Vintage Trains 2017

Further trips are being uploaded to the Vintage Trains website but there are not any further tour pages yet see http://www.vintagetrainsonline.com/SelectDateTime

 

I guessing that the East Midlands Rambler on 13th May and the Melton Rambler & the Harringworth shuttles on 12th August will be the Pannier Tanks.

 

According to Tony in Steam Railway they are.

 

Burton and Leicester on 13 May suggests one of two things: taking the Stenson line, or doing a couple of reversals to repeat the Coalville trip.

 

Good to see there's a trip to Blaenau Ffestiniog on 27th May but pretty sure I've read in one of the mags it continues from Llandudno Jn by diesel?

 

Yes in SR.

 

Shame .. wonder if they considered running through, maybe too difficult turning the loco at Chester or something.

 

I don't think that VT have a suitable steam loco for the line to Blaenau Ffestiniog. A Hall is probably out-of-gauge and a Castle is hardly first choice for a steep and twisty branch. I suppose they could try a pannier at each end, but getting said panniers to Llandudno Jnc and back home would add so much to the cost of the operation that we'd be into S&C-reopening or Bournemouth Belle ticket prices, and I don't think that would sell very well.

 

Anything other than the 8F or K4 doesn't really seem to get on with the BF branch, unless this is the secret plan for 2885

 

Can't imagine a pair of fives coming cheap, when did 46115 do it ?, that's quite suprising

 

Last year

 

26/7/16 instead of 48151 due to gauging issues.

 

46115 into Snowdonia was the best trip of 2016 for me, followed closely by 60163's hell for leather dash up the ECML in August. I feel quite privileged to have done it, especially when I booked one of only two remaining tickets. However, it would almost certainly have been a different story if it was raining.

 

A nice spread of varied offerings indeed! Just one observation.......from the newly unveiled tour programme (i.e post Moonraker), so far there doesn't appear to be too much gainful employment for Tyseley's Collett stable. A couple of spring trips to Llandudno and an autumn outing to Chester (great to see this potentially becoming a regular fixture), but otherwise, other than the Shakespeares, nothing at the moment. Maybe more to come in the fullness of time?? Anyway, lets just keep that as what it is - an observation, not the grounds for fruitless speculation.

 

Having thoughts in my mind I'm glad that VT have not outdone themselves with too much.

 

Good afternoon all.

We have the tours up on the booking system already. There is a last bit of planning/wording that is holding up the brochure; we hope to have the full list online soon.

Cheers!

Ben - VT

 

The balance of the tours are going on the website over the weekend.

Details of the Shakespeares and tours up to June, including the 13th May 'East Midlands Rambler' are online now.

Cheers!

Ben - VT

 

Couldn't miss the Panniers with such a cracking route thrown into the bargain, so duly booked.