Steam Dreams new PREMIUM STANDARD CLASS DEBUTS, review

The budgets are remarkably simple overall, but I will have missed something

Revenue

3 x 64 x 100 = 19,200for the SD standard offering
2 x 42 x 135 av = 11,340 for basic first
4 x 42 x 200 av = 33600 for dining
+
support
2 x kitchen
1 buffet 42 x 100 = 4,200
=
Load 12

plus sales
Buffet - say 500
Raffle - say 150
Drinks
say 40 tables @ 50 2000

Total potential = 71,000 pounds total revenue

Costs

Planning - 5000
Path - 5000
Loco - 7000
Coal water - 1000
Stock Hire - 5000
TOC - 5000
Ins - 1000
Caterers inc meals - 5000
Promotion - 3000
Contingencies - 5000

Total - Circa 50,000 pounds on a sell out

No doubt there will be howls about this as being inaccurate, but as not one of the promoters will show you their books this is as close as you will get unless one of them does. VT and SRPS as owners of their own stack avoid some charges of course, but the risks and potential returns are there for all to see.

 

Actually Frank, from genuine experience I would say your figures are very accurate, in fact slightly generous on the expenses side ( depending upon the tour you could shave around £10,000 off the expenses ) so the potential income from a sellout, with no requirement to use a contingency you could , in fact take £15,000 off these expenses giving a gross profit of £35.000. Not a bad profit. It should also be noted that NR get a very hefty fee, the tour operator makes a good profit but the poor old loco owner, the raison d'etre for a steam tour gets very much the smallest part, giving a very poor return to allow for the cost of the next overhaul.

 

I have travelled twice on SD since the change to Premium Standard, but the buffet car has not disappeared. It is still possible to go there and get your own food and drink. On the last trip I went on none of the seats in the buffet appeared to have been booked so a couple of us went and took up residence there for a couple of beers. The beers are very overpriced but thats another story........

 

Thanks. That's good to know as I do like a walk to the buffet car, and the area opposite the counter also offers a convivial atmosphere in which to enjoy a beer and a chat, as well as a better view through the window than you get from your seat I find. I hope they keep the buffet in their eagerly awaited dedicated set. Not surprised to hear the beer is overpriced sadly but like you say that's another conversation.