Saphos 2024

If the 47 at the rear has failed, are we to have a repeat of a 47 and B1 double-header at some point today? [BJ]

 

It is to be hoped that explanations will emerge idc, both as to what caused the delay at Westbury and as to why the train was then sent via Bristol.

 

By the sounds of it a fault with the leading 47, meant reversal and route via Bristol to make it the rear one. Detach at Taunton to avoid it causing further issue. All sounds very much like a good plan, just sadly time consuming whilst paperwork, etc all sorted

 

Unable to drive from one cab of the 47 according to a post on WNXXforum. Probably quicker to reverse and go via Bristol than try and do multiple run rounds with the 47s.

 

B1 + 47 double-heading on return, departing Kingswear 5 mins late. [BJ]

 

Do not understand your point. Is it not the usual Saphos (and SD) steam set that is mostly Mk1's today then? If it is not, what is it then?

 

Nothing to do with the set anyway. Was a leak on 47828. Think it had a MK2 in today as usual, but even so

 

14) Important Information – All details about our tours are offered in good faith and whilst we endeavour to run our tours to the proposed routes, timings, rolling stock, locomotives, itineraries, station stops and options in place, we reserve the right to alter these at any time and shall not incur any liability to any person who has bought, or contracted to buy a ticket, or tickets as a result of any such changes.

The above taken from the Saphos Website is why I’d never plan to do anything extra to the tour (Such as boat trips) on arrival at a destination. Generally I find the comfort of a local establishment for a jar or two, largely because it’s the safest option. Running heritage trains on a modern railway is more likely to encounter delays than not, and as such that should be accounted for when booking

 

It' all just a shambles and now I hear the return is stuck in Fairwater having detached the steam loco, the train is static as of 8.13pm - 30 late( having arrived on time) with nobody on the train being told what the problem is. Can't imagine many passengers including my partner and her sister wanting to go through this again especially after the very late arrival at Kingswear earlier today.

 

I'm confused. Was it not scheduled to reverse at Westbury and instead did not reverse? Or did it reverse twice?

 

It was on the move as of 8:16pm

 

I guess the problem was on the rear loco into Westbury which was due to become the front loco out. So the train went the other way.

 

Passengers aboard the train being told that the train on passing Taunton will "go around the loop again" to access Westbury suggesting that it is to go via Bristol again. Can anyone verify what is happening?

 

The train has definitely gone via Castle Cary.

 

Realtime has woken up again and it seems it is going via Castle Cary as scheduled having just passed Bruton 31 minutes late

 

61306 Mayflower on the English Riviera Express at Bradford on Tone en route to Kingswear.

 

RTT did not show it as scheduled to reverse, so I guess the issue arose on the leading 47 between Salisbury and there.

 

It was booked to go via Castle Cary, so would have had to reverse at Westbury.

 

Nothing to do with any waking up .Realtime never does give times for a train on a diverted route ,always marked with no report. This happens regular with freight train/test trains which are booked from Syston(North of Leicester) to Kettering via Oakham and Corby They sometimes send them via Mkt Harboro on the main. The first you know about is when the train gets to Kettering North Jnc. If you know the reporting number you can trace it on Track diagrams.

 

Let's try to calm down here. First of all, I can not fault of Saphos for the delays yesterday. In fact they offered passenger in dining free alcohol after Westbury as compensation!! What I can say is that my partner and her sister having spent over £200 per ticket for first class dining on a train which started at 0556 and finished at 0043 with just a fraction of the time left at Dartmouth (abandoned boat trip due to lateness) and a “walkabout to stretch legs” on Westbury station on the return when an issue with the diesel was dealt with. This all added up to my partner stating "never again". Others will no doubt have had the same sentiments.

So from my railway enthusiast perspective what went wrong? On the down run the issue of a prolonged delay at Westbury. Why? Sending the already very late service via Bristol when there was already a diesel on the back to reverse and go via Castle Cary as booked. Why? The extended delay at Fairwater Yard after Mayflower was detached on the return. Why? Passengers were told they could get out at Westbury to “stretch their legs” when the train was already late. Why?

I am told that the diversion via Bristol was at the request of the station manager at Taunton. Due to the delays, 61306 was in desperate need for water and the only option was to water from a long disused hydrant at the North end of down relief platform (very rare). She, the station manager, objected to this as steam engines are no longer allowed to water in the platforms at Taunton. Control overruled her and the watering of the locomotive took place. Her concern was that someone would trip over the water hose similar to what happened previously at Taunton when someone was injured. Sounds feasible? The delay on the return at Fairwater seems to have resulted from a broken windscreen on the diesel maybe caused by a stone or brick being thrown and may have necessitated a change of driver. My partner photographed the diesel at Westbury and it clearly shows the damaged window duct taped up.

I was there to see the green class 47 (D1935?) roll into Woking at 0043 with some glum looking passenger detraining and heading off home on what had clearly been a very long and disappointing trip.