The Capital Five - 6th November - 45305

Five passenger-carrying coaches? Can someone please explain to me how on earth that can pay for itself... unless all on board were being chinged for mega-bucks.

 

Vintage Train's don't have to hire everything in like say Pathfinder or RTC before they can turn a profit, pretty much the only things not controlled by them on the Train today were 45305 herself and the man in the Driving seat, also TLW has a lot of contract repair/overhaul work bringing in funds which other tour promoters do not.

Although im sure another 2 coaches would of been preferable the loading urging on the side of caution are not an accident, very prudent when heading to Euston in leaf fall season and considering what happened on the Buxton trip.

 

Like all tour promoters, we are occasionally faced with the inevitability of having to cancel a trip, but it is not something we like doing as it inevitably causes something of a lack of confidence in those intending to book on tours, as well as bringing various costs for the cancellation, particularly for the time which Network Rail has wasted in planning the job which you are then cancelling. Consequently we do tend to run whenever we can even if this is just on the point of break even, as it keeps the faith with our customers and it is often cheaper than cancelling, and as David says we can afford to take a view on how much we charge ourselves for the stock on such occasions. In this instance, we have just covered our costs.

It was a very interesting job, first Black 5 to Euston since the mid 60's and the loco ran brilliantly, and was very economical - looking at the figures for tanking it, we could actually have got through to Euston without stopping for water and got there with 1000 gallons left in the tank! For the record regarding the query about crew, driver for the whole day was Andy Taylor, fireman Northampton to Euston and running around London was Meanley R, and the fireman for the majority of the day was Dean Morris.

Bob

 

Particularly like sheff's views from Daw Mill (Post #13). The fact it was a six coach train really made the second picture I think (as well as the sun as beautiful exhaust trail, of course). It could have been a view from days past when not every passenger train was loading to 12 or 13 coaches.

 

As Bob has said, this job just about 'wiped its nose'. For the record, 5305 ran beautifully all day, both coal and water consumption were economical. I would have expected more people to have wanted to be on the first Black 5 into Euston for probably 45 years. I would have been quite comfortable with 8 vehicles. She came up Camden Bank as though it were flat, and we were up to 60 MPH by Willesden. (and that was without any 'forcing').
The message is clear, if you want to keep seeing these jobs, you must support them occasionally. If everybody who enjoyed photographing, watching and videoing this train supported 1 trip per year it would make an enormous difference. To coin the old phrase 'Use it or risk loosing it' . Big thanks to all the support crew for allowing me 'out to play' yesterday, well done Lads. AT

 

Thanks! One of my better efforts (but that's not saying much). I played safe and went for a wide shot, then had to crop it quite severely. In the past I've tried a lot of zoom, but then lost the subject after the first shot as the camera cycles. So the resolution's not great but at least the composition's not bad. Problem with only having a cheap fixed lens DSLR and no tripod.

 

my photo of 45305 passing Headstone lane station
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garstangpost/5154833357/

hope you like it
best wishes Tony

 

45305 passing Apsley on the southbound run (and so nearly bowled by a Southern 377!):
http://aa.photosnaps.org.uk/p68000214.html


Thanks,
Alisdair

 

Thank you to all involved with Vintage trains for another great achievement this year.

45305 looked great through Harrow & Wealdstone.

As mentioned before these trains need to be supported although I couldn't do this run.

But managed travelling on the Looe branch weekends.

Keep them coming.

Thanks again

Mike M. (70c)

 

We would have travelled on this one, but we had bonfire party commitments, as I suspect several others may have had too? We don't get that many tour opportunities coming our way, unlike London and the NW, so it was a pity to have missed it. Keep up the good work guys!

 

I was very pleased to see, and hear, how well 5305 was going at New Arley and Milton Malsor on Saturday. It must be good to get some trouble-free miles on the clock. Welcome back to the main line.

I suspect there were a number of factors keeping the passenger numbers down for this tour:
- VT's regular customers have been spoilt for choice this year and I guess this tour didn't grab the attention in the same way as some;
- 5305 has only recently returned to action and there's often a reluctance to book on tours with a loco that's still in the works;
- November's not the best time of year for tours - leaf fall season, short days, risk of poor weather, conservation of funds before Christmas, etc.

 

Lets not forget there's the Castle from Birmingham to London, from Moor Streets terminal platforms, in a few weeks time... a Castle or a Five from Birmingham.... maybe the GWR following is stronger ... but then Lizzie too has done it from New St this year as well.

 

The last two points are particularly true, i've done Euston twice this year with Lizzie and hope to do the Castle to Padd all being well, only so much London a man can take!.