Saphos Trains' The Lakelander- 29/08/20

Couldn't find a thread for this weekends tours, so might as well start one (admins feel free to merge with the one from the 15th). Hauled by 46100 Royal Scot from Crewe to Carlisle and return.

Timings:
Dorridge to Crewe
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K01525/2020-08-29/detailed
Crewe to Carlisle (Shap)
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K01527/2020-08-29/detailed
Carlisle to Crewe (Cumbrian Coast)
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K01529/2020-08-29/detailed
Crewe to Dorridge
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K01531/2020-08-29/detailed

 

Booked on this for a number of reasons including a trip behind Britannia, shame that it’s off now. Another source told me Braunton may have been steamed for this. Also if my understanding of the alphabet is correct, coach D may be a mk2 - is anyone able to confirm this who may have been on Saturdays trip or once tomorrow’s trip is out?

 

Surely using the Scot would make more sense as it's in steam for the Fellsman tomorrow?

 

As fun as a Bulleid round the coast would be, Railway Herald is showing that the change from 70000 to 46100 has been confirmed by Saphos.
http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/railtours

 

Not sure a Bulleid has been gauged round the coast, I seem to recall a couple of years back that the Grange - Carnforth section of the GB had to be diesel hauled as BIL wasn't gauged so could only join at Carnforth.

For a company with such a huge stud of locomotives and resources they seem incredibly dependent on 70000 and 6100 at the moment.

 

I too would like to know about the formations. I assume that Dining is in the Mk1s, with First and Standard classes being in the Mk2s. Can anyone confirm?

 

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that query as my first trip will be this Saturday. However I did note from yesterday's videos that the whole train appears to have been turned at Carlisle i.e. the Mk 1s were at the rear all day, I think. Would I assume from that they will be at the at the front for the northbound section at least, on Saturday.

 

The set is in use by Statesman first this Friday. The ecs runs from Rugby to Dorridge Saturday morning which would turn the set

 

My first trip with Saphos will be on Saturday, too. After all the lockdown madness I am looking forward to having an almost "normal" day out, however I am concerned that I may be confined to an air-conditioned box (Mk2). A Mk1 with opening windows would be welcome

 

I'm in Dining in Coach C, so I'm assuming it's A, B, Kitchen, C in Mk1s, the rest in Mk2s. However don't hold me to that

 

Isn't the reason the chocolate and cream Mk2's from the Statesman set being used that the entire train is dining? ie: Mk1's dining in normal Saphos set + chocolate & cream mk2's dining from Statesman set.

 

The MK1s are being used as dining, the MK2s are being used as '1st class' which is a combination of standard and first class tickets.

The set is being used by both Statesman and Saphos hence the combination.

Andrew

 

Quick call to Saphos. With carriages out for maintenance coach D can’t be guaranteed to be a mk1. Worrying as I booked the class to avoid sitting in a mk2. Have to see what gets sent down to Rugby on Friday.

 

Yes, I've stuffed up on this and the 5th September having booked non dining and am in H this Saturday. I think the brain has slowed during the steamless period.

 

Generally on Saphos dining is Mk 1s ,most of not all FC is coffins and SC a solitary coffin .

 

Videos on Youtube of today's Dartmouth Statesman show 4 x Mk1s, 1x Blood & Custard Saphos Mk2 coffin and 5 x Statesman Mk2 coffins. A pair of green 47s on the front.

Mk1s are at the leading end heading south, so unless the train gets turned somewhere enroute, will probably be at the back tomorrow morning :-(

 

Yes did go out to see this mornings run. If I saw it right I’m in a mk2 dining so there will be a plea at 5:30 to relocate. Also been told by a couple of sources 45231 is now the expected loco.

 

Did it look as though A, B and C were Mk1s? That's interesting news regarding 45231. Perhaps the almost exclusive use of 46100 and 70000 has caught up with them...

 

Isn't that going to be quite the slog over Shap with load 11 and a dead 47?

 

Not if it’s being pushed which will almost certainly happen with that load .Hope I’m wrong mind.