If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Steam Dreams 2020

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Paul42, Dec 19, 2019.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,063
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    And that is the deal breaker. Five or ten minutes in a shop is fine. Hours on a train is not, especially when, despite the reassurances from any company, it is clear that social distancing cannot work even at your seat. And if there is any doubt you don't book rather than book and take a chance. Same applies for air travel.

    Some will be more relaxed about it I am sure. It's a really tricky time and if, as a company. you cannot be certain of filling your train to whatever your new limit is, then you don't run it.
     
    26D_M, banana patch, MellishR and 4 others like this.
  2. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2018
    Messages:
    1,523
    Likes Received:
    634
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    W yorkshire 56f
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    22nd september 2020 The London to Highgrove Lydney and Cardiff B1 double header has been posponed to 23rd september 2021 due to the majority of passengers travelling under current covid 19 travel restrictions would feel uneasy travelling and the majority steam dreams passengers would prefer to postpone their tour until next year due to the likeliness of fewer covid 19 restrictions been in place.
     
  3. jackshepherd

    jackshepherd Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2012
    Messages:
    499
    Likes Received:
    234
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Bus Shunter
    Location:
    Essex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Did you get this information via email, as the website still says it's running this year along with a couple of tours before it in September.
     
  4. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2018
    Messages:
    1,523
    Likes Received:
    634
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    W yorkshire 56f
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes i got the Email off steam dreams saying its posponed to next september booking team cos i had booked to go on the London Highgrove Lydney Cardiff tour B1 double header in late march just after lockdown kicked in, And got told then by steam dreams call operator it would depend on the outcome of the covid 19 pandemic wether it would go ahead or not and also the majority of passengers who go with steam dreams when surveyed preferred to travel when the easing of social distancing rules was minimal or non in place at all so thats another reason steam dreams have pulled out on not doing tour in summer and autumn 2020 but yet did offer me to transfer my booking to the xmas december 2020 tours.
     
    Big Al likes this.
  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,063
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    That's a helpful view of one operator's attitude and it makes sense to me. Unless you can afford to run a train half to 60% full there seems little point in trying to do anything until the environment changes. Not at all certain how soon that will be though and 2020 is starting to look like a wash out on the main line.
     
    banana patch and 26D_M like this.
  6. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2018
    Messages:
    1,572
    Likes Received:
    726
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Gricer and Grandad
    Location:
    Wallers Ash
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes I agree Alan. As for travelling on main line steam the rest of 2020 will be a washout for me. Heritage railways possibly or line side for main line steam. Looks like my lowest steam mileage since 1970
     
  7. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,445
    Likes Received:
    9,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It's a good job that some don't consider this season as a wash out or there would be nothing to lineside.
     
    pete12000 likes this.
  8. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2018
    Messages:
    1,572
    Likes Received:
    726
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Gricer and Grandad
    Location:
    Wallers Ash
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes that’s true but only my opinion as a very long time supporter of travelling in main line steam trips and of very few lineside vigils since the 1960s so probably earned it anyway
     
    banana patch likes this.
  9. jackshepherd

    jackshepherd Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2012
    Messages:
    499
    Likes Received:
    234
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Bus Shunter
    Location:
    Essex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Announcement from Steam Dreams, a new venture 'Days out with Santa'

    "NEW Days out with Santa
    We're delighted to announce that for this year we will be running short trips from London Victoria with a very special guest on board, Santa Claus!

    Register your interest here to be the first to receive details about these trips: http://ow.ly/jmxx50AZxPE"
     
  10. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,445
    Likes Received:
    9,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It will be interesting to see how they intend to cope with social distancing on that.
     
    green five likes this.
  11. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,160
    Combined beard and facemask?
     
  12. myford

    myford New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2007
    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    22
  13. OldGit

    OldGit New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    Messages:
    192
    Likes Received:
    191
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Sutton, Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer

    Bookings now on SD website.

    3 trips per day from Victoria to 'North Pole' and back. Aimed at families, but no reduced fares for kids.

    Anyone know where 'North Pole' is? (no facetious answers please!).

    There's also an evening dining train, aimed at the adults, presumably round the Surrey Hills.

    All the above subject of course to the Covid regulations at the time!
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2020
  14. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    Messages:
    4,736
    Likes Received:
    1,107
    Location:
    Oxford
  15. OldGit

    OldGit New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    Messages:
    192
    Likes Received:
    191
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Sutton, Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  16. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1,282
    Likes Received:
    583
    The Santa Steam Express runs on 14th, 16th, 21st & 23rd December.
    The Christmas Steam Express runs on 14th, 16th, 18th, 21st & 23rd December.
    A Black 5 runs the trips on 14th & 16th December, with Mayflower running the others.
     
  17. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,160
    Given that they have to go somewhere that they can call "North Pole", the actual North Pole Jn would seem very appropriate. The snag is that you would not be able to stay there for very long in between service trains and, although you could spend some time somewhere around Willesden, that would involve going beyond the North Pole, "which is of course impossible".
     
  18. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2007
    Messages:
    3,618
    Likes Received:
    1,636
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired SPM
    Location:
    Close to Spike Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I have looked up North Pole Reversing Siding which was formerly North Pole International depot exit line. A top and tailed train could stand there while people looked at the scenery of a crate rental company and Little Wormwood Scrubs parkland.
    The siding can accommodate an 8 car 377 or 8 car 710 unit formation. That is equal to two locos and six mark 1 coaches, so no use for a charter.

    Cheers, Neil
     
  19. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,222
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    How about an virtual Santa, screened on a background, wall, that Santa seen climbing the wall out of Wormwood Scrubs, isn't a real santa :eek: he's on the naughty list
     
  20. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2007
    Messages:
    3,618
    Likes Received:
    1,636
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired SPM
    Location:
    Close to Spike Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    61306 is also double booked on 18/12/2020, being shown to work the Victoria - Kent Coast (White Cliffs) round trip.
    I suspect another turn for whichever black 5 is used.

    Cheers, Neil
     

Share This Page