Steam Dreams 2024

That may have been true in 2023…

 

Are you intimating that SD will have more or less in common with Saphos next year?

 

Less in common in 2024

 

Personally disagree. Speaking to LSL chaps, who also work at SVR, they say next year they will be busier than ever. That MK1 rake is set to be used more than before, so I can only assume both Saphos and SD will use it. I travelled with both this year and they were subtly different but both amazing.

 

SD's trip on 23 April has some features of interest. A Scot out of Euston must be pretty rare, and likewise steam between Bletchley and Bedford. Against those pros, there will be presumably be a diesel on the back and the prices are steep.

 

I thought that one was due to be behind 60007?

Andrew

 

That is what their website says.

 

Think that will be at least the third attempt at running that route, last year made it out the depot I seem to recall before issues on the way to Victoria.

 

Silly me, looking at the picture.

 

Sadly I don't think Steam Dreams are half the company they were back 20 years ago. Looking at their marketing in FB they seem to aim for the high end clientele of well dressed winey diney type folk who care little for what engine is up front and its performance.

I used to loads of steam dreams trips and without doubt the old Cathedrals expresses were fantastic..... I just don't bother now.

 

But that is the prime part of the market these days. Even if we may not like it things have moved on. Things evolve and like the longhaul airlines that in the 70's had just First and Economy and now have four classes, railtours are now a three calls loading better at the top end product.

 

It is simply economics, the 8 or 9 'winey diney' carriages help pay for the 1 or 2 standard carriages.
Also the target market for wine and dine have not been as affected by the cost of living crisis, First and Premier Dining are often the very first to sell out.

 

Not convinced Dining helps pay for Standard Carriages. A full TSO with 64 passengers rakes in £10,560 and surely pays for itself.

 

Rather than feeling like the victim, you need to think *why* the rail tour providers focus so much of their marketing budget on the high-end clientele.

Maybe the increasingly fickle, price sensitive and selective cheese-butty rail tours just won't pay the bills for rail tours any more.

 

Exactly. Take RTC for example. 64 x £115 = £7360. 42 x £195 = £8190. But first class includes light refreshments which could easily add up to £20.

 

I started doing those sums and came to that conclusion too ie the net revenue per coach on a full train might be pretty constant from coach A to K. But the vital thing is the actual load factor achieved in the three classes.

 

Rest assured I don't feel like the Victim as you put it. I can also see why the railtour providers go for the top end market as there is obviously more cash there. I am just one of those who remember the early days of steam dreams and the cathedrals express where things were so more fun and tours were aimed at all classes.

 

Precisely, 1st and Premier Class nearly always sell out first, whilst I have been on a number of charters where there are spare seats in Standard.
These days railtour companies are in the 'experience' market, where a steam hauled charter is only part of the package.
Incidentally, now all railtours are over £100, perhaps I want a bit more than just a seat at a table in a temporamental Mk 1, but my wallet can't stretch that far!
For the first time in many years I am not currently booked on anything and if I do commit it really does have to be something special. At these prices I will only be doing 1 or 2 trips a year, previously it was 5 or 6, so it has to be a darn good day out.

 

46100 brings a train back from Barrow hill ETC on 16th May .Out with a Diesel via Ridgemont /Bedford with a diesel.

 

How about Worcester to Stratford on Jul 16 for £45?