Statistics for Steam on the Mainline in 2011

Given various comments I thought I would cobble together some statistics using UK Steam Info's website as a resource:
I take no responsibility for accuracy.. it is purely a fun exercise using cut / paste / filter / search on the site.


[TABLE="width: 200"]
[TR]
[TD]401 trips advertised last year[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]179 Jacobites[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]total 580 mainline trips[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
22 Double headers[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]43 substitute locomotives[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]34 revised routing / times[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]43 Canceled[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]27 Postponed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 ran as a diesel[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 Locomotives failed[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

(note that multiple combinations of the above may have affected the same tour (i.e. postponement, loco unavailable and cancelation of the same trip are listed separately)).

 

Here's some more bored on a wednesday afternoon quick fag packet stats...

London featured in 142 tours.... 48 of the them London Victoria. (Paddington with 13)
York featured in 60 tours
Bristol featured in 50 tours.
Manchester featured in 23 tours... Black 5's featured in 7 of them.
Edinburgh featured in 7 tours
Newcastle featured in 4 tours

70000, 70013 and 71000 featured as first choice in 61 tours
60163 featured as first choice in 29 tours,
60019 featured as first choice in 23 tours,
5043 as 1st choice on 13 tours
5029 as 1st choice on 13 tours
Black fives listed as 1st choice on 76 tours
35028 as 1st choice on 24 tours (23 from Victoria, 1 from Waterloo)
34067 as 1st choice on 39 tours


(by 1st choice I mean.. 1st locomotive on the list, usually turns gray text on the website if it doesnt run the trip, includes double headers..)

Least used locomotives.. 5972, 62005 and 9600 (listed as 1st choice for 1 tour each), (7752 as 2 tours).


Didn't make the starting gate... 4472 and 46100 (2 tours each), 34046 (4 tours).


Widely travelled... Black 5s are listed from Inverness, Mallaig, Camarthen, Shrewsbury, Shap, Buxton, York, Sheffield, Carnforth, London, Salisbury, Dover...

 

I really like your stats quite a bit. Add to the fact that several engines like 6233, 5690, 5699, 4472, 34046, 6023 and a couple others were in restoration, overhaul or being tested. Those numbers are quite impressive.

I myself have done something very similar in terms of what has already been proposed for this year on a text document.

 

Very interesting figures and certainly goes to show last year wasn't the disaster a lot of people would like to make out. Thanks for putting them together. Who would've have thought in 1968 that in 2011 there would be on average nearly 2 steam trains a day on the mainline.. Perhaps these figures should be emailed to Network rail?!!

 

Let sleeping dogs lie. Perhaps they havn't noticed.

 

You can make what you want out of statistics, here is a few more:-

17-may-2011 The Borderer - No stop for passengers Newcastle
15 Oct 2011 The Weardale - Ran as advertised
26-Nov 2011 The Tynesider Cancelled
3-Dec-2011 Lincoln Xmas Fayre - Cancelled

Thats a fairer representation....

 

What's more notable is the Jacobite operation.

for a period it was running more steam on a scheduled daily basis than Wolsztyn, with a similar sized fleet.
6months operation, mostly 7 days a week, and at peak season 2 trains a day.

I think it goes without saying that the UK as a nation (mainline and heritage) operates more steam than any other country.

 

According to UK Steam Info, 34067 managed to start 37 tours (including failures that occurred during the trip). In other words, notwithstanding the teething troubles of 2011, it looks like she's starting to return to her old form, picking up where other locomotives leave off. And that bulk of tours was done on the quiet! 70013 managed 28 (after splitting the Shepherd Neame tours into two separate concerns: London-Faversham, Faversham-Sheerness). 35028 started 20 after a particularly busy December on the VSOEs.

 

And long may it continue!!

 

34067 and 70013 seem to have huge schedules for this year as well. So far 34067 has 17 trips before her summer duties begin and 70013 has 16 trips not including Summer Duties out of Crewe.

 

Assuming that Mr Riley is supplying a loco or two for The Jacobites again, I'm sure he would be ecstatic at the thought of a couple of amateurs playing with his locos on Beasdale Bank.

 

Reading this i think its April 1st...

You really think WCRC, Network Rail, and a loco rep is going to allow this.

Its one thing sitting on a firemans seat, another doing what you suggest.

As if their is not enough problems, with out this idea....

 

And with a train load of paying passengers behind, the insurance boys would have a field day working out the premium for that. Having said that it is possible today to buy your way on to the footplate but it will be a bit more than 200 notes. If you have enough time and cash you can even buy your way in to the right hand seat of a passenger carrying jet, you get the chance to pay someone to let you fly their plane.

 

Im beginning to think this is a wind up.

Maybe approach James Shuttleworth, and ask for his response.

Im sure it will be 2 words, one being off!!!!!

 

I speak not with direct knowledge but it's just a hunch.

I suspect that since mainline steam preservation in 1971 there will have been more than one occasion when the support crew member will have "had a go" with the approval of the driver and inspector. It is totally inconceivable that this has NEVER happened.

I did a driver training course at Tyseley (7029) and at the Great Central (78019?). Under supervision, I handled both locos very well and in the case of the Great Central the instructor congratulated me on measured control of the regulator from stops and was sure I used to drive on the mainline!!

I really did feel very proud and at the same time "this is all a piece of cake".

So if amateur drivers did and still do have a go on the mainline, then no one will be very surprised. Let's agree that "Mum's the word" as no one will ever own up to it anyway I guess!!

Nick

 

It's lesser known but you can pay and play of the Budapest - Bratislava mainline with steam as well.

I got to have a go on 109.109 years ago, 2 hours for £20, high speed running, price has gone up but the footplate is still open.