Vintage Trains - 2021

A castle could manage 12 or 13 on the hook as you say, but you should do some research on the loads that British Railways and its predecessors were hauling with class 8 locos on trains that were expected to achieve the kind of sectional times that are the norm now for charters. The Caledonian with a Duchess for instance 8 carriages, The Coronation Scot - 9 carriages, as was the Coronation on the LNER with an A4... There is no need to keep working these locos to ther absolute limit all the time if it is not required, this can get very expensive. British Railways set the loads they did for good reason.

 

If a Duchess was worked non stop from London to Carlisle to its absolute limit, the fireman would be dead by the time it got there!

 

But what would those who like a loco to be worked to it’s upmost have to complain about? Livery maybe?

 

Exactly, another limiting factor to any steam loco performance- How much coal the fireman can keep shovelling!

 

Just received e-mail from VT.

'Return to Steam' trip on 2nd October itinerary has changed due to engineering work:
Outbound, it'll now run to Cardiff via Worcester and Gloucester, rather than to Hereford via Shrewsbury.
Return route will be from Cardiff via Severn Tunnel to Swindon, Oxford and Banbury.

Bit of a pain as we're already going to Cardiff with Steam Dreams in a couple of weeks, and I was looking forward to steam on the Welsh Marches, which I haven't done before, and visiting a different destination.
Still better than nothing I guess!

EDIT: Website now updated, confirming that it will be Severn Tunnel on the way back, and that there'll be a diesel on the back, presumably for the turning move at Cardiff (as per the Steam Dreams tour).

 

So 3 tours within 3 weeks with 3 different operators all going to Cardiff. Nice.

 

First steam runs under the electrified lines with reduced clearance under the valley lines bridge just east of Cardiff Central?

 

Firstly, may I say how delighted I am that Vintage Trains are engaging with the enthusiast community through their posts on this forum, continuing in the tradition started many years ago by Ben Mason. Other tour promoters would do well to follow their example.

I am booked on the morning 'Lickey Banker' on 20th November, which according to the VT website is still scheduled for haulage by 5043 (with 9466 banking on the Lickey). Given an earlier announcement that 5043 will not now be available this year, I am curious to know which loco will now haul this train.

Nick M.

 

6233 was going to cover 5043's other planned runs according to the latest HR, so presume that is also possibility.

 

I think 6233 is also out of action

 

Further work to axle boxes prevented 6233's move to SVR this week for the gala, however, it has booked work with Vintage Trains from beginning of October through to December - so hopefully only a temporary delay.

 

The Welsh Marches on 9th October could be interesting ... RTT shows all services between Newport and Shrewsbury are replacement buses that day.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...21-10-09/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

Having just had the Caledonian go pop on me I hope there is a plan...

 

To answer the question, new date just dropped into email box. 13th November. Engineering possession in place on Welsh Marches 9th October, however, also allows some extra time to complete repairs to 6233.

 

Same day that Tornado is going along The Welsh Marches for RTC's Cheshireman. Depending on final timings for both, it might be quite an exciting day along the border.

 

VT's website is currently advertising 6233 on the afternoon train. Many a slip, of course, but that's the plan at the moment.

 

This is good to know - I am very happy that the morning train is hauled by 7029. I am also delighted to see that while VT is now accepting single bookings for the trip, bookings made when "bubble seating" was operative will be honoured and that the two tickets I booked in standard class will be at a table for 4 with the other 2 seats left empty. It is highly commendable that VT have made the decision to do this and not succumb to the temptation to maximise profit.

All I need now is some indicative departure time from Tyseley so I can decide whether to book a hotel locally or drive up on the day.

Nick M.