LSL Ltd / Icons of Steam fleet

What about Vintage Trains TOC application?

 

Be nice to see better use of the NW Coast line for steam, as well as Crewe-Chester-Wrexham-Salop-Wolverhampton-Crewe as a circular route....

 

Congratulations and best of luck to those responsible.
Assuming all goes well with initial tours, can't see it being too long before additional routes in the north of England are added to the approved list. Crewe is a handy base.

 

I should imagine LSL will settle on a set number of routes based on Crewe, so i don't expect them to be running anything on other routes fully in house until they gain wider route knowledge Same with Vintage trains, they i would imagine will stick to routes they have knowledge on, such as the Shake spears , and local tours ala the panniers , its more about bringing their entire operation in house, than becoming a TOC that can offer nationwide coverage of all main steam routes in the UK.
West Coast i expect will still have a large chunk of the market, because they can cover much of the network. as do DBS,

 

One factor will be recruitment of drivers and the route knowledge they bring one supposes. DBC has been letting folk take VR lately so there could be potential recruits. Also possibility of poaching, just like any other field of work, if attractive terms are offered.
It would not be a surprise to see LSL work collaboratively with DBC either, not being direct rivals, as well as Vintage later on.

 

And on working with other loco owners, for instance, LSL's stock being hauled by a loco thats not owned by LSL, for instance, could we see Clan line operated by LSL if DBS were unable to provide a steam crew ,or if LSL's crews contained ex DB staff experienced on Clan Line? and the tour used LSL's reverbished air brake set.

 

Feasible, it will enable all sorts of new thinking and collaborations potentially. Same could apply with the A1SLT too perhaps, more options can only be a welcome thing even for WC if it relieves some pressures.

 

As you say, it depends on how LSL get on with other operators, and how they work with them, i suspect they have a good standing with in the industry as both DBC and West Coast have used their locos on many occations, it could be interesting, does LSL have a back up fleet of diesels at crewe, or will private owners be utalised, if some tours may need diesel hauled legs, that in its self may open up some interesting scenes, especially if it adds heritage deisels, in heritage liveries to the package, could we even see some preserved classes return to the mainline in this supporting role ?

 

I believe LSL has bought some class 47's from DRS.

 

At least one 37 at CDD too, plus LSL acquired a 47 couple of years back.
The recent increase in LSL fleet on Belmond duties is interesting too. Close working with DBC will continue one suspects.

 

especially if you had something like 55005 at the head, to get you to Crewe, change over to an A2 steam loco ,to do a Crewe circle then Deltic return to the smoke

 

Certainly more attractive than a 47..............

 

46100 is rostered for another Belmond Pullman turn in September according to the Icons of Steam website.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Yes, Saturday 23rd September. It will be quite a day on the LSWR main line with Clan Line working a Waterloo-Exeter "ACE" special with UK Railtours and the Duchess on Steam Dreams trip to Salisbury as well as 46100 on the Pullmans.

 

This has been coming for sometime. The fact that IoS had gone and bought a depot for overhaul of their fleet and bought a rake of coaches was enough to see that the general aim was to be independent. The registration of the company was done last year, hinting an application was being prepared if not already applied.

I think that it will be a bit of a shake up for the sector. IoS I can see running entirely on air brake, much like DBC, and that using their own fleet will allow their own operations to create a successful and profitable operation, which I think is Hoskings goal for a legacy of creating the company.

The purchase of stock, and the diesel fleet to go with it, should give them an excellent core to mount operations that will focus on some key routes, before expanding the portfolio and perhaps going for contracts too. I think this will have an affect on WCRC's dominance of the market, with WCRCs saving grace might be that some engines still run on Vac. While Carnforth have improved their operations and standards, I cant help but think that the heavily worked fleet and the way sometimes Carnforth makes its decisions might make others look to see what IoS can offer.

 

The Directors of the TOC have strong credentials within the industry and it seems to have been established on a very sound basis. Very early days of course but if it ultimately provides for a more sustainable future for mainline steam then it is certainly something worth investing our hope in.

 

I think that there would be existing obligations to undertake despite the fact that this has come through. I can even still see IoS engines being hired out to companies like WCRC like they are now if the hire arrangements don't conflict. It will depend on the role that WCRC do take and if they embargo some IoS engines if they are run in competition. I don't think that will be the case as I think the two do have a good working relationship already and that in times of hardship WCRC have now come to realise that support can be offered - that it also works both ways.

What gets me with IoS is the standard by which they are operating. The coaches that are overhauled look fantastic and the rake will be to a very high standard. While WCRC might run with Mk. 1s that are good but getting tired, IoS have already gone for Mk. 2s. Standards and industry safety is fast moving on and it wont be long before all trains need to be air braked, and that older stock gets speed restrictions. Personally I can see Mk. 3s going for charter work, that its only a time before Class 47 and stock is replaced by a WCRC/IoS HST. All of that is still some years away though.

However IoS I think will remain a largely steam operation, and now this is done it will slowly move to its own operation, especially when its own engines come out of overhaul and a rolling cycle of them allow continuous use of powerful steam motive power. IoS's arrival as an independent operator raises the standard even higher for the future and that in turn will be beneficial when other operators have to do the same. Vintage Trains are in a similar position, having also gone independent, but I think they are getting backing from another company.

The future will be interesting, but safe in the knowledge that steam has a future.

 

If the IoS licence, leads to higher standards of stock, operation and clarity with customers regarding operation, it should be applauded by all.

Personally, I think it will, based on there other operations.

 

WCR already have some MK2s.