2012 Mainline Steam Program

On a lighter note, at least 2012 trips have increased along the swindon-glos route aka 'The Golden Valley' line, beautiful scenery is always to be seen whatever time of year, only 2 last year which seeemed poor but have 6-7 to look forward to so far.... im sure the NE will come good again,

 

Heres hoping!!!!!

 

Why not you, you seem to have all the answers (along with a chip on your shoulder twice the width of the Tyne) so show all the tour promoters how much profit you can make............in other words put up or shut up!

 

Why dont you, your such the expert, with all of your past experience, if you want to get this personal, write a PM, and will firmly put you in your place....

Oakfield - Wooden Top is a more apt username.....

 

I don't need to, you're the one moaning I couldn't care less about lack of steam from the North East.As I said put up or shut up.


If you want tours from the North east you organize a few and put in the financial backing, currently just in excess of £30,000 for the average one off tour. BTW I never claimed to be an expert, I helped run the trips not organize them and I am sure you know far more about Railtours than the Late Bernard Staite, John Leach and George Hinchcliffe who put a huge amount of effort into planning, arranging AND ADVERTISING AND PROMOTING but who just did not get the backing from the public in the north East.

You are just a typical winging, unpleasant 'Professional' Northerner who wants to be spoon fed everything and complain without putting any effort in yourself!

 

Some-one seems to make a profession of having problems with Northerners.....

Try checking the recent figures on average public transport spend PER PERSOn to see why some-one in the North East might feel somewhat left out at times by the rail network and what happens on it. Indeed, poorer normal services probably add to the difficulty in selling steam trains starting in the North East as it is not as simple to get to and from the starting/finishing point by public transport as in London (as witnessed by London based tours starting and finishing at different stations - probably distance wise equival;ent of starting from Durham and terminating at Darlington!)

 

Although you wouldn't believe it looking at the amount of steam tours that have run in the last 12 months (and those already planned for 2012), we are in a recession. No suprise then that London and the South east will continue to be targeted by promoters as this is the area where people are most likely still to have disposable income whereby more northern (& western areas) continue to bear the brunt. There is a lot that can be said about the politics of this disparity which continues to widen, but that's for another thread. But you can't blame promoters for exploiting this 'anomoly'...

 

I do have to admit that 2012 is looking a very promising year for steam on the mainline. A good number of North Wales Coast Expresses in the summer being run by RTC again, for which I'm probably only going to see 1 of them, as I have a visit planned with lil Bear to the Swanage Railway in July/August, plus the special events at Llangollen in August too so may go on it.

 

With some of the NWCE''s starting from Crewe, It looks likely I will be coming up to do a Scarborough Flyer, CME & NWCE over 3 consecutive days!

 

When was the last time steam went through Oxford Road ? (on a revenue train rather than or LE ?)

 

I think 3 is enough! I have not been further than Llandudno Jc on the North Wales Coast , or most of the route of the Scarborough Flyers between Crewe and Church Fenton.

 

Happy New Year everybody. I just did the math for how many locomotives could possibly be out and about after March of this year(2012!) If anyone would like to correct me on any of the engines I list go ahead. I'm leaving the 6 black 5s out because they are all the same classification so to speak.

British Rails: 70000, 70013, 71000
Great Western: 4936, 4965, 5029, 5043, 6023(?) and the 2 panniers
London, Midland and Scotland: 5690(?), 5699(?), 6115, 6201(?), 6233, 48151
LNER: the 3 A4's, 4472, 60163, 61994, 62005,
Southern 30777(?), 34067, 34046(?), 35028

Basically a total of 30 locomotives.
I did not include 6024 because the King is going into overhaul after March.
6023 questioning the firebox repairs
5690 and 5699 are marked because we shall just have to wait and see
6201 is a question mark pending a boiler extension or overhaul
30777 I'm questioning due to what happened on the ECML last september
34046 is less of a question mark in my eyes. Anyone share this opinion on Braunton?

I have noticed that no trips have been posted for Copy Pit.

 

I'd say so on Braunton she just needs that work at Bury and some test runs and she should be out and about (I think). Be great to have a Rebuilt Light Pacfic back. 34027 and 34016 have shown how to do it.

It seems unlikely given the lack of news, work and mainline listings but could we see 6100?

 

Tornado's trip on the 6th June is now to Edinburgh not Carlisle.

From A1ST Website : - "Wednesday 6th June - York to Edinburgh and return - promoted by the A1SLT, bookings through Steam Dreams."

 

Quote"I have noticed that no trips have been posted for Copy Pit". yea what's that all about??? easier to get to Manchester!

 

Scots Guardsman scared all the promoters off with its 3 failures out of 3 attempts.
Funny how a Castle did it with no problems... Maybe it should go again.
Perhaps Tangmere could show how it's done ?

(now I lit the fire I will wait for the pressure to grow).