Torbay Express 2019

The dates are up for the season:

28th July via Bath
11th August via Weston-super-Mare
18th August via Weston-super-Mare
8th September via Bath
22nd September via Bath

That's what the Booking Page says. The front page seems to have a couple of typos.

Fares are:
£109.75 Standard
£175.75 First Class+
£255.55 Premier Dining.

There is the usual Table for 4 discount of £20 for Std.
Note: These are the fares for 28th July and 12th August for bookings made before 30th April (think that's the date).

Then £115 Std; £185 First Plus; Premier Class £269.

 

There's also the one that Pathfinder are running with Tornado on 6th July, which is basically a Torbay Express with a connecting diesel from the Midlands. It's a Torbay Express as far as I'm concerned!

 

Very early start from Birmingham I would expect, as they would usually allow three hours to get down there. I'd rather do the Bristol start and drive down there in 90 minutes.

 

Just received Pathfinder's latest newsletter by email which gives the details of the Torbay Express for 2019. Dates appear to be as above but what surprised me is this:
"Our pool of locomotives that will haul the Torbay Express include: No. 60009 Union of South Africa, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland, 6201 Princess Elizabeth operated by West Coast Railways." So....

1) Will 60009 be available? I thought it was going to be out of ticket by then.
2) Have West Coast Railways taken over as TOC for the Torbay Express? It's been an EWS/DB operation as long as I can remember.

 

Isn’t 6201 too long for the turntable at Churston?

 

For many years, especially around the time of the Tangmere incident, TBEL preferred to use DB as their TOC. <BJ>

''Our executive team has extensive technical and financial experience in the promotion and operation of steam and heritage train excursions on the national rail system. Investors include locomotive and rolling stock owners and other key professionals. This means that the main elements of the operation are captured within the Company itself and reliance on third parties is minimised. We work in partnership of West Coast Railways and Riviera Trains Ltd in the operation of all our trains.''

 

There's a video on You Tube showing it being turned with an extension fitted to the turntable. I would have thought the same might apply to 6233

 

Thanks for the reply but I'm still confused. I'm aware that TBEL have a partnership with Riviera Trains for the rolling stock but have no recollection of WCRC ever having been involved with TBEL operations. DBC (as EWS) have as far as I remember been crewing the Torbay Express right back to the Past Time Rail days.

 

Hadn't noticed until this morning that the 5th Torbay Express of 22nd September has disappeared from the TBEL website. Down to only 4.

 

Any idea what stock will be used for this ? Just booked for the 28/7 and overlooked the possibility of the WCR set being used ! Not bothered, but it will be a strange sight from the lineside. Torbay Express in name only ?

 

Could someone please tell me the loco allocations for each week? Would like to see each of 6201, 6233 and 60009 used but I have doubts that will be the case.

 

According to the latest HR nr 9 for 28/7 ( quoting John Cameron, HR incorectly state it is an RTC trip). With 6233 on the West Somerset Steam Express the day before this seems likely.
The 18/8 is also the day after 6233 on a WSSE so could be nr 9 again.

 

Anyone know what the loco is for Sunday's TBE? Never known TBEL be so late sending tickets out as the path is there so no timing issues. We know from Sunday's Royal Duchy it won't be the Duchess.Where is No.9?

 

On the DCE tomorrow I believe.

 

Nr 9 was mentioned in one of magazines for the first one quoting John Cameron.

 

Unless I've missed it somewhere, there are no timings as yet to transfer a steam loco to Bristol (from Southall or Crewe).

Although there are four days to go, that is unusual. <BJ>

 

Looks like No9 is on the Weymouth tomorrow. They've posted the times on their faceache site. Would expect the loco to be on the TBE if it's fit and well.

 

Note that the RTT return timings for this Sunday are incorrect at present.

2 posts from TBEL dated 24/7/2019. <BJ>

''Today it is just 3 days until the first Torbay Express of summer 2019. There aren't that many seats left for 28 July. There are some on the other dates, but don't leave it too long to book your seats! ''

''The excitement is growing!!!

We have just received the confirmed timings for the first Torbay Express of this summer, so the Boarding Passes will be posted by First Class mail to passengers tomorrow.
The website has been updated to show the confirmed timings for Sunday, not for the rest of the season, as these are still awaited''.

Confirmed timings for 28 July.

Bristol Temple Meads 08:00 / 20:35

Bath Spa 08:20 / 20:15

Trowbridge 08:45 / 20:10*

Westbury 08:55 / 19:45

Taunton 10:40 / 18:30

Paignton 12:00 / 17:15

Kingswear 12:35 / 16:50



​

 

Tickets have arrived, guessing it's load 12 from the coach allocations A - J ! So, will it be the Riveira set or WC maroon's ?

 

Could be 11. There's no "I" so 9 passenger+Kitchen Car+POB? We're tail end charlies in one direction again!!! No mention of the locomotive either.