Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends - Time to say "Goodbye"?

The fact that it was a Thomas event was, one can assume, the thing that was wrong. After all, unless there was a major change in personnel or modus operandi, Occam's Razor gives the obvious answer.

 

Occam's Razor: nope, had to look that one up. Ah yes, I understand the banter now. You pick up some interesting stuff on NP. Broadens the mind. Anyway back to "Thomas" perhaps, well, sometimes.

 

Surely the fact that there has over recent years been a steady trickle of heritage railways stopping doing TtTE events, but no corresponding trickle of new railways taking them up, is indicative of a general problem in the Thomas franchise, rather than with the specific railways concerned not being able to organise events?

All railways will have a good idea of their baseline profitability, and likely how it varies over the course of a year. So if they organise any special event (whether that is an enthusiasts' gala, a TtTE or a food festival - doesn't really matter which) they will balance the likely additional costs against the likely additional revenue, and then take into account the risks to that model, and maybe other intangibles like how much an event opens up a new demographic. That suggests to me that across the movement, individual railways are all starting to come to the same conclusion about the balance of cost, income and risk - that it is starting to become non-viable, especially when viewed against other events they could hold. Lots changes in ten years: an event that worked ten years ago may no longer be viable, especially if the costs have gone up on one side of the equation faster than the revenue can be raised on the other. There is certainly no immutable law that says that inevitably a Thomas event will be the most profitable way a railway can spend a weekend - the evidence tends to suggest the opposite.

Tom

 

Temper temper

 

Obviously someone who hasn't worked in business methinks. In order to make a profit it necessarily means that the costs are less than the income but if profit reduces the options are either (a) increase price or (b) reduce costs; Shimples as Alexander would say !!

BUT

Heritage lines have to be careful about increasing prices because demand is elastic - if the price becomes too high then the "customers" will go elsewhere and each line will be aware of how much - or - little they can afford to increase prices in order to increase income.

Whilst the alternative of cutting costs is also within their control this is NOT the case with Thomas The Tank events as the licence holder (HIT ?) insists on increasing expenses to the point where income increases are less than cost increases - especially those incurred by HIT demands which I believe include (a) insisting on all personnel involved with the event having Criminal checks - paid for by the host railway (b) claiming a fixed percentage of the fare income and (c) claiming a fixed percentage of the shop sales whether Thomas connected or not - and all in addition to the licence fee payable simply for holding the event. As noted by others this only works if the Heritage Line can command a sufficiently large customer visit during the event - and there are not many with the customer base that can generate the income levels that can make a reasonable profit.

It is NOT - as you say a poor attempt at a Thomas event but a case of the licence holder demanding more of the income thus leaving the Heritage line(s) with lower profit; profit sharing to HIT appears to be taking the largest share of the income (regardless of cost) for the least effort and many heritage lines are no longer prepared to invest current income for future potential - especially where most of the income does NOT go to the host railway !

Am I teaching Granny to suck eggs ? I hope not but a better awareness of the delicate nature of heritage lines income / expenditure and the consequence of the increased demands made on them by HIT to operate Thomas events might be a good place to start learning about the fragile economics of Heritage Lines today.

 

Another one ...

http://www.drusillas.co.uk/directors-letter-regarding-thomas-departure-from-drusillas

I have a hunch (no more) that Mattel see the future as being in their Thomas Land Theme Park at Drayton Manor, and are working towards that being the only licensed major Thomas attraction - it's almost certainly easier for them to control the product, plus it is year round revenue. If I'm right, I'd expect further railways to withdraw from the product as and when the terms of their current licences expire.

At the Bluebell, the weekend that used to be occupied with Thomas now hosts a model railway weekend. No hired in locomotive costs; no licensing costs and, as a volunteer, the last one was far more enjoyable to work at than I remember a Thomas event. It also seemed to be comfortably busy.

Tom

 

This would be nasty for those perhaps over reliant on the little blighter. They will have to get thinking quickly.

Paul H

 

Would the Nene Valley still be able to continue running its blue 0-6-0 'Thomas'?

 

Hence the proliferation of 'Friendly Engine' weekends which seem to be popping up all over the place, plus Peppa Pig seems very popular (for a pig!)

I suspect not, likewise Didcot have just converted one? I suppose there is a whole copyright argument as to when a blue 0-6-0 side tank becomes Thomas, is it the number, is it the face etc etc I remember 20 odd years back when these events started the locomotives running as Thomas rarely looked like Thomas, however now a fair few have been converted to be reasonably good replica's?

 

To some extent the licence withdrawal at Drusillas is less surprising as its a direct competitor to the Thomas theme park at Drayton Manor with nothing different to offer - same naff steam outline but diesel or electric powered train, and same year round attraction. There may still be some space for a live steam experience on occasional weekends especially if not on the doorstep of Drayton Manor. There may not but I could see Mattel taking a different view on something entirely different which isn't significantly detracting from visitor numbers elsewhere - particularly if it comes at a price of toys being removed from sale at the railways that have had their licences removed.

 

The Nene Valley's Thomas is nothing to do with Thomas the Tank Engine. It's a loco named Thomas that just happens to be painted blue and I believe always has been.

 

The Nene Valley Railway has the advantage that Rev Awdry - as a local supporter of the line - included an exemption for the line in the agreement that he signed with Brit Alcroft - the original licence holder - and I presume this carried through with subsequent transfer of ownership to other licence holders. Outwith that the licence-owners also licensed the locomotives that were operated as "Thomas the Tank" and restricted the number that could operate. It also explains why HE1873 was converted fro saddle tank to side tank when it replaced "Jinty" 47298 as 'Thomas' when the latter failed and a replacement locomotive was needed for 'Thomas' events.

 

I think people lose sight of the ability of small children to use their imagination. I well remember when my younger brother was 5 and got his first Hornby train set, it was a bright yellow 0-4-0T engine with 'Colmans' on the side and he promptly christened it 'Thomas', and thus it was known for ever more. No blue engine with a face needed.

 

Its amazing how kids think - 3650 at Didcot was for ages referred to by my kids as "the one that used to be blue!" from its time when it was in its early Stephenson's livery after initial steaming with 3738 also being in steam in black.

 

Kids are funny buggers, my 3 year old daughter loves steam engines in both the flesh and watching videos of them on you tube but has never shown one jot of interest in TtTE despite my efforts, she is more of a Paw Patrol kind of girl.

 

There doesn't seems to be a problem in Australia as there are to my knowledge at least three railways that run Thomas events so maybe its a different company that owns the rights out there?

 

You may well be right but the number of railways running this event is no indication of whether there are problems or not. Far more than three run the event here although the number has reduced markedly.

Paul H

 

Having had to look this up, to me it would seem a needlessly more complicated (and therefore naturally preferred by the pseudo-intelligentsia) way of saying one of my favourite truisms: "Assumption is the mother of all f... ups"

 

I believe it's the face. Once that's in place it's TtTE. I assume it's the same for the other faces.

 

If sticking a face on an engine risks facing the wrath (and legal weight) of the Thomas licence holders, should our friend Mr Martin not be a tad concerned?

http://www.britishrailwaystories.com/p/childrens-story-books.html