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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Paul Kibbey

    Paul Kibbey Well-Known Member

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    In my 40 years experience in the Transport Industry as driver and Owner of HGVs it was found that even though we were operating safely , if it wasn't recorded then we weren't . We put in simple systems of recording and all were happy . We had 3 HGVs + 3 vans , so a much smaller operation than some but still the same systems . If it wasn't recorded then it hadn't happened . Was this the problem with ORR and WSR ?
     
  2. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Liking these now and then comparisons.

    Thxs for posting
     
  3. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    That would bring in fares I’m sure, I don’t Recall mayflower being on the line before
     
  4. Ian Monkton

    Ian Monkton Member

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    Mayflower visited 26/27 November 2015. For photos, search 61306 on wsr.org.uk.

    I expect with the present financial situation, it would only run on service trains on the WSR if there was a certainty that the fares generated would be greater than the cost of hire.
     
  5. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    Indeed, there are some events staged on heritage lines that are very profitable and a good advertisement for the line encouraging people to return another time. Equally some lose money - for many reasons and can be counter productive. I expect the WSR does have insight into what was worthwhile and what has not been, so do not be too dismayed if things aren't quite as they used to be.
     
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  6. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Fares - yes. Profit (after hire/transport costs) - ??
     
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  7. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I think you missed the fact it would be there already? Still hire fees of course.
     
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  8. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    61306 is booked for a photo charter while it's there.
     
  9. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    You might get half a carriageload of additional passengers, to be optimistic, but she's hardly likely to be a crowd-puller despite the rarity of Thompson locos
     
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  10. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Part of the furniture

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    No transport costs as it comes and goes by rail.
     
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  11. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    More than this. If a normal day would bring in (say) £3K and cost £750 in loco costs and using a hire loco brought in £4K total and hire loco cost £2K, it would still be profit but it would be less profit than the normal day.
     
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  12. 6960 Raveningham Hall

    6960 Raveningham Hall Member Friend

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    Steve,

    Your arithmetic is sound. However, it assumes that the same number of people travel, and I don't think that's a fair assumption to make.

    If I knew that 61306 was running a service train on a day that I hadn't plan to visit the line, I would certainly make the trip.
     
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  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I think @Steve has allowed for that in his arithmetic: he is specifically saying that even if a visiting loco draws extra passengers (in his example, increasing daily revenue from £3k to £4k) it may still be a bad idea if the cost of hire increases by more than the increased revenue expected.

    Tom
     
  14. 6960 Raveningham Hall

    6960 Raveningham Hall Member Friend

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    Yes, misread the original post. Apologies to @Steve.
     
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  15. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    That's essentially what I was trying to say. It applies equally to all special events that replace a normal operating day. If the resultant 'contribution' does not increase, financially, it isn't worth doing.
     
  16. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    No problem.
     
  17. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    That's very much a bean counter's view of the whole thing (which is not to presuppose what the @Bean-counter 's view might be)! There can be more value in events than simply the bottom line on the day.
     
  18. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    The train does have a few stops en route any way it is Easter time so it might be well supported. Hopefully I will see the loco in South Devon. 2020 is the 400th. anniversary of Mayflower setting sail for the Americas so maybe she will be heading SW for that event.
     
  19. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Movements by rail aren’t free although in this case that is covered by the Railtour.
     
  20. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    But there will be steaming costs for each day the WSR "hires" it
     
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