Vintage Trains Bahamas Tours

Can't see any threads for these railtours yet. I didn't realize until yesterday that the Welsh Marches has been rescheduled from this coming Saturday to 20th July. So the trains Bahamas will haul are now as follows:

Thursday July 4th – Vintage Dining Train from Birmingham Moor Street to Worcester
Cancelled - Saturday July 6th – The Cotswold Explorer from Dorridge to Oxford
Saturday July 20th – The Welsh Marches from Dorridge to Hereford
Saturday July 27th – The White Rose from Dorridge to York

 

There were two Welsh Marches trip planned, the other was the 13th July, and a trip to Chester on the 20th July.

 

All Dorridge starts, so all diesel on the rear. Bahamas yet to run pure on any tour and I think the BLS are quite content with that.

 

Can't fault the diesel at the rear for operational reasons

As for BLS, fair play to them. They have no need to run the wheels off their beautiful engine. Look forward to booking on the York job...love a good sprint to York!

You never know...if "Bahamas" gets enough support then maybe "Kolhapur" will become a more attractive overhaul prospect to rejoin her Swindon-built shed mates in the operational fleet...I can dream...

 

If she goes up Sapperton or the Welsh Marches with 12/13 equivalent and nothing from the rear as Ray prefer's, I'd say that's 'Running The Wheels Off' as the loco would be overloaded.

 

Agreed. Not a good way for a new TOC to be managing trains. Last year Saphos as a new TOC that had to have their diesel to power the Mk2s openly said and did have their driver assisting on any significant gradients as 10 coaches + a Class 47 exceeds the 432 tons max for a Class 7. Why risk more wear and tear on newly outshopped locomotives? Beats me.

 

If it’s too heavy on the harder sections then the diesel can push...just like bankers did in days gone by

 

Why did you open the gate? Another thread descends into the same old arguments...

 

The DL could be left at Dorridge but I doubt it

 

It is a pity that no-one from Vintage Trains seems to post on NatPres these days. Previously their engagement was excellent and clearly much appreciated. The vacuum this creates (pun not intended) just gets filled with endless ill-informed speculation.

Just to add my contribution to the ill-informed speculation, since Bahamas is relatively fresh from overhaul, vac. brake only, probably hauling some vac. only stock, and is power classification 6P, I doubt it will be hauling any trains without diesel assistance in the near future.

Nick

 

What about if bahamas ever goes on W.C.R. 10A MK 1 stock or R.T.C. tours would it run diesel free i wonder in the near future but saying that it did both oxenhope to carlisle inuagural tours diesel assisted. So i reckon then B.L.S. are slowly working her new parts in.

 

There is no LE path from Dorridge so it will have a DL on the back. I am tempted but may be best to wait until Vintage decide to run their trains DL free.

 

Is it any wonder Vintage Trains no longer post on here given the way the last thread went? Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

I have booked on the 20th July Welsh Marches in full knowledge that there maybe something on the back. However, I fully expect to enjoy my day at the same time. If I want to avoid the prospect of 'company' there are other operators out there or routes who tend not to use alternative traction. I have done 4 trips now this year with 3 different promoters, all solo steam. If in doubt ask the operator, isn't that the advice given to the newbies on here?

 

Asking the operator doesn't always work if what they say isn't what happens as per the Oxford Circular. In fairness to Vintage something happened on the day which meant that they couldn't keep to their prior announcement. Unfortunately they have chosen not to say why and would not discuss with me so I could publish the reason in my column. I really don't think this helps them. Do they really want to alienate their customers? Much as I would like to book on another of their trips I probably wont now. That is my choice of course but I know others agree.

 

Times for Thursday evening's train to Worcester and back.
Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10912/2019/07/04/advanced
Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10913/2019/07/04/advanced

 

Silver Link have just published a short history of the loco in conjunction with BLS. It’s a bargain at £8, less than twice the price of a magazine. I’ll be on the train on Thursday selling it so have your money ready. It must be worth it, it’s got one of my pictures in it!!
I believe the trip on July 6 has been cancelled

 

Based on?