RPSI Steam Northern Ireland

[jhb171achill]

12 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

20-odd years ago the tran and ferry option would definitely have been my first choice. 

In recent years they have become much worse for the foot passenger or 'rail n sail' option, because:

• Several routes no longer take foot passengers at all (e.g. Liverpool-Dublin)
• There are fewer fast ferries on the routes and what used to be the best route (Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire) no longer operates - there's no longer the seamless option to walk direct from train to ship
• The transfer facilities for foot passengers at the Dublin Port end are unreliable/non-existent
• GB rail services are unreliable
• The rail n sail tickets are no longer so readily available
• The prices are often more expensive than flying
• The journey time is much longer than flying

For this particular trip, I could avoid the main expense of a hotel in Dublin by taking the overnight ferry from Holyhead (dep 0130, arr 0500) and then hope that I can get to Connolly in time for the train (probably by walking there). But that's hardly a restful night, and there's considerable jeopardy in the connections. For me, it's just not a sensible option nor a pleasant one for what is supposed to be a holiday.

A terrible shame, but you’re a million percent right. A relative of mine regularly uses the ferry as a foot passenger (through necessity - long story) and it’s an absolute ordeal.

[airfixfan]

The Blue GMs being retained for future relay and ballast work only

44 minutes ago, IrishTrainScenes said:

Perhaps when crews start back NIR may allow the 111s to operate them on ECS?

Not likely

[GSR 800]

On 14/3/2025 at 4:33 PM, Galteemore said:

The average punter on a heritage railway will not care what is up front. What they will care about, quite reasonably, is -

can I park easily?

are the toilets clean ?

is the food of acceptable quality for the price ?

Did the staff treat me as a guest or as an inconvenience?

Whether there's good food and booze on the train is the main thing I've heard from the average Joe.

Steam specifically is probably better at attracting younger audiences and enthusiasts.

[Mayner]

On 15/3/2025 at 5:33 AM, Galteemore said:

The average punter on a heritage railway will not care what is up front. What they will care about, quite reasonably, is -

can I park easily?

are the toilets clean ?

is the food of acceptable quality for the price ?

Did the staff treat me as a guest or as an inconvenience?

Used to volunteer on a small heritage line in North Wales that pioneered the behind the scene shed tour-museum visit as part of the package during the 80s, the train ride took a half hour or so, adding in the shed tour/workshop and a well stocked shop extended this to people staying on site for an hour or so and spending more money, a decent cafe potentially extended this to an hour & a half-two hours. 

Fares basically covered the running costs and maintenance of the train, retail sales made the profit.

Customers were 80-90% holiday makers/day trippers and the odd local family outing.

Ease of parking, clean toilets and friendly staff were their main priorities

In general customers were not too bothered about what was leading the train. I remember one middle aged male customer holding forth to his family that the industrial diesel hauling the train was a steam loco.

We usually had two working steam locos and a couple under repair/restoration mainly that the individuals/groups that owned/restored the locos could play trains, passengers basically paying for the coal and lubricating oil.

[Mike 84C]

And what a good couple of hours it was!  The bookshop was a goldmine of interesting stuff, I spent pounds there far more than I spent at the other end of town!

[IrishTrainScenes]

Good news is that there is hope to get them back on the mainline in the latter half of this year. Obviously I imagine they will need trialled.