5043 - The Seaside Flyer -23-05-15

A obscene departure time for the, Llandudno trip ! Anyone traveling from the midlands, will surely opt for, Tamworth. Hopefully the trip on the 20th June, won't be so early !

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...000-2359?stp=WVS&show=non-passenger&order=wtt

 

It is compared to last year's departure time., which also had the air show. Maybe there's new circumstances to take into consideration, with West Coast's, recent return. Anyway, that's just my opinion on the departure time. Regardless, Vintage Trains, departure times are usually very sociable.

 

Last years went direct from Tyseley (I was on it) no meander via Nuneaton and the Trent Valley to take in.

 

Very dull morning, but, 5043, makes a welcome sight, passing rare ground.

 

Nowt wrong with 06:24.

 

It does need an instant trip to the buffet car and a cup of strong black coffee though!

 

I have never travelled with Vintage before(I am far away from their catchment area) but was rather surprised to read on another forum that a passenger on one of their trips was told in no uncertain terms not to stand in the vestibule,still less to look out of a window,by a none too friendly steward. Having never experienced this with any other operator(except between Maryport and Carlisle for obvious reasons!) is this normal with Vintage? Are people discouraged from leaving their seats and standing at a droplight?

 

I had similar on a SD trip to Cardiff back in 2009 behind 70013. Stroppy git!
Needless to say that was the last ML steam trip I travelled on.
Public relations or NOT!

 

I don't think that I've ever been on a steam special when every droplight wasn't permanently occupied!

 

Stewarding does vary. Some are great, most are fine but there's the odd sourpuss who seems to think that passengers enjoying themselves should not be allowed. Back in SLOA days there was a pair of terrors who most definitely had never been to charm school.

 

It's not just the "demand", it's they it is carried out. Politeness & train stewards do not go together, certainly not in the case I quoted anyway.
They bark at you like some demented army sergeant major.
If I was blinding drunk/running amok on the train/being threatening or abusive then fair do's.
But I wasn't, just quietly minding my own business trying to enjoy the trip I paid good money for.

 

I can tell you exactly what that's about, to get dispensation to run passenger trains into and out of the Tyseley site, it's a requirement that all passengers must be seated until onto the mainline at Small Heath South Jcn, certainly in my experience don't never seem to mind it any other part of the time apart from special stretches like Maryport - Carlisle so strongly suspect the start from Tyseley Warwick Road is where this happened, one or two can be a bit blunt with the delivery shall we say, but during general running it's not an issue anyway.

 

Thanks for clarifying

 

Or exactly not....
Is Tyseley near Crewe then? I assume this is the referred to comments..
Haven't travelled with Vintage Trains before, but just boarded this at Crewe. Not a very friendly welcome - was ordered to not stand in the vestibule, lean out the window etc before I'd even got on. A fellow passenger sat by me was sorting out his bags etc, so out of politeness I hung back in the vestibule before I sat down. I was spotted and frogmarched back to my seat within seconds. All done with a scowl and no smiles.
What a contrast to Pathfinder, UKR etc. Shame, but I won't be rushing back

 

Fair enough, but can't say It's something I've ever experienced apart from the said issue with accessing the Tyseley site.

 

There is one very grumpy steward I've come across on each of the Vintage trains trips I've done who was ordering people not to stand in the vestibule and if you did stand there, woe betide you if you put a bag on the floor! He was the only one displaying this behaviour though so I wouldn't be surprised if the anecdote refers to him.

 

If all this is true then VT stewards need a strong course in public relations/communication.
There are ways & means of doing things.
Won't affect me because it is not in my "catchment" area either, if I was my money would be staying in my pocket in the future.
Saying that the SD business I was involved in was definitely true.
Isn't there enough ML steam problems at the moment with the WCRC business & today's 35028 phantom trip as well.
Reading this topic it seems a common occurrence.

 

Say what you like, I was there-you wasn't. So I know what I heard & saw being on the receiving end.
It's not one case is it? Seems a regular occurrence with VT reading on here.
There again you are bound to be biased aren't you? Being "in the trade".
Also I have read elsewhere the VT have locked ALL the toilets on their trains up to 30 minutes before the return home arrival time.