The Electric Scot--11/7/09

[37401]

Don't understand why you needed to say what hat? You knew what hat as you said in a few words after in the same sentence! They may be older than me but they are still boys, didn't really act like men if they were wearing a silly hat. Just because they're older than me doesn't mean they cannot be boys.

meh, we wernt affecting you, we were having fun, get over it

 

[alex57601]

meh, we wernt affecting you, we were having fun, get over it

You're digging yourself into a hole. Stop while you can still get out, and for the benefit of the rest of us please leave this thread to discussion of the tour, not to share jokes between your pals.

 

[37401]

You're digging yourself into a hole. Stop while you can still get out, and for the benefit of the rest of us please leave this thread to discussion of the tour, not to share jokes between your pals.

fair point mate, (Covers hole in "No more gaps")

 

[Phoenix]

Anyway is it abit abnormal that the only three tours this locomotive has operated since it's mainline re-certification have been to Scotland bit strange if you ask me.

 

[37401]

Anyway is it abit abnormal that the only three tours this locomotive has operated since it's mainline re-certification have been to Scotland bit strange if you ask me.

true, but then again theres not many places it can go as a Long haul day trip

 

[87015]

Anyway is it abit abnormal that the only three tours this locomotive has operated since it's mainline re-certification have been to Scotland bit strange if you ask me.

Why? Its where it belongs, no need to take it pottering down some branchline...

 

[Phoenix]

Why? Its where it belongs, no need to take it pottering down some branchline...

I guess your about to say leave the branch lines for 86's
To be honest I agree there is nowhere better for an 87 but a part of me would like to see her doing some new tracks for the class.

 

[Dreadnought]

Anyway is it abit abnormal that the only three tours this locomotive has operated since it's mainline re-certification have been to Scotland bit strange if you ask me.

Its going to be doing something different on its next tour as it is working Doncaster to Willesden and back on the Flamboyant Brighton Rocks trip.

 

[87015]

I guess your about to say leave the branch lines for 86's
To be honest I agree there is nowhere better for an 87 but a part of me would like to see her doing some new tracks for the class.

Well the two Spitfire tours so far have effectively been re-runs so Glasgow was always going to be the destination. The Ayr add-on was a nice touch IMO

I'll be interested to see how the 87 (and 86(s) to some intent, although its not to my personal interest as much) play out in the future on tours. You don't have the 'hardcore' following which on say a 37 tour will fill two or three coaches, so there will probably have to be something extra to make the tour a goer - I think Spitfire were happy with the loading but it was only half full or so - such as the Flamboyant one in a couple of weeks with 73s to Brighton. If you can't fill the train it doesn't matter what destination you want to go to!

 

[Phoenix]

Well the two Spitfire tours so far have effectively been re-runs so Glasgow was always going to be the destination. The Ayr add-on was a nice touch IMO

I'll be interested to see how the 87 (and 86(s) to some intent, although its not to my personal interest as much) play out in the future on tours. You don't have the 'hardcore' following which on say a 37 tour will fill two or three coaches, so there will probably have to be something extra to make the tour a goer - I think Spitfire were happy with the loading but it was only half full or so - such as the Flamboyant one in a couple of weeks with 73s to Brighton. If you can't fill the train it doesn't matter what destination you want to go to!

I agree, personally I am not sure either but I would like to think the following will increase in years to come considering there are no (decent) electric locomotives in front line passenger service.
But I think 86259 always pulls in a decent loading on it's tours maybe partly due to the destinations and what not but hopefully this will continue.
But without sounding too much like a over excitable electric fan (which I am) I would like to see at least one of the AL 1-5 back on the main.
Apparently they were pretty damn popular for tours so I can see them bringing decent loadings etc.

 

[theblackwatch]

But without sounding too much like a over excitable electric fan (which I am) I would like to see at least one of the AL 1-5 back on the main.
Apparently they were pretty damn popular for tours so I can see them bringing decent loadings etc.

Unfortunately, I think that will only apply to the first trip or two, once the majority have scooped it in and got it underlined in their nedding book, they won't bother again.

 

[Phoenix]

Unfortunately, I think that will only apply to the first trip or two, once the majority have scooped it in and got it underlined in their nedding book, they won't bother again.

So I suppose in that sense these days nothing special is worth bringing back unless a genius way of getting people on tours more is thought of.

 

[theblackwatch]

So I suppose in that sense these days nothing special is worth bringing back unless a genius way of getting people on tours more is thought of.

It's certainly a problem, in my view loco owners have to ensure that they don't rely on crank railtours as their main source of income. I'm sure the ACLG/ETL aren't doing so, and the 86/87 will have earn much more with their Hull Trains/GBRf work than they will have on railtours. Sadly, I can't imagine one of the older electric appearing on this sort of work!

 

[Phoenix]

It's certainly a problem, in my view loco owners have to ensure that they don't rely on crank railtours as their main source of income. I'm sure the ACLG/ETL aren't doing so, and the 86/87 will have earn much more with their Hull Trains/GBRf work than they will have on railtours. Sadly, I can't imagine one of the older electric appearing on this sort of work!

So basically a organization such as ACLG can only resurrect the old traction by using the profits made by the other contracts but then I guess it is still not 100% justifiable as it could be seen as a waste of money.

 

[theblackwatch]

So basically a organization such as ACLG can only resurrect the old traction by using the profits made by the other contracts but then I guess it is still not 100% justifiable as it could be seen as a waste of money.

We are probably going a bit off topic here, bit I think that what you say is basically right in simple terms - groups use profit making/business activities to pay for the preservation side of things. With some groups they have a separate commercial arm, for example DTG Trading Ltd or DPS Commercial Services Ltd, where the company profits are handed over to the preservation side.

 

[Phoenix]

We are probably going a bit off topic here, bit I think that what you say is basically right in simple terms - groups use profit making/business activities to pay for the preservation side of things. With some groups they have a separate commercial arm, for example DTG Trading Ltd or DPS Commercial Services Ltd, where the company profits are handed over to the preservation side.

Fair enough then well I leave it at that rather than take over this thread but cheers for the clarification Black watch.

 

[captainbigun]

87002 wouldn't be on the main line if 86101 hadn't earnt enough pennies doing the Hull Trains contract. Similarly the mail contract (currently) pays for the locos' keep.

Unfortunately the odd tour doesn't pay the way, you have to keep a loco maintained and that costs thousands of pounds every month.

I'd love to see a roarer with it's pan up. 81002 is the most likely candidate but there are so many issues surrounding bearings and bogies that running it on the mainline is a distant hope.