If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Saphos 2022

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by D1002, Jan 6, 2022.

  1. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    8,659
    Likes Received:
    6,415
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    From LSL’s Facebook page:

    "70000 Britannia set to steam to Windsor for Queen’s Jubilee
    Our iconic steam locomotive, 70000 Britannia, will haul a charity railtour to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
    ‘The Royal Charter’ will start its journey from Crewe to Windsor on the Jubilee bank holiday, Friday 3rd June. Our luxury Saphos carriages will be hauled by 'Britannia'.
    On arrival at Windsor, there will be plenty of time to explore the wide range of cafes and bars, or take the short walk to the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world.
    This steam experience will be raising funds for the Railway Benefit Fund who support railway families in need".
     
  2. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2010
    Messages:
    1,992
    Likes Received:
    232
    Location:
    Fort Worth, Texas
    Would it be good to have a 2022 thread? Just asking.
     
  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Probably best to have a thread for each trip as it emerges except for repeats like the CME.
     
    mike1522 likes this.
  4. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    8,659
    Likes Received:
    6,415
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    Is that a general Forum principle Alan for all TOC ‘s, as last year all tours run by RTC, Steam Dreams, Vintage Trains etc tended to end up in a 2021 thread?
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2022
  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A personal view is that any TOC specific thread should really only cover general stuff and not specific trips (or families of repeat trips like the CME, Dalesman etc). You otherwise get an enormous thread with all trips lost amongst other stuff.

    As the steam charters start again, it probably helps if specific trips feature in sequence near the top of the thread and then drop down as they pass but there's no rule about it. What works best is the solution, whatever that is!
     
    D1002 and Paul42 like this.
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Let's try it!
     
    mike1522 likes this.
  7. NathanP

    NathanP Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2017
    Messages:
    695
    Likes Received:
    820
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Worcester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    If anyone is interested, I'm on the Statesman this weekend so I should be able to report on what LSL's on-board Covid policies are for this year. I bought a single ticket, so the minimum of two requirement they had last year has gone, and the updated Covid booklet that came with the ticket makes no mention anymore of bookings being physically separated, so I assume they've reverted back to shared tables like everyone else. The booklet also says there is no need to wear a facemask whilst sitting at your table. Anyway, I can report back on Sunday if you like.
     
    banana patch, 26D_M and John Merry like this.
  8. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,032
    Likes Received:
    7,607
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The policy seems to be the same as last year - mask only when boarding, alighting and moving round the train. They've even stated that for next week's trip to Glasgow, even though masks are compulsory on transport in Scotland.
     
    26D_M likes this.
  9. John Merry

    John Merry New Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2018
    Messages:
    193
    Likes Received:
    130
    Location:
    On tour
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    No wonder the army is playing a larger part of the nhs ambulance services, token infection control is going to come back and bite, hard.
     
    26D_M likes this.
  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    And this includes air con stock where on the national network masks are required at present so that advice seems counter to what is required, never mind in Scotland.

    Anyway, it's an individual's choice so if you don't approve, don't travel. You don't have to.
     
  11. NathanP

    NathanP Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2017
    Messages:
    695
    Likes Received:
    820
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Worcester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    As mentioned previously, I was on the Statesman yesterday. I really have to hand it to LSL - their on-board service is, hands down, the best in the business. (I'm excluding the likes of Belmond etc from that, as they operate in an exclusive market of their own). I felt like royalty all day yesterday.
    All bookings get their own table, so no shared tables. As a single traveler I was allocated a table to myself. Most other tables were groups of 2 or 3 with the occasional group of 4. They've stopped their 2020 policy of not filling adjacent tables, so you will now find tables both sides of the aisle occupied.
    A really really good day out, and a great start to the year.
    As an aside, I spotted Michael Whitehouse yesterday. Keeping an eye on the competition maybe?
     
    Leviathan and green five like this.
  12. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,078
    Likes Received:
    4,893
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    So are they still peddling their own interpretation of the English Govts masks policy, as no masks would certainly stop me travelling with them.
     
    5944 likes this.
  13. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2013
    Messages:
    2,882
    Likes Received:
    3,590
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    TBC
    Location:
    Birmingham & Arley
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    iancawthorne likes this.
  14. Leviathan

    Leviathan New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    53
    Location:
    Cardiff
    Just had a look at the Coronation Scot tour and was interested to note that in the 'Classes of Travel' information, the standard class carriage appears to be a very nice looking Mk II with opening windows:

    https://saphostrains.com/journey/coronation-scot-24-09-22#classes-of-travel

    I was under the impression that hitherto standard class has been using air con stock. Is a change afoot? If so, I would be much more likely to travel with Saphos.
     
    banana patch likes this.
  15. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
    For £680 return (plus two nights accommodation in Glasgow) you get two meals on the outward journey but only one on the 13½ hour journey south, albeit seven courses.
     
    dopeyt and Mike Wylie like this.
  16. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,446
    Likes Received:
    9,144
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Read it carefully, No overnight accommodation. It would be impossible at that price.
     
  17. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
    That's why I said "plus two nights accommodation". Perhaps for clarity I should have said "plus the cost of two nights accommodation".
     
    RalphW likes this.
  18. DismalChips

    DismalChips Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2016
    Messages:
    636
    Likes Received:
    657
    Location:
    9A
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Can't see a thread for this, but apologies if I'm duplicating. looks like LSL/Saphos/the Hosking organisation have set up separate branding for their modern traction tours: https://inter-city.co.uk/
     
  19. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Messages:
    7,498
    Likes Received:
    5,455
    It’s been up and running for a few months now, around the same time as the Blue Pullman launch.
     
  20. NathanP

    NathanP Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2017
    Messages:
    695
    Likes Received:
    820
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Worcester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer

Share This Page