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Steam Dreams 2016

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Paul42, Sep 12, 2015.

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  1. Sean Emmett

    Sean Emmett Member

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    Yes some interesting tours, but not remotely interested in booking any of them if there's going to be a diesel in the formation on the steam legs that's not declared at the outset.

    Got lucky with my only SD trip this year with 61306 Vic - Bri June, late booking based on gen on here.

    Would book many more if I had an ounce of confidence we would not be shoved around all day.

    Will suggest to SD and RTC that they run a few trips for dedicated enthusiasts on basis trip will be postponed if can't run with steam for whatever reason until they can. Willing to pay premium for guaranteed steam trip.

    Sean
     
    Sean Emmett, Dec 18, 2015
    #21
    1020 Shireman and 26D_M like this.
  2. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    You could well be right there Robbo. That would make the steam load 13. We've been musing down here about how the changeover will take place. For diesel off and steam and support on you'd surely have to use Swindon Yard. Where would you find paths to release a diesel out of Challow loop and then reverse Lizzie and Support coach in 'wrong road' on a weekday?
     
    1020 Shireman, Dec 19, 2015
    #22
  3. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    With you all the way on that Sean. Perhaps the newly reformed Hertfordshire Railtours will do a bit more steam in 2016.
     
    1020 Shireman, Dec 19, 2015
    #23
  4. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Oh well, another one to give a miss.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 19, 2015
    #24
  5. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    That was based on it going to Swansea where a diesel would be needed. I doubt an early departure slot for steam on a weekday from Paddington, for a trip all the way to Swansea would have been available. The Uk Steam website has not yet been updated to reflect the change of desintation, and neither has the Steam Dreams website, which currently states refer to booking office on the booking page for this trip and the York trip.
     
    Paul42, Dec 19, 2015
    #25
  6. Robbo

    Robbo Member

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    Not a promising sign.
     
    Robbo, Dec 19, 2015
    #26
  7. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Problem, the dedicated enthusiasts are probably fewer than you think, so say with a mix of 4 standard and 5 1st, income roughly £40,000. Would you find 200 real enthusiasts ready to pay an average of £200 for this trip. If so put the money up front, get you punters to come and I'm sure WCRC will take it on.
     
    RalphW, Dec 19, 2015
    #27
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  8. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Ralph,
    I seem to recall you saying that the profits on first dining coach were similar to those on standard coach. If so then you wouldn't have to charge £200 a seat to replace the first dining element as there would be no catering costs involved.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 19, 2015
    #28
  9. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Actually I was not up to date with my prices, standard for CME is now £89 and 1st £139 so based on that alone without catering, a pretty full train earns approaching £50,000. Thus 80% loading with pro rata 1st and standard, is in the region of £40000. So your enthusiasts have to generate that for the train to be roughly viable, an average of £200 per person is still an approximate figure.
     
    RalphW, Dec 19, 2015
    #29
  10. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    With the top price individual ticket being £199 on the Feb 6th CME, I can't see how an all standard train would need to generate £200 a head to bring in the same profits. Must be missing something here.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 19, 2015
    #30
  11. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    That's the dining price, I was working on the premise that the hard core enthusiasts would not want to bother with dining as it tends to get in the way of photting, timing or recording.
     
    RalphW, Dec 20, 2015
    #31
  12. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    Yeah I noticed that as well, hopefully it will fit but also have reservations about gauging Lizzie. Maybe the Bluebell will provide a loco to haul it up to East Grinstead again like they did earlier this year if she doesn't.

    I'm interested in seeing what will haul the trip on July 9th as RTC have 34046 and one of 34067/35018 down for their tour on the same day.
     
    Dan Hill, Dec 20, 2015
    #32
  13. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    It depends on one's priorities. I have no interest in photographing from a train, and timing and recording is taken care of by my smartphone. That leaves plenty of time for dining and drinking. Bearing in mind the longeurs involved in so many excursions these days, one often is in need of a distraction. I haven't travelled other than dining class for the last five years.
     
    Enterprise, Dec 20, 2015
    #33
  14. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Oh my word. You'll be telling us next you know which knife and fork to use when there is more than one set at your dinner place on the train.
     
    KentYeti, Dec 20, 2015
    #34
  15. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    So there's always an exception, but my calculations were only meant to be an approximation as I know there are a few who would use dining, if it was actually provided on this hypothetical trip.
     
    RalphW, Dec 20, 2015
    #35
  16. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    One would not expect a Yeti to have any manners.
     
    Enterprise, Dec 20, 2015
    #36
  17. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Quite right. So no one ever brave enough to eat with me is ever disappointed. They know what to expect when the grub guzzling starts. :)
     
    KentYeti, Dec 20, 2015
    #37
  18. Robbo

    Robbo Member

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    SD website has been updated and no longer says 'refer to booking office'. Also 1st March trip updated to reflect change of destination, plus no longer mentions steam going on at Challow (but doesn't say it is steam throughout either).
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2015
    Robbo, Dec 23, 2015
    #38
  19. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Website has been updated "this trip will be steam hauled between West London and Worcester in both directions".
     
    Paul42, Dec 23, 2015
    #39
  20. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    The now-cancelled 17 April trip was to have been Paddington to Salisbury via Bicester. The website now shows a Paddington to Salisbury trip on 21 May (with an extra trip round Hampshire from Salisbury) but I can't see any indication of the route. GWML - Reading - Basingstoke? GWML - Reading - Westbury? Or could it be the one via Bicester on a new date?
     
    MellishR, Dec 23, 2015
    #40
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