Scottish SRPS

[MrWhippyO]

When are the SRPS tours for this year?

 

[Jordy]

See their website http://www.srps.org.uk/railtours/programme.htm

 

[Bittern]

I love how the title basically says "Scottish Scottish Railway Preservation Society". >_>

 

[Drimnagh Road]

That Oban tour in August will surely produce 37s, the problem is getting to any of the starting points.

 

[scotsman]

The Oban tour (AFAIK), and I am most definitely not talking on behalf of the SRPS here, will produce 37s unless I'm very much mistaken.

Unfortunately, that means it will also produce bashers too.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Well there's nothing worse than been stuck on a train full of day-trippers. Having done Compass Tours and Kingfisher in the past, the atmosphere on-board was akin to the type of stock been used - like been stuck in a coffin.

Cranks / Bashers bring a balance to a railtour, they enjoy fun, drinking and talking all things trains.

 

[scotsman]

Well there's nothing worse than been stuck on a train full of day-trippers. Having done Compass Tours and Kingfisher in the past, the atmosphere on-board was akin to the type of stock been used - like been stuck in a coffin.

Cranks / Bashers bring a balance to a railtour, they enjoy fun, drinking and talking all things trains.

On the contrary. The first tour I worked had 300 pensioners from a local Vodka distillery, they were good natured and friendly before Carlisle. After Carlisle, they started drinking some of the free booze they had been given by Diageo - the trip turned into a right laugh. There was much talk among the Stewards about bashers, the consensus was that they had lived up to their poor reputation.

 

[4SRKT]

Why don't the SRPS advertise what locos are to haul the trains? I always suspect that failing to advertise the loco is equivalent to a shamefaced admission that it's going to be duffs.

 

[MrWhippyO]

The Oban tour (AFAIK), and I am most definitely not talking on behalf of the SRPS here, will produce 37s unless I'm very much mistaken.

Unfortunately, that means it will also produce bashers too.

The last Railtour I was on, from Ayr to Mallaig, produced a 37, Loch Arkaig, and a 47, so I imagine there must be at least one 37
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I love how the title basically says "Scottish Scottish Railway Preservation Society". >_>

Don't laugh at me , the title looked short with only SRPS

 

[scotsman]

Why don't the SRPS advertise what locos are to haul the trains? I always suspect that failing to advertise the loco is equivalent to a shamefaced admission that it's going to be duffs.

*Please note this is my opinion only, any statements do not reflect the attitudes/opinions of the SRPS*
It's simply because they do not know, on the Liverpool tour it was duffs until a few days before, when there was a sudden switch to Class 67s. I don't know the operational reasons behind this, I just serve the meals!

Personally, I find that it helps to encourage families and pensioners. List the loco type and many will assume that it's a tour for enthusiasts. (See the website, and all steam/"heritage" loco tours are listed in advance)

The other danger is that the tour becomes a tour for enthusiasts. Now, I know the majority of enthusiasts are well behaved but there are a definite minority who do act in a loud and disruptive manner likely to cause grief to other passengers.

 

[4SRKT]

*Please note this is my opinion only, any statements do not reflect the attitudes/opinions of the SRPS*
It's simply because they do not know, on the Liverpool tour it was duffs until a few days before, when there was a sudden switch to Class 67s. I don't know the operational reasons behind this, I just serve the meals!

Personally, I find that it helps to encourage families and pensioners. List the loco type and many will assume that it's a tour for enthusiasts. (See the website, and all steam/"heritage" loco tours are listed in advance)

The other danger is that the tour becomes a tour for enthusiasts. Now, I know the majority of enthusiasts are well behaved but there are a definite minority who do act in a loud and disruptive manner likely to cause grief to other passengers.

In my experience these more hardcore bashers are usually coralled in one or two coaches at one end of the train, and don't annoy normals too much. I know 'cos I'm usually in one of these coaches! I don't get rowdy, but I do (as Drimnagh Road also appears to do) like the atmosphere and a bit of a laugh with like minded people: in my day to day life I can't talk about trains for an entire day, so being able to do so on a tour is great. I don't want to sit next to any spirit crushing, cardigan wearing, Volvo driving, Daily Mail reading normals talking vaguely about 'the golden age of steam' or some other such drivel. It's each to their own I guess, and tours can and should accomodate both bashers and normals.

 

[scotsman]

In my experience these more hardcore bashers are usually coralled in one or two coaches at one end of the train, and don't annoy normals too much. I know 'cos I'm usually in one of these coaches! I don't get rowdy, but I do (as Drimnagh Road also appears to do) like the atmosphere and a bit of a laugh with like minded people: in my day to day life I can't talk about trains for an entire day, so being able to do so on a tour is great. I don't want to sit next to any spirit crushing, cardigan wearing, Volvo driving, Daily Mail reading normals talking vaguely about 'the golden age of steam' or some other such drivel. It's each to their own I guess, and tours can and should accomodate both bashers and normals.

Hear Hear! I'm a big 37 fan, I will go on tours behind them and I will stick my head out to have a listen to them. The problem is, some decide it's more fun to wave their arms around and bawl at the normals. Some of the best train trips I've been on were behind 37s, with likeminded 37 fans. Yes, there was drink - but there wasn't people acting like morons. However, I have seen them [the misbehaving ones] when watching tours (and I spoke to some who worked that tour later on, and they were not impressed by their behaviour)

 

[4SRKT]

Hear Hear! I'm a big 37 fan, I will go on tours behind them and I will stick my head out to have a listen to them. The problem is, some decide it's more fun to wave their arms around and bawl at the normals. Some of the best train trips I've been on were behind 37s, with likeminded 37 fans. Yes, there was drink - but there wasn't people acting like morons. However, I have seen them [the misbehaving ones] when watching tours (and I spoke to some who worked that tour later on, and they were not impressed by their behaviour)

Shouting at normals is pretty poor behaviour, but in case we all forget, waving arms around or flailing was once pretty standard and unremarkable behaviour on not just tours, but on any service hauled by rateable traction. If it wasn't dangerous or dickhead behaviour then, then it isn't now.

 

[Bittern]

You people make me worry about going on railtours.

 

[4SRKT]

Why? Railtours are for everyone, and that of course includes bashers.

 

[Bittern]

I don't want idiots shouting at me and making me decide to throw them out the window.

 

[yorkie]

I don't want idiots shouting at me and making me decide to throw them out the window.

If you are serious that you may throw someone out of a window (surely not!) then maybe you should take an anger management course!

Why do you think someone would shout at you? What might you do to cause that?

 

[4SRKT]

I've never been shouted out on a railtour. Some bashers get pretty rowdy and start shouting, but not at other passengers. If you book with Spitfire, they have a section on the form asking your prefered position in the train. If you get a coach in the middle it'll be quieter (and more boring). The bashers are usually put together in the two second class coaches nearest one end because they all request to be near the locomotive.

Alternative you could practice economic apartheid and pay to go in first class. Otherwise just hold your nose and get down with the plebs!

 

[Bittern]

If you are serious that you may throw someone out of a window (surely not!) then maybe you should take an anger management course!

But of course I wasn't being serious.

Why do you think someone would shout at you? What might you do to cause that?

...How do I answer this without making myself look like I'm insane?

Alternative you could practice economic apartheid and pay to go in first class. Otherwise just hold your nose and get down with the plebs!

Oh if I do a railtour, I'd do nothing but First Class.

 

[4SRKT]

Oh if I do a railtour, I'd do nothing but First Class.

Good luck to you. Of course you could a lot more tours if you did second class.....

 

[Alnilam]

Hello. I am new I went on a SRPS rail tour the other week from Perth to Broomhill. I was in first class and thought it was very nice. I got one of the single seats. There was a gentleman on his own opposite me and on the return journey he got talking for a short time with the chap to his left about trains and things. I don't know anything about trains but was impressed with their knowledge. Wheel widths and things like that.

I was just wondering what a Basher was??

All the best.

 

[yorkie]

I was just wondering what a Basher was??

Welcome to the forums

A basher is simply someone who travels on trains, not necessarily to get to a destination, but for the experience. Some will only go for trains hauled by particular types of locomotive.

 

[Alnilam]

Oh right, thanks. I guess that describes what I was doing I have no interest in these modern trains or those diesel ones but I am liking the steam trains That's 4 I've seen now. I saw on erm scotrails website I think it was that one of those big blue stream lined ones was coming up to where I am next year too so I am looking forward to that.

 

[scotsman]

Hello. I am new I went on a SRPS rail tour the other week from Perth to Broomhill.

Glad you enjoyed the trip to my 'other' railway. Wish I could have worked this tour, but unfortunately I had to 'work'.

 

[Bittern]

Good luck to you. Of course you could a lot more tours if you did second class.....

No I couldn't. Money wise really wouldn't matter as getting the time to do the tours would be the issue. So, naturally, I'd much prefer to do first class on the rare tours that I could actually do.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I saw on erm scotrails website I think it was that one of those big blue stream lined ones was coming up to where I am next year too so I am looking forward to that.

Are you on about Scot-Rail.com (the discussion form) or ScotRail.com (the company's website)?

 

[4SRKT]

No I couldn't. Money wise really wouldn't matter as getting the time to do the tours would be the issue. So, naturally, I'd much prefer to do first class on the rare tours that I could actually do.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Are you on about Scot-Rail.com (the discussion form) or ScotRail.com (the company's website)?

Well, if you can afford to go first class, why are you moaning about the antics of bashers in the 'rowdy' coaches at the other end? That's a bit like somebody not wanting to go for dinner at the Dorchester on the grounds that some dockers might be swearing and fighting in a pub in the East End.

 

[33011]

Well, if you can afford to go first class, why are you moaning about the antics of bashers in the 'rowdy' coaches at the other end? That's a bit like somebody not wanting to go to for dinner at the Dorchester on the grounds that some dockers might be swearing and fighting in a pub in the East End.

 

[4SRKT]

I've wondered this before 33011, but why when your user name is that of a magnificent beast, do you have a picture of a duff as yr avatar?

 

[33011]

I've wondered this before 33011, but why when your user name is that of a magnificent beast, do you have a picture of a duff as yr avatar?

I couldn't find an 33 avatar so i used another Sulzer.I thought an EE engined loco may be pushing it lol

 

[Bittern]

Well, if you can afford to go first class, why are you moaning about the antics of bashers in the 'rowdy' coaches at the other end? That's a bit like somebody not wanting to go for dinner at the Dorchester on the grounds that some dockers might be swearing and fighting in a pub in the East End.

You must've missed this.

But of course I wasn't being serious.

I was joking.