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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    With Cornwall in Tier 1 it seems strange that they have not run any services. Others have found it worthwhile.
     
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  2. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Seems that someone is ignoring me, no great loss
     
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  3. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    I think there will be a relatively high number of locos available to hire next year, and there are several lines hungry for ex-BR steam to enhance their offerings, but will they wish to risk taking on the cost?
     
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  4. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    I have no idea but my guess is that many people who visit Bodmin come from areas which are tier 2/3. Unlike say MHR, Bluebell, SVR that have large populations near by?

    Maybe if your travellers normally come from a long way then they would be less likely to travel than if they live near by?

    I don't think you are missing any great insights.
     
  5. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Is that not part of the collective reason why they are in tier one? You not only have to be willing to operate but you have to have volunteers willing to operate. I can say that both railways I am involved with have found that to be a significant constraint.
     
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  6. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Who knows? I understand the West of England had a surprisingly brisk season once lockdown was lifted and the Dartmouth line has been operating. A cafe proprietor in the Isle of Wight said to me that post lockdown, business had been brisk and continued into the Autumn longer than normal which compensated for the shutdown to a degree. The I.O.W. has the lowest Covid 19 rate in England and its tourist railway has been in "full steam" apart from a couple of days during the second lockdown.
     
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  7. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Yes, but for the wrong reasons, so you can't take any credit for foresight.
     
  8. Chris86

    Chris86 Well-Known Member

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    I'd have loved to have spent some time doing some volunteer work, the issue for me is being self employed, I'm not earning if I'm not working- so during the lockdown(s) everything has had to be economised, travel and vehicle use included so whilst I had time to spare I have had to try to be as frugal as possible.

    Chris
     
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  9. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

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    5199 loaded up and ready to leave when I passed the yard at Llangolllen at 15.10

    One of the owning group asked for it to be coaled- so we've sent a lump with the loco.

    Bob.
     
  10. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    This does seem to be a little bit strange as I see from Facebook they are appealing for funds to make up the shortfall for this year, stating they got one steaming day and had planned for 100. Taking 35 guaranteed steaming days in Somerset still seems very short of the 100 that were desired for 2020.
     
  11. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    What wrong reasons? Railways will not be wanting a full roster of locomotives next year. Galas won't be happening, dining trains not running etc. Plenty of locos to go around. Engines bowing out of traffic and, due to lockdown, their planned replacements not being available.
     
  12. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I don't think there are many locos sat around idle that only get fired up for galas...

    I wouldn't be so sure about that, Bluebell have proved it's possible, I'd be surprised if others didn't follow, certainly towards the latter half of next year when hopefully things will be looking a bit brighter. Remember, even if you're carrying fewer passengers to aid social distancing, you might still be running the same number of trains, requiring the same number of locos. e.g. If you decide you can run a dining train 2/3rds full and be compliant with social distancing and still make a profit, you can't hire out the 1/3rd of a loco you're not using.
     
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  13. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Well, yeah, in hindsight...
     
  14. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Whilst not being as many as they’d ideally like, presumably 35 is more than they thought they would get at Llangollen in 2021?
     
  15. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    As with any situation we can rapidly read a multitude of scenarios into it and make 2+2= whatever you wish it too .

    presumably the 5199 board are happy with the decisions made

    Given Wales has been far more keen to lockdown and shut the tourist industry , whereas England hasn't it was felt safer to accept work in England
     
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  16. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    A bit unwise to assume that things will be reverting to the "good" old pre Covid days, particularly in relation to galas. The much missed @ Beancounter was highly doubtful if these made any money.
     
  17. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    way off topic but there was a school of thought that highlighted that gala's were also good for volunteers giving them opportunities often to do something different , different engines and also to show their railway off in a way that normal didn't . Gala's also tend to generate a lot of much needed publicity

    Now I'm not advocating running gala's at a loss but there are less quantifiable benefits to galas that sometimes outweigh the cash gain
     
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  18. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    As you say Paul, @Bean-counter is much missed, but a simple search of "gala" posted by member "bean-counter" will show he has never said that. Steven expressed doubts over whether mega-galas (which the WSR to an extent pioneered) ever made much money. Not "all galas". Let's try and keep it factual please, especially when quoting members who aren't here any more to correct misquotes. It is easily demonstrated that most galas do make money, or at the very worst, don't make a loss, because those that make a loss don't carry on running year after year.
     
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  19. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    I corresponded with him privately. It is much more critical now post pandemic that loss making events are avoided, Some of the results posted by major organisations are jaw dropping.
     
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I suspect lines that offer them will be looking to run a higher proportion of dining trains, not lower, because if you have to reduce passenger loading but can’t reduce haulage costs in proportion (the direct cost of running a train is the same whether it is empty, half full or rammed) a dining train offers a higher per seat income.

    Tom
     
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