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End of Southern Steam (RTC) - 9/07/22

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Gladiator 5076, Jun 27, 2022.

  1. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    My video of the down and up workings:
     
  2. Western Venturer

    Western Venturer Well-Known Member

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    Its a typo mistake, should be 18.04 as I was close to Upwey and thats 18.04 on RTT
     
  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    We have of course had much discussion about diesels on the back.
    I will make two comments.
    1) I have a chart of all my tours, this comes in at No 4.
    I admit the list is highly subjective, could be performance, uniqueness or weather (e.g. snow) that puts its place on the list.
    2) I was not on the platform at Weymouth long before departure but during that time 4 different groups of NB passengers asked if the EOSS was their train.
    Bearing in mind that it was still 45 minutes before their scheduled departure, (like every other tour at Weymouth they were late) the stock was maroon not Pullman colours, nor did it have "Northern Belle" in large letters under the roof line on each coach, or that they had only got off the train about 5 hours before, this fact seemed totally lost on them.
    I would suggest ergo the presence of a diesel on a steam tour would mean little to them, if they even noticed in the first place. Remember most of the railtour market is no longer enthusiasts.
     
  4. Bank Engine

    Bank Engine New Member

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    98% of them aren't bothered as long as the food and the wine keeps flowing.
     
  5. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    Thank you for the results from your most comprehensive nationwide survey. <BJ>
     
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  6. Bank Engine

    Bank Engine New Member

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    Is that sarcasm or do you have something constructive to say?

    Fact is, if you accept it or not.
    The demographic of charters has changed.

    You aren't gonna fill a train without the normals now, who don't care what's on the front or the rear, long as the food etc keeps coming and they get to where was advertised.
     
  7. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I can’t agree with that as virtually none of the passengers on the Belmond are enthusiasts but they are happy to pay extra for steam haulage. Many of them come up to see the locomotive before or after the run and ask a lot of questions showing a genuine interest.
     
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  8. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Uncertainty limits on that figure?
     
  9. Bank Engine

    Bank Engine New Member

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    The also run diesel hauled same principle

    Long as they get there and get their food it doesn't bother them.
     
  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Actually, just to correct your nonsense. If they go for steam then it costs them more. If all they wanted was the food and drink, that is excellent of course, then the steam trips wouldn't run as the price difference would be noticed.
     
  11. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I know they do and that’s my point, if they didn’t care why would they pay the extra to travel behind steam? If they weren’t interested they wouldn’t bother chatting to the support crew about the engine
     
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2022
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  12. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    As west coast can now operate Clan line, as well as BIL, It would be interesting how the crews rate each engine, I suspect each will have its own differences, after all no two class members are ever the same, but it does get you wondering, Will we ever see a tour using Clan line, Tangmere, and British India Line on the same tour, maybe to strange parts, of the country that rarely saw Southern Locomotives.
     
  13. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I asked the driver who took us down to Exeter on the Atlantic Coast Express trip, he reckons Clan Line is the stronger engine but BIL is smoother riding. I found the latter surprising as it has been rebuilt from a Barry wreck and as a common used engine cannot have the same attention lavished on it as 28. As far as presentation is concerned it is, of course a no contest.
    I doubt if Clan Line will work away from the south again, there’s no need with the Belmond work and now RTC but who knows
     
  14. Bank Engine

    Bank Engine New Member

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    Nonsense? Are you sure a moderator should be using such language, When you should be setting an example.

    Disagree with me by all means.

    But keep it pleasant.
     
  15. Bank Engine

    Bank Engine New Member

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    Still doesn't detract from the point I made that most really don't care its a novelty to them.

    They are the bread and butter now, Fill a train with 8 coaches of them , then if you are lucky 2 coaches of standard for the railway fraternity.

    You have to realise times have changed and we are lucky we have some variety left.
     
  16. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    Sorry but my experience of meeting passengers says you are wrong
     
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  17. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    All of a sudden the result of the survey has been amended from 98% to just under 80%. That was quick ;) <BJ>
     
  18. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    If you write nonsense there is nothing wrong with someone saying so.
     
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  19. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    That takes your comments to a new low, playing the "you are a Mod" card.
    Saying your post is nonsense is just showing disagreement, it's certainly not "such language", or is it your 'snowflake' showing?
     
  20. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Nosy aren’t you?
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    One for another thread most definitely but it would be interesting to know the feelings of those that operate these machines what they prefer to work on, especially with multiple examples of the same class in operation,
    I wonder what certain crews from 10A think regarding their experience’s on the stud of 5XPs they’ve recently operated?
    (I know your biased towards the green one John ;))
     

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