4965 - The Valentines Dinner Express - 14/02/14

One of those "oh bugger" moments, Rood Ashton Hall arriving at Coleshill on the return.

 

I agree. A pity the 170 wasn't nearer the camera thereby obscuring the GWR loco completely. Otherwise a nice modern traction image.

 

Oh dear ! Raised a smile on the face of a non partisan though,

 

All joking aside, I suspect we've all been there. All set up ready, steamer hoves into view and a damn diesel comes and gets in the way.

 

Indeed, either that or Eric Pickles bigger brother !

 

Your name vill answer go ze list.....

 

Meant "also go" as in the U Boat captain from Dad's Army, **** knows why I put answer!.

 

Romani eunt domus.

 

People called Romanes, they go the house?

 

I thought it MIGHT have been been INTENDED to mean "Romans go home", though it doesn't mean that. And anyway, what would that have to do with the subject of this thread?

 

I can see you skived off Latin.

 

Not a lot.

 

ROMANI ITE DOMUM!
Now write it down a hundred times. If it's not done by sunrise, I'll cut your ****s off!

 

Yes sir. Thank you sir. Hail Caesar sir.

 

Right. Now don't do it again.

 

I actually travelled on board this train from Coleshill although that was a late change to Plan B after Plan A became a failure.
Having received the schedule with the tickets from VT the train was listed by them as a 5.20pm departure from Tyseley. However I know VT always publish early times so I have always used the times provided by David Randle's excellent UK Steam website. This listed the train departing at 5.30 from Tyseley. On the drive into Birmingham on the A45 past Birmingham airport I got stuck in traffic losing 10 minutes in a bumper to bumper crawl past roadworks. However once I was underway again I was confident of reaching Tyseley in time. After all I'd paid £260 for these tickets! When I arrived at the depot at 5.20 I found the gates padlocked and nobody in site to open them to let us in. The train was clearly visible but the shouts of both my wife and I could not be heard by anybody. A railway employee was then seen departing the yard but - probably quite rightly - refused to provide the code to enable me to access the yard via the gate. I fumbled with the gate intercom to explain my predicament to somebody and ask if they would allow access but gave up when I heard the loco whistle up to depart.

There then followed some mad driving through Birmingham's rush-hour to reach Coleshill Parkway - the only other scheduled stop. The bad news was that I'd never been there before so to a great extent was going on instinct. I was delighted to finally find clear road signs pointing the way and arrived at Coleshill with 5 minutes to spare.

The moral of the story is - I will always go to the Coleshill station in future if its an option if there is the slightest chance that I will be delayed en route into Birmingham. It would also be helpful to others if it were noted that the gates will be locked.

My photos of the trip are here.
http://evergreen.zenfolio.com/p619292527#h29968369

I must make comment about the meal on the train. Ben - You've finally cracked it. Superb. Thumbs up from everybody we spoke to. The fillet steak was cooked to perfection. On top of that the carriage was comfortably warm (unlike Chiltern Champion Part 1) and the train ran dead on time. Well done to all.