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Vintage Trains - 2021

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Will RL, Dec 16, 2020.

  1. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    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.
     
  2. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Yes he certainly is dismissive, it’s my one bugbear with VT though, all the others manage to give you a rough idea which VT seem unable to do although all the other operators do. If you have to travel to board the tour it makes it difficult to plan getting there or if it’s even viable - it’s not exactly making it easy for the potential customer.
     
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  3. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    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?"
     
  4. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
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  5. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Nothing on RTT though
     
  6. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    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.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2021
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  7. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    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
     
  8. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
  9. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
  10. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    They need to tell Michael Whitehouse that then as that is not what he insinuated in SR….

    Good if they do though.
     
  11. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    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
     
  12. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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

    Jamie C. Steel Member

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  14. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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  15. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    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
     
  16. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    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?
     
  17. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    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.
     
  18. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    It looks to me as though Saturday's trip will be taking a friend.
     
  20. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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

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