Saphos Trains 2018

What’s the likely steam loco going be on English Rivera tours. Anyone know, thxs

 

Braunton as an educated guess.

 

I quite like their antimacassars.....
https://www.kentishembroidery.co.uk/bespoke-products/18981-antimacassar-5060578740000.html

 

Saphos off to the Welsh coast today !
46100 at Wardle, just as the rain started to fall again on an already very wet Cheshire.

 

is it their own rake also, or rivierra trains rake?

 

Will you offer me commission on my sales of Macassar Oil??

 

Don't laugh - I took the shot and headed straight for the car as the rain started and didn't take any notice of the stock ! .

 

I will forgive you, I believe its mostly mk2's in blood and custard ,and if that picture from @admin is anything to go by restored/ refurbished to a very high standard.

 

Having seen a video, consist was seven carriages plus the diesel.

One of which is presumably the support coach, so just six revenue earning carriages, including the catering vehicle (restaurant or kitchen car).

First four are Mk1s, and the last three are (I think) mk3s, those with non opening windows anyway.

Edit...

This video...

 

Was anybody from the forum on the train and if so was the DL working at all? In the original PR Blurb it was stated the trains would take a DL but they wouldn't work

 

Those last 3 are air con mk2F's, cracking vid @staffordian, love the Bobby coming out to have a look!

 

Not my video, unfortunately, just one I found when looking to see what sort of stock was in use.

Agree though, almost a timeless scene, with a working box in the scene

And thanks for the info regarding the stock - I always get confused between the Mark 2s and Mark 3s

 

Doubt it Don. Even with the diesel it's a lightweight train, probably not even 400 tons; well within the compass of a Scot. Not a train set I'd ever bother photographing or recording.

 

Given Saphos hasn't run its first public train yet, I doubt if anyone from this forum was on it.

 

Ah that's why they are putting the sealed Mk2's on the back, no one will be able to hear if the diesel is working or not....

 

Possibly also for air conditioning power from the diesel? Or do the Mk Is have wiring to carry that?

 

Met with friend lunchtime who's booked on the Holyhead on Saturday. He said the letter says it is a '10 coach train'. That's interesting for a 'responsible TOC', as 10 is the max load for Crewe-Holyhead on the 'Guidelines for steam train loads and lengths' for the route (due to Bodorgan up and down and Holyhead up'... and then there's the little matter of the dead weight 125 ton Class 47 on the back if the Mk2 Coffins are in the rake. Perhaps it's an all Mk1 train with no Class 47. Anyone know??

 

Saphos have said that as a responsible operator they will carry a tailgunner as insurance, so I'd expect a diesel on the back.

It could be argued that load 10 max applies to a solo steam loco where the lack of potential assistance could be problematic . If there is a diesel it can surely come into play if circumstances require.

 

Steam can take more than 10 to Holyhead. Load book for a Scot is 12 or 13 maybe more so a diesel just makes it an equivalent weight.

 

I guess we'll all have to wait and to see whether Saphos will mirror DBC OR WCR operating procedures.