Braunton and friend on a Kent-Surrey charter 11/12/23

I don't think there is a thread for this one. It was only at noon today I was told it would be 34046 and not the 68 diesel rumoured last night when someone on an email group picked up this private charter on RTT.

Due to it running early I only had two minutes to spare at Paddock Wood, and then a more relaxed wait at Five Oak Green.

Three very low res photos attached. It ran London Victoria 10.30 - (Catford Loop) - Rochester - Canterbury East (water stop?) - Dover Priory. Then Dover Priory - Ashford - Paddock Wood (water stop?) - Tonbridge -Redhill - London Victoria. Due back at 16.41.

 

Is the first time an LS tour from London has had a 37 on the back?
Do LS have a 68 now if others thought it would be a 68?

 

Wouldn’t have thought they’d have a 68, aren’t they all owned by Beacon Rail and leased to DRS?

 

I assume a typo for 67, given their role with DB. Like others, as an LSL working, I'd have expected one of their own fleet rather than a hire in, whoever from.

 

It was the chairman's annual Christmas Jolly, though heading for Kent rather than the Surrey hills this year.
Captured at Bickley, Selling and Redhill:

 

Probably the most luxurious train in the country. Certainly beats the Royal Train I would say. There were some interior photos of it, and an interview with the designer, published in The World of Interiors magazine earlier this year. Here's a link to the online version of the article - https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/the-chairmans-train

 

That's something else, he certainly doesn't do things by half that's for sure. Like the comment that the Royal Train was considered too dated for inspiration!

 

When you can afford to spend several million on your hobby every year… I will ask though, how on earth do you get a King size bed through a Mk3 door?

 

It's actually super-king! I would imagine the bed was built in-situ.

 

Damn - missed this one this year!

 

Each to his own, of course, but the interiors look rather ludicrous to me. I wonder how all that interior wood got approval for main line use...

 

If its for Private rather than public use then only its worthiness as a vehicle would require approval, not its contents.

 

Not that much dissimilar to Gravetye Manor, so country house hotel on a train.

 

I also suspect that it will have cost him way less than some rich people spend on their executive jet. No mention of solid gold taps that those from the Middle East seemed so fond of.

 

Which is probably what it's based off of, as I think he owns the leasehold to Gravetye Manor. One of the Brighton Belle Pullmans has been renamed after it too I think.

 

Yes - it was the Mk2 windows seen through the wood panelling that particularly made me laugh/wince!

 

Doesn't matter if a private vehicle catches fire on the railway...

 

I would not disagree with you because I do not know how the industry works in that level of depth, although I would be surprised. You could use the same argument for an executive jet or even an all cargo aircraft, but they still have to meet fire retardancy requirements and loadings for seats etc.
In a highly regulated railway, that now seems to get itself in a lather over yellow lines on platform edges as an example, it would seem strange. But then I guess on the railway many things are.

 

It’s got a very modern dining room (Gravetye… not sure about the train).

Bit sad to learn one of my favourite restaurants is owned by a brexity narcissist but I guess it’s their world, we just have to live in it.

Simon

 

An amusing typo with "stall" instead of 'still', referring to planes!