Vintage Trains - 2021

Reading the Down Main column in the latest issue of Steam Railway, I wouldn't expect approximate timings any time soon. Michael Whitehouse seems stuck in his ways about it. Fair play to Daniel Puddicombe for taking him to task on it though.

 

For those of us who haven't read the mag, what's his justification for this somewhat counter-intuitive, and quite frankly customer-unfriendly, policy?

I'm trying to find an alternative tour to take the in-laws on (we were supposed be on this week's SD tour to Cardiff), and it's very difficult to sell them on a VT tour when I can't even answer their basic questions like, "What time will we get home?", "How long will we get at the other end?" and "How much of the tour will be in the daylight?"

 

Times and tickets now been released for the vintage S.L.S. tour on 25 september 8:21am dep from Tyseley loco works 8:41am from Birmingham S.H. and ret to Birmingham S.H. 19:01pm Tyseley loco works at 19:21pm with 4 hours and 20 mins break approx in Swindon.

 

Nothing on RTT though

 

Whilst most operators times are at best "aspirational" there are not too many brand new tours, so there should be something to base it on in most cases.
I agree do not say 10:00 departure if you really think it will be 07:15 but you need to give customers a genuine idea to work to for both ends, especially when hotels are involved and many run on a Saturday when prices and rooms are often maxed out.

 

Still nothing on RTT. Very odd as VT say times confirmed. I have had a moan at VT for not giving any indication of times for the Lickey Banker. We can’t book blind as we need to get to Brun from Soton

 

Times could be released on R.T.T. for the vintage S.L.S. tour next saturday like with what happened with the A1ST Jorvik express when the R.T.T. times were released in the night before the tour hopefully.

 

I have had a reply from Vintage with estimated departure times for the Lickey Banker (0800 and 1400) and telling me that they hope to resume giving outline times for all tours soon.

 

A little more detail c/0 Vintage Trains: SLS Special | Vintage Trains

The following times are confirmed:

08:15 dep Tyseley Locomotive Works
08:35 dep Birmingham Snow Hill
11:26 arr Swindon
15:40 dep Swindon
18:46 arr Birmingham Snow Hill
19:17 arr Tyseley Locomotive Works

 

Thanks. Still nothing on RTT though. We are in Oxford pm Saturday and hope to see it. I guess it will be about 1630?

 

1Z29 0821 Tyseley - Swindon
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91120/2021-09-25/detailed

5Z29 1144 Swindon - Milton Jn
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91121/2021-09-25/detailed

5Z30 1450 Milton Jn - Swindon
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91122/2021-09-25/detailed

1Z30 1545 Swindon - Birmingham Snow Hill
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91123/2021-09-25/detailed

1Z31 1901 Birmingham Snow Hill - Tyseley
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91124/2021-09-25/detailed

 

Anyone found any LE paths??

 

I would guess there will be a DL on the back all day, to haul the stock back from Milton to Swindon in the afternoon. The Castle will still mak a good noise climbing to Sapperton and Hatton, even if one can't be sure just how the tractive effort is being shared between the locomotives

 

VT promised they'd state on their advertising if a diesel would be in the consist. Nothing about a diesel on the SLS train which was why I booked it. Anyone from VT want to comment?

 

I'm surprised that there's nowhere to park the train and service the loco at Swindon, so it has to go to Milton and back.

 

Me too. Not had a reply from VT this morning so will phone them and ask 'what's going on'!!

 

Can't even get a reply from the Ticket Office this morning. Going straight to voicemail. Not responding to voicemails. Not helpful.