Vintage Trains 2015

Nick - you are correct. 47773 will be bringing up the rear all day. There is no other way to get in and out of Liverpool Lime Street.

 

A few updates to the tour program:

16 May to Poole - Adding a passenger stop at Bournemouth in both directions
23 May to Llandudno - The Red Arrows have been confirmed for the air-show.
20 June to Llandudno Jctn / Holyhead - 5043 is confirmed as the loco.

 

Will 47773 be on these three trains too Ben?

 

They won't be as having 5043 inside restricts the speed to 75. Timings are on RTT. Same tedious times down the coast; same time in Carnforth Loop but time back in Crewe 2058 not 2038..

 

16 May - Yes
23 May - Yes
20 June - No

 

I meant the same for the steam portion of the journey.

I am sensing some hostility?

 

While we're on the subject of diesel presence, is there likely to be one on either of the Welsh Marches tours you've got coming up ? I'm almost certainly travelling on one of these with a mate of mine to celebrate a special Birthday,

 

To date, we have never taken assistance with us on either the Welsh Marches or the Cotswold Explorer railtours.

This statement is not going to sit well with the steam purists - based on recent discussions we have been having, you are going to see diesels on the back with more and more frequency. There will be some routes that should be exempt such as the Welsh Marches, Cotswold Explorer and Shakespeare Express.

 

Well that's good to hear, and the 122 miles of non-stop running is an especially appealing feature of those tours for me.

On your second paragraph, I don't think it's so much the presence of the diesel that bothers people, as the extent to which its used, often seemingly when unnecessary. Unfortunately I guess, once it's there, it has to be used to carry its own weight, but I for one would rather have this scenario, than no steam on the mainline at all.

 

IMO the thread drift has been prompted by Ben's post regarding a diesel on the back of the following trains :
"16 May - Yes
23 May - Yes
20 June - No"
Feel free to move the relevant posts if you wish.

 

This is good, but should some of Ben's post in #68 also be moved so as to make sense of some of the responses to it that have been moved to the "Diesels on the Back" thread ?

 

IMHO I was responding to a question!

 

I know you were Ben. I was replying to someone complaining of "thread drift".

 

Couple of updates:

18th April - "Coastal Explorer" is unable to stop at Wigan on the return. Some of the Wigan passengers have elected not to travel so we now have a few seats available in Standard Class. This train was previously sold out.

25th April - Ticket to Ride" is not able to go to Liverpool due to several issues. We are now running the "White Rose" to York on the same day with 5043. Passenger pickups will be Tyseley, Coleshill, Tamworth, Burton & Derby.

Prices are as follows:
Premier Dining: £160 per (Table for 2 - £15 per person supplement)
Club Class: £100 per
Standard Class: £79 per
First Class Compartment for 6: £550 per Compartment
Enthusiast Class: £95

www.vintagetrains.co.uk/tours

PS - we do not plan on taking the 47 to York, however....

 

Not having much luck with tours to, Liverpool ! Seems a difficult destination these days. York's always a crowd puller, so a decent alternative.

 

Yes, it's a shame, but good on Ben and VT for making contingency arrangements and communicating well. Nobody could ask for more than that,

 

Oh dear... Was booked on the Liverpool trip via a third party (ie. a mate of mine).

 

Yesterday we sent an email to all our passengers that we have email details for. On Tuesday we plan to send a further letter out to all the immediately affected passengers.

We ask everyone to allow us the Easter break to examine our options and provide you with a new schedule for the postponed April railtours.

Regards, VT