it the same way or i presume they would have cancelled the driver experiance course on saturday. The important thing is to manage expectations perhaps in the locos in use for the week was sent out on weekly emails to everyone who subscribes to them people would not arrive to be dissapointed.
     
  9. Ruston906

    Ruston906 Member

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    I agree the point is sensible financial management is the number one is the motive power situation can not be turned round quickly and be responsible with the budgets.
    I assume there is a long term partnership with SLL planned with them possibley providing two locos to the SVR in the future.
    I think everyone would agree we want the SVR to plan for the long term even if in the short term it might not be what we all would like. The positives are that the railway has coped with all the shortages not cancelled trains or had to resort to buses which shows it to be well managed.
     
  10. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    I noticed that the steam driver experience course went ahead on Saturday (43106 I think) to the detriment of one full line passenger turn. Maybe going back to the financial issue, it is more profitable to run the driver experience course with steam and put a diesel on the passenger turn. Does seem strange though.
     
  11. Reformed Sniper

    Reformed Sniper New Member

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    The general public go to heritage lines to ride behind a steam train, very often they don't plan ahead and just turn up expecting steam so they are bound to be disappointed to find a diesel on the front. I wonder how many decided against traveling.
     
  12. Andy2857

    Andy2857 Member

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    The steam school on saturday was the advanced course with 7812. These courses bring in a lot of money and, perhaps more importantly, provide guaranteed income. You can only predict/guestimate how many passengers will travel on a service train. Frustrating for the passengers who want steam, i'm sure, but it makes financial sense.
     
  13. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    One Intermediate: 4 particpants at £395 each

    One Supreme: 2 partcipants at £795 each

    This is equivalent of circa 192 full-fare passengers. I guess it's weighing up whether you will lose circa 15-20% of your fare-paying public

    Patrick
     
  14. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

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    I doubt many will decide against traveling. By that point you have travelled a set distance/time, probablly have others in tow who are expecting a day out so you will carry on.

    I think more relevent is how it will affect repeat business.

    Years ago I went to the Mid Hants and they had a loco shortage so they ran a replacement diesel service. I had no problem with that until I saw a steam loco running light engine on driver experience duties. In my view that would have easier to reschedule and it left the impression that they were not as bothered about us "regular" visitors/passengers. The fact that at the booking office they took our money and did not advise of the chnage and it was only when the train arrived it was apparent that it was not steam hauled as expected was in my view pretty poor PR.

    My family have not been back.
     
  15. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    I suppose you have to weigh the guaranteed profitability of the steam school against how many of the general public and their families walk away, or at least are disinclined to return in the future, and their combined "additional spend", ie refreshments, gift shop etc. I guess someone within SVR management is indeed making that judgement.

    I hope I dont have to make a "travel/dont travel" decision next Saturday morning at Kidderminster. I'm just not inclined to go to Bridgnorth behind a diesel. I'll still buy the wristband to benefit the 4150 loco people, but confine my visits to what is open "behind the scenes" at Kidderminster. The highlight last year for me was Kidderminster signal box. Do go and have a look if you have the time. It tends of necessity to be small groups at any one time, but you do get a whole new perspective on the SVR operation there.
     
  16. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    It seems very short sighted of the SVR to run the course instead of putting both locos on the service trains. 2 people at £795 each for the course yesterday. £1590. Yes, that's a lot of money, but how much was lost by people walking away when they found out only 1 steam loco was running? The course money is pretty much guaranteed income, but why not move it to a different date when more locos are available? It won't be long before 5164, 4566, 42968, 2857, 1501 and 34053 are in service.

    It must be pretty galling for families turning up for a ride on a steam train to find nearly everything is diesel hauled, only then to see a steam loco pottering up and down on one coach. It can't do the railway's reputation any good.

    Passengers on the UK Railtours trip yesterday who had booked to go to SVR were given the option of going to the Black Country museum instead. One of the guys I was with was going specifically for the 50s, but I wouldn't be surprised if the number of diesels put some people off.

    Say 20 families walked away yesterday when they found most services were diesel. They could easily have spent £80 each on tickets, food, drink and souvenirs, if not more. That's £1600, the same as the income from the course. 20 families is only 2 or 3 per station, not a massive number. Will they come back another time? Or is that money lost? Because the 2 people on the course will almost certainly come back.
     
  17. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    If you look at it in cold hard business terms, you will probably find that they had a 'contract' (to provide a steam loco) with the customers for the drivex, but that they did not with intending ordinary passengers as such.
     
  18. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    You may or may not be right, but a look on the availability shows the Supreme courses are sold out for 2012 and only two days with spaces for Intermediates.

    It's the difficult decision the management had to take and I support them

    Just one correction though, the steam loco did an Intermediate in the morning (4 particpants at £395 each) plus one Supreme in the afternoon (2 partcipants at £795 each).

    Let's hope this is the nadir of steam availability.

    Patrick
     
  19. 82045MS

    82045MS Member

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  20. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    2? 34053 and?
     

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