BR Mystex Origins and Destinations (Trivia)

[Lemmy282]

Certainly the merrymaker and mystex services from Sheffield used the same rather shabby mk1 set, which included a Gresley buffet!

 

[Helvellyn]

I know this was nationalised BR but I doubt senior management would allow these trips to be organised if they wouldn't make some money. There will have been costs worked out in advance - locomotive(s), coaching stock, crew, supplies (maps, leaflets) - and the tickets would have been priced accordingly to cover those, quite likely with a minimum load factor so anything over that would be profit.

I thought it was using stock and locos that would otherwise have been standing idle.

I believe in many cases it was done with spare assets, but it would still cost money to organise and run a Mystery Tour so to keep running them the costs would need to be covered as a minimum. Otherwise those assets would be best left standing idle.

 

[Harpo]

I believe in many cases it was done with spare assets, but it would still cost money to organise and run a Mystery Tour so to keep running them the costs would need to be covered as a minimum. Otherwise those assets would be best left standing idle.

It was probably always spare locos and stock, organised around other demand peaks such as relief trains, high seasons, summer Saturdays, major events etc.. as mk 1/2 coaches in particular were a go-anywhere resource bar a handful of locations.

 

[D6130]

It was probably always spare locos and stock, organised around other demand peaks such as relief trains, high seasons, summer Saturdays, major events etc.. as mk 1/2 coaches in particular were a go-anywhere resource bar a handful of locations.

ISTR that most Mystexes ran in the Spring and Autumn when the stock was not required for Easter and Summer holiday dated services and reliefs

 

[mrcheek]

Quite mind boggling to think of the train crew planning required for all this, combining route and traction knowledge as well as maximum working hours. Wonder if they actually made any money?

I suspect the reason these services declined in the 80s was just for that reason, they ceased to make money.

However, one person who could make money was the guard. At some point, they stopped putting buffet cars on Merrymaker services. So the guard would come along with a crate of coke cans and a couple of packs of Mars bars, and sell them at a tidy profit!

But to get to the original question, I remember doing two mystery tours. Both from Weston-super-Mare (although they may have originated at Taunton, picking up at all stops to Bath), one went to Margate (thats where we got off, although there was another option, possibly Herne Bay), and one went to Brighton.

 

[Fleetwood Boy]

It was probably always spare locos and stock, organised around other demand peaks such as relief trains, high seasons, summer Saturdays, major events etc.. as mk 1/2 coaches in particular were a go-anywhere resource bar a handful of locations.

The strange thing about the excursion programme from Blackpool was that it ran on summer Saturdays, exactly when you’d think stock , locomotives and staff would be at a premium. There was an excursion rake based at Blackpool North. Apparently there was big demand for excursions on Saturdays from people staying a fortnight at the seaside because landladies kicked them out all day to clean the room and change the sheets. The local coach companies ran an excursion programme too.

 

[Harpo]

The strange thing about the excursion programme from Blackpool was that it ran on summer Saturdays, exactly when you’d think stock , locomotives and staff would be at a premium.

A spare set of coaches at Blackpool was probably in the wrong place. Most summer SO extras were geared up to holiday changeovers bringing in the arrivers and taking out the leavers. There were definitely exceptions especially over long distances such as York-Tenby.

Most to/from coast out and backs were also worked in and out by the same distant crew such as Healey Mills men on the Sheffield - Blackpool or March men working 20s, 25s and 40s to/from Yarmouth. But I’m way off topic here!

 

[Chutters 73]

Mum and Dad loved taking me on a mystery trip. I can recall two.

Cardiff/Newport to Teighnmouth / Dawlish. The pink ‘reveal’ sheets got to our compartment about 5 minutes before the brakes went on. The stock was so filthy I needed a new outfit. I was very pleased the 47 has my favourite front - a black domino.

Cardiff/Newport to Bournemouth and Poole. Roasting hot day. I was a bored and irritating 8 year old in Poole. EMU to Bournemouth where I had my first open top bus ride in a yellow decker.

Absolutely brilliant memories.