RH&DR Photo Charters - Thoughts Please!

Hello all,

I've been in talks with Romney about their idea of running a photo charter next year and would like your opinions on it!

If you were to come down to the glorious Kent Coast for an event like this what would you like to see?...

What loco / train combination?
Area of the line?
Time of Day? (Summer evening most likely!)
Historical view point or current day?
Visiting loco?
Dare I say it .... Price?
Ect...

I feel its very important if we are going to do it we need to try and get it right for the enthusiast and non-enthusiast a like, so the more ideas/opinions the better!


I look forward some great ideas!

All the best,
Steve

 

Loco any from 1,2,3,5,6,7,8. Passenger
Dungeness and other open scenic areas
Heritage
Not summer months since the light is harsh.
Charters usually run all day. A weekday when the railway only runs the chool service or a Weekend where no services are running.
Price - The Railway needs to cover their cost and make a profit.

 

This line is a gem with several excellant places for photography, by the power station, in the desert, in peoples back yards, the long double track section its all good.

Does the line have any freight wagons ? I didn't see much in wagons ?

 

The important thing if using resident locos is to operate either (1) unusual consists [e.g. freights] or (2) inaccessible locations where public rarely reaches or (3) allow time to take a variety of shots at known locations [e.g. Dungeness shingle beach] where photographers can create a variety of different images.

Another favoured option is to operate a visiting locomotive [Red Dragon from Windmill Farm ?] which, combined with options above, could attract a sizeable number of visitors.

Another option to consider is during Gala events to arrange a night session either in a station or on the shed where locos are in steam and rare opportunities can be created.

I think to visits to the HSB [Harz narrow gauge lines] where night access is granted to Wernigerode shed yard and lots of rare photographs are created since photographers rarely have access to a shed yard - let alone one at night.

If having a night session a catering facility might also prove useful and - a passing thought - a trial run with the local camera club might elicit further thoughts about what photographers are looking for in terms of facilities and lengths of sessions.

Most important is the control factor; decide how many people you can cope with and restrict numbers to that level but price per head accordingly to ensure your event runs at a profit.

 

Thanks all for the input, all very useful!
If anyone else wants to make suggestions or give some input to this idea please do, I can then pass it on to the railway so they can put together a plan.

Cheers,
Steve

 

Recreating the armoured train would get my vote or something engineering wise using Bug.

 

I don't think it's too bad to ask people what they want. Plus some charters advertise and then don't deliver...