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Vintage Trains 2025

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 30567, Dec 12, 2024.

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  1. Rover

    Rover New Member

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    Not a new route at all, i did this last year. Think it was 40 quid return iirc, but its gone up to 70 this year so will be giving it a miss!
     
    Rover, Feb 14, 2025
    #81
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  2. 3ABescot

    3ABescot Member

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    3ABescot, Feb 18, 2025
    #82
  3. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    It’s a bit of a shame the cheap tickets aren’t still available from Stratford but still reasonable prices, especially in this day and age.

    I’ve noticed a couple of things in the text that @Michael Whitehouse might want to get someone to look at -

    1. The headline ticket price says £45 but if you click the tourist class drop down it says the price is £35

    2. Is the Sunday lunch description accurate? As it’s now two courses and says the main is served just after leaving Stratford and desert is served as you near journeys end. That might be correct but just seems a long time between courses hence questioning it.
     
    Pete Thornhill, Feb 18, 2025
    #83
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  4. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    having run through booking four tickets that are at £45 each plus booking fee . At just shy of £200 for us as a family versus £60 last year that does make you draw breath
     
    Sidmouth, Feb 18, 2025
    #84
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  5. 3ABescot

    3ABescot Member

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    But still a day out on the main line with reasonable start and stop times for a young family, or for a couple of oldies like my wife and I, compared with most other preservation TOCs?
     
    3ABescot, Feb 18, 2025
    #85
  6. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    I don’t disagree and it is a trip we very much enjoy and try to support each year
     
    Sidmouth, Feb 18, 2025
    #86
  7. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Yes indeed it’s a big increase in that respect but still reasonable value when you compare it to other mainline steam. Sadly it’s getting harder to support as much with a family as you say.
     
    Pete Thornhill, Feb 18, 2025
    #87
  8. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    I've not seen this advertised before. D1015 Western Champion unassisted over the Devon banks to Plymouth. Saturday, 10th May. <BJ>

    The South Devon Explorer | Vintage Trains

    ''The train will depart from Birmingham New Street, via the Chilterns and the Great Western Mainline into Bristol Temple Meads. From here D1015 will be unassisted by another locomotive for the run down to Plymouth and back over the South Devon Banks and the seawall at Dawlish.
    After a few hours in Plymouth, the train then returns to Bristol, stopping at Totnes for a return trip through the scenic Dart Valley of the South Devon Railway to Buckfastleigh, which is possibly the first time a ‘Western’ will have ever been seen on this branch line''.
     
    free2grice, Mar 11, 2025
    #88
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  9. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Interesting that even for a diesel tour unassisted is some sort of USP these days.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Mar 11, 2025
    #89
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  10. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    No mention of Paddington in that description and states an Oxford pickup, so presumably going between Chiltern and GWML via the Cherwell Valley.
    Therefore probably D1015 on the front all the way from Birmingham and the 47 on the back as far as Bristol.
    The 47 can then drop off and follow the train light loco to/from Plymouth before re-attaching to the rear at Bristol for the journey home.
    I'm sure Michael will be about to give us the full details in due course.
     
    LittleRedTrain, Mar 11, 2025
    #90
  11. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    It's only last year that the owners announced that it would not run without one of the Fifty Fund's locos on the rear - so this is notable.
     
    acorb, Mar 11, 2025
    #91
  12. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I don't understand mention of the Chilterns. It picks up at Oxford. It will hardly run round there to go via Bicester, so it must surely be going via Didcot West Curve, missing not merely the Chiltern line but all of the Chilterns.
     
    MellishR, Mar 12, 2025
    #92
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  13. 3ABescot

    3ABescot Member

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    I think it just means is that will take the Chiltern Trains route from Birmingham through Widney Manor ( pu), Aynho Jct., Oxford (pu) then, as you say, via Didcot West Curve to Bristol. Not literally through the Chilterns ( the Hills) though, maybe an 's' out of place?
     
    3ABescot, Mar 12, 2025
    #93
  14. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    I believe they're referring to the section between Birmingham and Banbury, through Warwick and Leamington
     
    NathanP, Mar 12, 2025
    #94
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  15. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    That must be the explanation but I can't say I approve.:(
     
    MellishR, Mar 12, 2025
    #95
  16. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    It's just a bit of geographical licence to make the route seem more romantic. Similar to those who think that Salisbury is in the West Country because it's in Wiltshire that Devon folk would sniff at anyway. We all know that this particular neck of the woods is really the Strong Country as only about 20 or so miles from Romsey!
     
    Big Al, Mar 12, 2025
    #96
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  17. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    But think of the name given to 34002! Mr Bulleid thought that Salisbury was in the West Country so it must be!:)
     
    John Petley, Mar 12, 2025
    #97
  18. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Ditto for 34041! I just feel a bit sorry for the good people of Andover. Clearly our Mr Bulleid viewed all of Wiltshire as the West Country!
     
    Big Al, Mar 12, 2025
    #98
  19. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    I suppose Looe would have been a bit provocative.

    It's a curious list really. Some small places like 34043 in the first batch and yet 34091 and 34105 in the last twenty.
     
    30567, Mar 12, 2025
    #99
  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Don't go there! Swanage is a south coast resort, as is Weymouth. I know that the limitations were where the Southern went but ask yourself why Sherborne wasn't chosen or Halwill. Sorry to digress.
     
    Big Al, Mar 12, 2025
    #100
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