When will the tour operators put their 2010 programmes on their websites?

[37401]

so far 2010 looks shed tastic

 

[royaloak]

If you were to swap- ed - for- it -you would be correct

 

[37401]

If you were to swap- ed - for- it -you would be correct

 

[theblackwatch]

Considering they are primarly in the daytripper rather than the crank market, the Compass programm has a bit of variety, surely something for everyone - EE, Sulzer and the red pen brigade.

 

[37401]

I agree, I wasnt aiming the shed tastic at Compass it was a general observation of the tour program so far this year from all the operators

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Well I can honestly say having looked at the Compass and Pathfinder programme, I will travelling on none of their tours this year. Perhaps this is a good thing, as it's expensive travelling over for tours.

Looks like Spitfire are the only company who can produce the works this year and looking forward to giving them my support.

Will be interesting to see how many Pathfinder tours get caped this year, I understand why DBS won't allow their 37s to haul tours after 2009s dreadful year, but why Pathfinder and Compass don't go and hire in DRS / WCRC 37s is beyond me, the fact of the matter is that 37s get bums on seats, so makes business sense to stick them on tours.

I must say, that I'm surprised at the popularity of the 66s, considering they are silenced and newish. I assume the only thing that appeals to people is that there is a large amount of them to scratch off. If a 201 appeared on a railtour in Ireland (66 equivalent), I can assure you there'd be hell to pay for.

 

[theblackwatch]

If a 201 appeared on a railtour in Ireland (66 equivalent), I can assure you there'd be hell to pay for.

I assume you didn't do 202 when it worked the first leg of an ITG tour some years ago then!

 

[alex57601]

Will be interesting to see how many Pathfinder tours get caped this year, I understand why DBS won't allow their 37s to haul tours after 2009s dreadful year, but why Pathfinder and Compass don't go and hire in DRS / WCRC 37s is beyond me, the fact of the matter is that 37s get bums on seats, so makes business sense to stick them on tours.

I can't go into the specifics as it's not for me to say, but I am afraid it's not as simple as that.

I think with the DBS 37s, their reliability means that nobody in their right minds would want to use them unless they were organising a tour down a line that needed RA5 traction, plus I suspect DBS are looking for an excuse now to bin them for good and making them unavailable for charters takes them one step closer.

With the 66s, the good thing going for them is that they are reliable and there will no doubt be appeal from the 'red pen' brigade, however the latter isn't really the main reason why the likes of Compass are using them this year.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Nope, but that in itself was a complete fiasco. That was the last tour to operate before the Irish Rail implemented ban on railtours-since lifted-due in part to the weeks leading up to that tour and the issues surrounding what was to operate that part of the tour.

To perhaps clarify, I mean if a 201 was advertsied traction for a tour it would not sell unlike 66 tours which seem very popular.

 

[theblackwatch]

On the majority of 66 hauld tours though, I would estimate that well over half the passengers couldn't care less what the power is 'up front'. Take Compass for example, probably 80% of the passengers are day trippers, who would have booked if it was a 66, 67, 47, 37 etc. Even on Pathfinder, a number of tours go for the 'day out' market, for example the one to Central Wales in March has a dining option.

Out of interest, how many tours in Ireland are aimed solely at the 'day out'/leisure market rather than enthusiasts - over here I would estimate it is in the region of 75%.

 

[33011]

I must say, that I'm surprised at the popularity of the 66s, considering they are silenced and newish. I assume the only thing that appeals to people is that there is a large amount of them to scratch off. If a 201 appeared on a railtour in Ireland (66 equivalent), I can assure you there'd be hell to pay for.

I thought a 201 was the Class 59 equivalent.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Nope, actually 59s have engines very similar to the 071s, but the latter are unsilenced.

66s are a less superior 201, although probably more reliable.

re Irish Tours, well you'd have about 10 steam tours a year run by the RPSI, most would be filled by the day tripper market, but with enthusisasts as well.

As for the roughly four diesel tours per annum, all would be filled by Enthusiast.


Back to thread, lots of updates on Pathfinder website. At least three more Tornado's (yawn) and the planned first use of a class 70 on a passenger train. Also class 97's to feature on 5th June, though I'll believe it when it happens, plus not high mileage as a 59 & 92 also feature.

 

[37113]

FYI :

The March 20th Cumbrian Crusader II, now has very limited availability, 13 standard and 15 First.

The timings for those interested has us on the York Avoider on the return, not done that for a little while!.

 

[theblackwatch]

The timings for those interested has us on the York Avoider on the return, not done that for a little while!.

Been some years since I did that line (despite it being local to me). Look forward to the trip.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Tornado Tours Ltd, sorry I mean Pathfinder, has another load of Tornado tours provisionally planned for the second half of the year, at least 5.

Interesting that Pathfinder and Spitfire both have tours provisionally planned from the Midlands to Paignton on July 3rd, hmmm I wonder which one I will be going on and will be the cheaper of the two with probably better traction?