'Proper' Scarborough Spa Expresses again?

Not so very long ago I was amazed to hear rumors, strong rumors too, that we were going to have some 'proper' Scarborough Spa Expresses again this year.
Back in the late 1970 someone in BR at York realised that running steam hauled trains from York could prove to be popular and the first trains ran a circular trip from York via Leeds and Harrogate back to York. These ran twice a day on Sundays and did prove to be popular, so popular in fact that on some days, two separate trains had to be run.
In 1980 the route was changed to the less interesting (for enthusiasts) run from York to Scarborough and these trains ran for a couple of years until 1982 when the we had our first proper Scarborough Spa Express. These started from York in the morning covering what came to be known as the 'York Circle' via Harrogate and Leeds before continuing to Scarborough, returning in the late afternoon reversing of the outward route. For enthusiasts (and sound recordists!) the main interest proved to be the 'Evening Circle' giving us, for 4 years, 22 chances each summer to experience some excellent performances!
Now, it seems, the Railway Touring Company want to run Scarborough Spa Expresses again, running via the 'proper' route, not just York - Scarborough as has happened in the last few years. The intention seems to be to run trains on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays each week from late July to the end of August, plus August Bank Holiday Monday, a total of 19 trains.
Now, between 1982 and 1985 I was a regular traveller, indeed, in those years I travelled on at least some part of each day's train, 22 trains each year and never missed an Evening Circle. However, things were different then!
Take 1984. The deal was that, on the SSE, ordinary tickets were valid but you had to buy a steam supplement which, for the whole day, cost the princely sum of just £2.50. Couple that with a Yorkshire Ranger at £20 for the week and you could do over 600 miles of main line steam for less than £30. One thing is certain, if they do run, they won't be as cheap as that!
While I will be really glad if these trains do run, I can't help but wonder how the Railway Touring Company are going to fill so many trains. Where are the passengers, at today's prices, going to come from? Back in the 80s no planning was needed, you could turn up on the day and buy a ticket which was only a little more expensive than an ordinary one and you could get railcard discounts, many people did.
Nowadays the average price of a standard class seat on a steam railtour these days seems to have reached the £75 mark but, with these trains being run on a regular basis and by West Coast Railways, they should be able get the price down to something less than that but, even so, I would expect a standard class fare of around £50 for the full day. Enthusiasts don't fill trains these days so they have to be attractive to the family market and will that market pay around £150 for a family of four? (But see the bottom of the page!)
Then I haven't even started to think about the operating difficulties. There are far more trains on some sections of the route than there were and what about water? We used to get water at York and Leeds and you can't do that now.
We shall have to wait and see what transpires but, one thing is for certain, if they do run, while I will be going out for a few lineside recordings I shall certainly try to travel on a few (providing I can afford the fare!) - look out for a baldy with a microphone - unless the have the diners at the front of course!

To get you in the mood, let's take a trip round the evening circle behind some locos that we almost certainly won't see on a Scarborough Spa Express this year!

Speed restrictions are always an annoyance, especially when looking for a good, fast run and the route of the SSE had it's fair share of both permanent and temporary ones but one section that was usually clear was the first part of the Evening Circle to Leeds.
As the years went by we always hoped that this section would give us a run to Leeds in under the magic half hour and one loco that should have been able to achieve this sort of time with ease was the ex LMS Princess Coronation Pacific 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton'.
Unfortunately, being a little taller than other locos, 46229 suffered a number of restrictions under bridges and one of these was at Copmanthorpe not far from the start at York.
Still, this restriction did give the excuse for a bit more noise as driver Harry Wilson demonstrates in this recording!

Another attempt at an under the half hour run was thwarted on the 2nd August 1984. This time it was a signal check that ruined our chances.
Having gotten away from York very quickly we had passed Bolton Percy at a little over 70 mph and were well ahead of the running time of what later proved to be the record from York to Leeds when adverse signals were sighted at Church Fenton and that was that.
The check had us down to walking pace before the signals cleared but our driver did his best with the Unrebuilt Bullied West Country Pacific 34092 'City of Wells' and later managed to get back up to the mid 50's on the climb. But I can't help but wonder what would have happened had we not had that check just where we should have been going fastest!