Steam Dreams 2017

But it isn't just Tornado that has appeared in the SD Brochure. They've got 5043 in it too! (not that I would ever admit to looking at our competitors brochures )

Strongly worded letter to Mr S Dreams coming it think! lol

 

This advert in a holiday supplement in The Guardian today had me laughing, particularly the box at the bottom :


Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Update from SD - 45407 will be working the Chester/Holyhead trip on March 1st and the London-Gloucester trip on March 21st. Apart from the Fort William- Mallaig workings, you don't often get a chance to enjoy 45407 on its own - well, on its own as far as what's on the front of the train is concerned!

I spotted this picture and also noticed that it was on a page advertising Surrey Hills and White Cliffs dining trains. Not sure I recognise the location, but it's certainly not Surrey or Kent!

 

North of Kings Sutton , heading for Banbury

 

Surprised to see 45407 nominated by SD for the 1 March trip to Holyhead as it has just gone into works for an overhaul and major boiler repairs, with the backhead removed today and all the boiler tubes being cut prior to being stripped out !

 

From SD's promotional email for the Holyhead trip: " ... will head up the West Coast Main Line to Crewe, where 5699 Galatea will head the train. From here it will be full steam ahead as The Cathedrals Express makes its way to Chester and into Wales, for the stunning run along the North Wales coast ..."

How sad to see that a company like SD, with such a long history in the steam railtours market, does not now realise - or care? - that "full steam ahead" is a nautical expression that's totally inappropriate in a railway context.

Just another indication that they no longer try to cater for the enthusiast market, I suppose.

 

I agree, but they're not the only people using that phrase.

 

Sorry, but I think you are being slightly ridiculous. Why do you think this expression is "totally inappropriate" ? Try googling it, the vast majority of the first page of results relate, to a BBC documentary called "Full Steam Ahead" about,please note, and as Al has said above, the history of railways, broadcast last year. I am obviously aware that the expression also has nautical connotations but really, you are taking pedantry to new heights.

What this has to do with SD "no longer trying to cater for the enthusiast market" I have no idea. Many on here, myself included, might agree with you on that, however I think we all know that "enthusiasts" are not numerous enough to fill even a minority of seats on steam tours. SD seem to have a business model that works for them, and that seems aimed firmly at Mr and Mrs Average Public with a convenient local joining station and with a few hours at an interesting destination.

 

I see that the run with the Duchess on 5th April is intended to go via the Hertford loop, picking up at Hertford North. Is that risking a repeat of the incident on 10th December when the same loco failed to get up onto the flyover?

 

The Outward leg is diesel-hauled; it is only the Return that is steam-hauled.

JS

 

Plenty of non nautical people use the phrase "full steam ahead". It's defined in dictionaries as meaning " with all your energy and enthusiasm".

 

And many more nautical expressions have found their way into the general language - toe the line, let the cat out of the bag, in the doldrums, taken aback, change tack...
Actually, something tells me that @Peter Wilde is trying to wind us up - and, it would appear, is succeeding... ;-)

 

Is anyone on here booked onto The Devon Belle, the 4-day trip to Kingswear and Penzance 6th-9th July? If so, have you heard anything from SD about it? I may be jumping at shadows, but I've noticed that it's not listed under "Dates" nor "Holidays By Steam" on the SD web-site. Fully booked already? Unlikely, I think. No suitable loco? 35018 and 6201 were the candidates, neither of which "dead certs".

 

Never! I refuse to believe any responsible, mature enthusiast, would do such a thing!