Why have multi traction overnight tours pretty much stopped running?

[cambsy]

I have noticed that multi traction overnight tours, have pretty much stopped running, though there is one in July, the Here There and Everywhere Railtour. So what has led to the decline of these tours? I can think of few factors, like less bashers of yesteryear, who were prepared to do these type of tours, and lack of loco’s etc. I can remember doing mega multi traction tours, lasting up to 40 hours, like the skirl Revisited, and it’s a shame these aren’t done anymore. What are the most memorable multi traction mega tours, people have done?.

 

[moves and mile]

The GBRF Norovirus may have something to do with it...None have happened, as far as I am aware, since that. It likely put many tour operators off, especially with how close to Covid it was

 

[50002Superb]

That trip was genuinely one of the worst rail tour trips I’ve been on.

It was beyond grim.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

What are the most memorable multi traction mega tours, people have done?.

A 1984 Railtour by DAA called the Anglo Scottish Freighter. Absolutely the best I have been on. Ran May 4th to May 6th 1984.

 

[The exile]

The GBRF Norovirus may have something to do with it...None have happened, as far as I am aware, since that. It likely put many tour operators off, especially with how close to Covid it was

That certainly won’t have helped - but the lack of traction variety (especially of the “rather underpowered for what it’s got to do” variety) doesn’t improve their attraction. That said, I’ve booked on 2/3 of the July one and was delighted to note that I still require almost all of the likely pool of 37s. What’s the betting the two I don’t need turn up!

 

[AJM580]

Did an overnight tour with NENTA in 1991 which turned into a classic when 47806 failed on the Highland mainline. The rescue was performed by 47593 on the 16 coach sleeper that was behind us. The whole ensemble of 2 47s and 28 coaches made it over Druimuachdar summit to Dalwhinnie where the two trains uncoupled. 47604 piloted us to Inverness, and 37025 & 37428 worked us to Kyle of Lochalsh. The return leg featured 37428 solo and 47801 piloting 47806 to Perth. 47806 had been restored to full health as it did the whole trip back to East Anglia solo with no problems.

 

[ls2270]

Another factor in their virtual disappearance has been the need to carry out a much greater proportion of engineering work at night than used to be the case as very much less is now permitted to be done with trains running during the day.

 

[Magdalia]

Did an overnight tour with NENTA in 1991 which turned into a classic when 47806 failed on the Highland mainline. The rescue was performed by 47593 on the 16 coach sleeper that was behind us. The whole ensemble of 2 47s and 28 coaches made it over Druimuachdar summit to Dalwhinnie where the two trains uncoupled. 47604 piloted us to Inverness, and 37025 & 37428 worked us to Kyle of Lochalsh. The return leg featured 37428 solo and 47801 piloting 47806 to Perth. 47806 had been restored to full health as it did the whole trip back to East Anglia solo with no problems.

The summer overnight NENTA tour was still a regular annual fixture in the early 1990s. The destinations were usually in Scotland: Mallaig in 1990, Thurso in 1992 and Inverness in 1994. By way of a change the destination in 1993 was Penzance.

Class 47s failing on hill climbs were a frequent feature: 47850 failed on the climb to Shap on the way home in 1990 and 47763 failed departing Elgin in 1994.

The NENTAs are a good example of why these trains don't run much anymore. It became increasingly difficult to find a route home on Saturday night. It also became much more difficult to do rescues if anything failed.

 

[Harpo]

The NENTAs are a good example of why these trains don't run much anymore. It became increasingly difficult to find a route home on Saturday night. It also became much more difficult to do rescues if anything failed.

It was never easy. I’d mentioned elsewhere a return Blackpool-East Anglia in the 80s that didn’t touch the WCML after Preston station - Copy Pit, Healey Mills, Doncaster, Lincoln, Cambridge. Quite a marathon.

 

[Magdalia]

It was never easy. I’d mentioned elsewhere a return Blackpool-East Anglia in the 80s that didn’t touch the WCML after Preston station - Copy Pit, Healey Mills, Doncaster, Lincoln, Cambridge. Quite a marathon.

In the 1960s there would be 3 or 4 Blackpool Illuminations specials from East Anglia every year. What you set out was almost always the route used, and in both directions. If you look at a map you will see that it is a very direct route between March and Preston. The WCML would not have been considered, except maybe for a train going across from Cambridge to Bletchley. And with return departures from Blackpool around midnight there was no rush to get home before breakfast time on Sunday morning.

 

[AJM580]

he summer overnight NENTA tour was still a regular annual fixture in the early 1990s. The destinations were usually in Scotland: Mallaig in 1990, Thurso in 1992 and Inverness in 1994. By way of a change the destination in 1993 was Penzance.

Class 47s failing on hill climbs were a frequent feature: 47850 failed on the climb to Shap on the way home in 1990 and 47763 failed departing Elgin in 1994.

The NENTAs are a good example of why these trains don't run much anymore. It became increasingly difficult to find a route home on Saturday night. It also became much more difficult to do rescues if anything failed.

I was on both tours you mention - must have been mad!!

 

[47434]

Aaaah the heady days of the Rotating Cleric. I don't think I actually sobered up from boarding at Birmingham to topping up in the Toon! Missed the Blackpool South branch completely! Good day out though.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

PF Tours in July now caped.Lack of Traincrew.

 

[31160]

PF Tours in July now caped.Lack of Traincrew.

Shambles, no other word for it really

 

[SeanG]

What happened on the above mentioned GBRF tour?

 

[Kite159]

What happened on the above mentioned GBRF tour?

Multiple people came down with Norovirus (sickness & Diarrhoea) on the overnight leg forcing the Saturday leg to get changed in order for the coaches to get cleaned.

 

[cambsy]

Was booked on the Here there and everywhere tour on 18-19th July, and just had letter saying its been capped, due to not enough train crew, for tour this long. which not surprising really as its a summer Saturday and long tour. Have swapped ticket over to the Heart Of Wales Rambler, on Sat 9th august in Premier Dining, as id booked First Class on the other tour. Booked pair of WCRC 37’s so should be good thrash day.

 

[Harpo]

PF Tours in July now caped.

Heading towards the ‘Companies that you expect to disappear soon’ thread?

 

[31160]

Heading towards the ‘Companies that you expect to disappear soon’ thread?

They really do seem to have lost their way since they flogged off the coaches, I'd be very surprised if the 56 tour runs, if they can't sell a trip to the Devon seaside in the summer what chance have they of selling a trip to some random northern market town? I was booked on the Paignton tour but no chance on the new one

 

[The exile]

Was booked on the Here there and everywhere tour on 18-19th July, and just had letter saying its been capped, due to not enough train crew, for tour thiis long

Interesting… would have thought that mail merge would have meant that everyone would get notified as near as makes no difference simultaneously- but nothing yet.

 

[Kite159]

Interesting… would have thought that mail merge would have meant that everyone would get notified as near as makes no difference simultaneously- but nothing yet.

As Pathfinder still uses Royal Snail, you will probably get the letter at some point in the near future, depends on how frequent you get letters delivered.

But I would agree with @Harpo, Pathfinder are slowly moving towards that area where they can't be trusted to run the tours for multiple reasons. Especially if people have to make changes to book tours (i.e. booking time off work)

 

[The exile]

As Pathfinder still uses Royal Snail, you will probably get the letter at some point in the near future, depends on how frequent you get letters delivered.

But I would agree with @Harpo, Pathfinder are slowly moving towards that area where they can't be trusted to run the tours for multiple reasons. Especially if people have to make changes to book tours (i.e. booking time off work)

As cambsy has had a letter already (I assumed by e-mail!), that suggests they’ve known for several days - yet were still advertising the tour on the website this morning!

 

[cambsy]

The exile, I had a letter in the post Friday 6th, saying tour capped etc, so they at least knew about it a few days ago, but im not too bothered as now booked on Heart Of Wales Rambler, which with Premier dining and 2x37’s all day, should be really good day out, with decent 37’s mileage, and i was tempted book this tour as well as the Here There And Everywhere tour. So its worked out well anyway.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

A fair few people (me included) will have transfered over to the BLS Track Tour on that day

 

[Iskra]

I’ve not received any communications, although I left my home early on the 6th of June and won’t be back for some time so any letter won’t be read. It would be nice if they could elevate themselves to email communications, which would also save them money.

I’d booked advances on XC down to Bristol and back, so I’ve lost that cash now. I’m going to be very wary of booking anything with PF as I don’t trust them to run the advertised tours, and I don’t want any more of my cash lost with them if they cease trading.

On a more positive note, it means I can now do both days at the Midland Railway Centre Rail & Ale Day which has upto 10 DB locomotives visiting for the weekend from nearby Toton.

 

[PP57601]

I’ve not received any communications, although I left my home early on the 6th of June and won’t be back for some time so any letter won’t be read. It would be nice if they could elevate themselves to email communications, which would also save them money.

I’d booked advances on XC down to Bristol and back, so I’ve lost that cash now. I’m going to be very wary of booking anything with PF as I don’t trust them to run the advertised tours, and I don’t want any more of my cash lost with them if they cease trading.

On a more positive note, it means I can now do both days at the Midland Railway Centre Rail & Ale Day which has upto 10 DB locomotives visiting for the weekend from nearby Toton.

You haven’t lost any cash on the tickets to/from Bristol.
You could quite easily still use them?

 

[RuddA]

I was on both tours you mention - must have been mad!!

Remember going to Mallaig and Thurso, trying to remain awake for the complete journey.

 

[31160]

You haven’t lost any cash on the tickets to/from Bristol.
You could quite easily still use them?

Well not if he's going to the MRC gala he cant

 

[Iskra]

You haven’t lost any cash on the tickets to/from Bristol.
You could quite easily still use them?

I was on the night tour only.

There’s not much I could realistically do arriving at 2230 and leaving at 1030. Anything I did do would involve spending additional money on a hotel (£100ish at this point) in order to have a morning in Bristol.

So, to me it makes sense to cut my losses.