Snow and Santa Claus

Amidst the magazine coverage of the effect of snowfall on Santa trains (IMHO not so good in Steam Railway as the others), Railway Magazine came up with an interesting feature setting out the dramatic variations in the effect on various railways. On the one hand there are lines that recorded their best takings ever. On the other some estimate that the snow will mean a loss in 2010 for them rather than a profit.

Those lines who were able to run a service have avoided the need to refund fares to passengers who were unable to get there. A goodwill gesture of substituting a subsequent journey for the Santa tickets still means that the prepaid fares are retained. However those who were unable to run face paying out refunds. In the case of the Gloucester Warwickshire, sorely hit by other problems, this amounts to some £60,000. Not good!

There were some ancillary benefits. For example the Welshpool & Llanfair, thanks to its determined supporters, was able to operate despite a heavy fall of snow which produced improbably romantic scenic effects. With good photographers on hand, the result was some of the best pictures of U.K. steam trains in snow since Ivo Peters.

The basic message is how precarious the finances of some railways must be if disruption to one weekend can mean the difference between profit and loss.