Steam Dreams and Mayflower bought by LSL
Acquisition reinforces LSL’s position in rail excursion market.
THE Crewe-based Locomotive Services Group has acquired the Steam Dreams railtour company from owner David Buck for an undisclosed sum.
The sale also includes Mr Buck’s LNER ‘B1’ 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower, which is currently passed for main line running, and moved to LSL’s Crewe depot a few days after the announcement.
LS Group is owned by Jeremy Hosking and the sale brings Steam Dreams into the same family as the Statesman, Saphos Trains, Inter City and Midland Pullman brands, making LSL the dominant player in the tour and excursion market.
“The integration of the
Steam Dreams business into LS Group operations perfectly complements our existing products,” said Mr Hosking.
“As we continue our drive to deliver the highest possible quality of charter train operations in the UK, this acquisition will see our Group increase its presence in the south of the country, building on the hard work of the Steam Dreams team over many years.
“Their brand is synonymous with the same high quality passenger experience as our own, and this, combined with our nationwide train operating capability and strong asset base, make for a very natural partnership.
“We are also extremely pleased to welcome ‘B1’ locomotive Mayflower into our operating steam fleet. No. 61306 has been lovingly owned by David and Patricia Buck, and we intend to continue to care for it in the same way that they have.”
The announcement, made on June 1, was totally unexpected and caught the railtour market completely by surprise. It is understood Mr Buck’s ill health is the primary reason behind the sale.
Mr Buck, who lives near Maidenhead, has a private railway around his home, operated using industrial steam and diesel locos. He also owns and runs on a 5ft gauge track, Finnish Hr1 Pacific No. 1016.
For Steam Dreams’ customers, it’s business as usual. The company will continue to operate out of its Albury, Guildford offices using the same staff, and the same onboard team will interface with customers on its trains.
Mr Buck bought Mayflower from Neil Boden in August
2014, the loco having been in the ownership of the Boden family since the Sixties. Then in the summer of 2018, Mr Buck, appointed chairman of Steam Dreams in October 2017, bought the tour company from its founder Marcus Robertson, who had started the business in 1999.
The sale will also see operation of Steam Dreams trains on the main line transfer from the West Coast Railway Company to LSL.