Borders Steam 2016

Scotrail announced their 2016 Waverley Route Trips today - Sundays only throughout August and September but two trips from Edinburgh per day.

46100 rostered for August, 60009 for September.

Good prices too.

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotland-by-rail/steam-train-trips

 

Not good prices compared to the Jacobite, and steam only one way as well...and on one of those optional trips you get rabies

 

It's odd that it doesn't mention diesel haulage on the way back on the website. Surely they would get quite a few complaints about that. What's the current section of the borders railway like for steam?

 

But if Abellio are selling the "travel experience" in which steam haulage is only part of the offer the appearance of a diesel locomotive is less of a problem; in fact it opens the opportunity to use a "heritage diesel" such as a Deltic or main line certified Class 40 which have historic associations with the route.

 

also 'Ticket prices do not include travel connections to/from Edinburgh Waverley'... :-(

 

I suspect the chosen TOC (do we know who yet?) would prefer to use an 'in house' loco looking at the fares quoted!

 

Toc is dbc

 

This is tempting but for one way only it is expensive with steam and as mentioned nothing about being dragged back by a diesel. Also last year the ticket price included travel from anywhere in Scotland, for me that adds a further £20 onto the ticket price so not good value, sadly I think I will be giving this a miss.

 

Checked last years booking and its was £40 with free connecting travel.

 

Nice work for the loco owners. It means 46100 is not in the pool for RTC Royal Duchy nor Cumbrian Mountain Express tours in August.

I wonder who's standing over the MK planning / gauging team? ;-)

 

Magnificent photos of 46100 and 60009 on Scotrail's website.....neither on the Borders Line and both working WCR trains!

 

£55 for one way, downhill, with steam? No thanks! If it's anything like last year, standard class was at the back and all that could be heard was the 67 pushing.

 

You must be mistaken.....the 67 can't have been pushing, it was a DBC trip

 

Downhill? Just because the route goes from top to bottom on your map doesn't mean it's downhill. It climbs almost without respite for 18 miles from Portobello to Falahill. Borthwick bank has a ruling gradient of 1 in 70.

 

Slow !

 

I don't think it's been widely publicised here yet but Scotrail are also running two Forth Circle trips in August with 46100. For those who prefer not to have a diesel on the back (unavoidable at present on the Tweedbank runs) these are unlikely to have a tailgunner.

http://steamdreams.co.uk/executables/GT410WebContent.exe?ActionCode=scotrail#Fife

 

Show me a tour that does include travel to and from the start point.

Also the fact that DBC is the TOC makes this even more attractive. Looks a good trip even if only steam one way. At least I know about it.

 

With 60009 reported as being under repair commencing this week is it still scheduled to take over from 46100 half way through the season?

 

I guess that was a really sensible offer. And very well received. ScotRail had a vested interest though to fill the train. Hope the service trains were not too crowded.