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Scarborough Spa Express 2013

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 5098, Jul 11, 2013.

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  1. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Cheers. At least we don't have the cost etc. of main line operation but irrespective of our individual wealth or lack of it, we're all getting older and come the next overhaul most our current work force will be aged between 50+ and 80+ and I think that will be more of a problem than the money.
     
    Spamcan81, Jul 17, 2013
    #61
  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Same thought as me in a comment elsewhere about the current fire risk issues. If you look at the operations that West Coast Railways promote and run themselves such as the Jacobite and SSE (as distinct from when their locos and stock are hired by third parties) it seems like good business sense to target the public. Hop on, hop off, decent pricing structure. Lots of opportunities to travel - regular schedules etc. Put whatever steam loco you like on it, add a diesel if NR gets anxious. Where's the harm. However if you are a company like Steam Dreams that markets its product as a day out with steam and tends not to do multiple repeat trips, then you have to be more careful. There's a place for both concepts I think. Just a pity that we can't replicate the Scarborough Flyer of old. A3 to Grantham, A2 to York, B1 to Scarborough!
     
    Big Al, Jul 17, 2013
    #62
  3. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    They do say that the profit is in the last coach, and knowing that you can count on 50 or so regular "enthusiasts" might just make the difference, especially since these folks do travel many times a year. Also, these trains rely on a lot of volunteer labour, such as support crew and stewards. These people do it for the love of trains in general and steam in particular. (Ralph, Saltydog, Shoddy125 and others - do you agree?) RTC, Steam Dreams and others couldn't survive on enthusiasts alone, but they'd have a few problems without them.

    Nor should we dismiss the "normal" passengers as just Joe Public who want a ride behind a steam engine. Many of them are quite knowledgeable, even if they don't think of themselves as train enthusiasts. They may have been spotters in their youth, or spent hours pouring over Hornby catalogues and running model trains around the dining room or the attic. Remember how popular the various railway-themed programs on BBC4 and the local TV channels are.
     
    Steamage, Jul 17, 2013
    #63
  4. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Possibly, but that section of joe public would have to be getting on a bit now too, I've seen young parents in their 30's looking for the automatic door opening button on the SVR Teak Set in the past...
     
    david1984, Jul 18, 2013
    #64
  5. Macko

    Macko Member

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    Macko, Jul 19, 2013
    #65
  6. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    Lovely shots, on the Outwood pic the diesel almost blends into the coaches !

     
    Waterbuck, Jul 19, 2013
    #66
  7. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Like this one a lot.

    Added later: I think the colour of the diesel has a lot to do with my liking it. It "fits in" very nicely behind the tender. And doesn't have a great flag painted on it etc etc.
     
    KentYeti, Jul 19, 2013
    #67
  8. bobbler

    bobbler Member

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    I am on this on the 8th August and looking forward to it. I don't get that much chance for mainline steam and this fits perfectly for me to take the kids out for the day, and this year with their Nana in tow as well.
    I have been on this for a number of years and my impression is that it is mostly joe public that fill the train, but it is the steam engine that is the real draw. Men, women and children all love a steam engine!
     
    bobbler, Jul 19, 2013
    #68
  9. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    I cannot speak for Steam Dreams or Vintage Trains, although I imagine it is the same, RTC, Compass and others do, as you say, rely on volunteers, there is supposed to be 1 steward per coach minimum so looking no further, how much would it cost to pay someone to work at least 18 hours, a dozen people at £10 per hour, nearly £2160 and that can big a big hole in your profit. Despite what has been said by certain people in the past about profit margins, they are smaller than you think.
    When you talk about regular enthusiasts, I doubt whether there are anything like 50 on a diesel charter unless the traction is something different. OK put a couple of 20s or 37s on and the hard core do come out of the woodwork.:rolleyes:. But normally the passengers are not bothered whats on the front, they are having a day out by train, and that's all they want.
    When thinking of steam hauled the average passenger is slightly different, they do come to have a steam loco on the front, but most are not bothered what it is, and are not put off by there being a diesel sitting behind it.
     
    RalphW, Jul 19, 2013
    #69
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  10. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I wish James at WCRC would consider a one off SSE say sometime in August with a Deltic. He can have my booking now (table for 2, first class).
    It won't happen but we can all dream.
     
    Victor, Jul 20, 2013
    #70
  11. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    I see from UKsteam that 45699 moved to York yesterday. Any sign of her on the SSE today, or is it one of the Black'uns again?
     
    Steamage, Jul 23, 2013
    #71
  12. DeccerGW

    DeccerGW New Member

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    Well shes due to run it this week according to UKSteam.

    EDIT: Picture on twitter of her at the head of the train, 47760 tucked inside again.
     
    DeccerGW, Jul 23, 2013
    #72
  13. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    Maybe 45231 has been bought by wcr quietly? It was widely publicised that Bert Hitchen was offering it for sale.
     
    26D_M, Jul 23, 2013
    #73
  14. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    May be a combination of wanting to do some runs fairly close to Carnforth before heading to Fort William, in case there are any snags remaining after the overhaul, and part "payment in kind" for contract work done by WCRC?
     
    Steamage, Jul 23, 2013
    #74
  15. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I think that's the rationale behind WCRC's livery choice, when others call it drab and dull.
     
    david1984, Jul 23, 2013
    #75
  16. Macko

    Macko Member

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    Well the last 12 hours of rain have been dampening things nicely here in Yorkshire an dteh climb of Outwood this morning was definitely at least 50/50 steam diesel, a fair old pace through the station! The weather is clearing nicely at the moment so hope for some better shots this evening.

    [​IMG]
    York Loco Images 290613-5489.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr
     
    Macko, Jul 23, 2013
    #76
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  17. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

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    Pity about the Big yellow accoutrements....;) , boy arent we fussy!
     
    class8mikado, Jul 24, 2013
    #77
  18. Macko

    Macko Member

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    Another day, another diesel :( Shot taken about 25 minutes ago

    [​IMG]
    York Loco Images 290613-5669.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr

    Hoping there had been enough rain yesterday to ease the ban here in Yorkshire but I guess they need to be conservative. Galatea being shoved hard today. I've really been looking forward to riding behind this engine but just ave to be brutally honest and say whilst the 47 is on it, I see little point as an enthusiast; frustrating for all and WCRC have my sympathy.

    The current state of operations can be best summed up by this shot at Howsham last night, smoke just drifting from thr chimney as the fireman sits and has a cuppa!

    [​IMG]
    York Loco Images 290613-5538.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr

    [​IMG]
    York Loco Images 290613-5541.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr
     
    Macko, Jul 24, 2013
    #78
  19. Macko

    Macko Member

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    Well I think I'll be waiting until the rains return as it is becoming a little disheartening chasing a train that clearly is doing no work. Absolutely not the fault of West Coast, but I should imagine the volunteers on train and teh die hard travelers are getting a little tired of Sulzer power instead of Jubilee roar. A shot from Haxby, Burton Salmon and and the last of the evening Sun would you believe a double track mainline in 2013 (look at the state of that viaduct!) crossing the River Calder near Methley Junction.

    [​IMG]
    York Loco Images 290613-5675.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr

    [​IMG]
    York Loco Images 290613-5680.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr

    [​IMG]
    York Loco Images 290613-5700.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr
     
    Macko, Jul 24, 2013
    #79
  20. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    From what's been said in the past it seems a major reason for the maroon livery is the Royal Scotsman contract, for the sake of flexibility WCRC have applied it across their fleet.

    Chris
     
    Christopher125, Jul 24, 2013
    #80
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