If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Welsh Borders Explorer: 29/04/18 (Saphos)

الموضوع في 'What's Going On' بواسطة Big Al, بتاريخ ‏18 إبريل 2018.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏30 ماي 2009
    المشاركات:
    22,591
    عدد المعجبين:
    22,721
    مكان الإقامة:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Currently heading south after the Saphos experience. The rake of coaches is very smart inside and out. Nothing tatty anywhere. It looks to me to be a new standard of comfort. And on a cold day the diesel did its job and kept us warm but not unpleasantly so. And that's all it did. It was also nice to look out of clean windows although I had forgotten about the reflection hazard spotting mileposts.

    So to Braunton. I was in coach 9 of 9 and heard nothing. The climb of Gresford was good with 29 minimum and we wound up to 70+ a few times.

    I gather that Braunton will also be on the Marches trip and if the load is more than today then there may be issues. I say that because we really struggled to get away from Telford that is uphill on a curve. The diesel remained quiet but there was communication between back and front to check that the driver was confident we wouldn't delay the following service train.

    So, all in all, today was good at £45 but not worth it at full price. And the diesel? Well if the train is viable at this load the enthusiasts should be ok re shoveage but I think that you'll have to take each of these trips one at a time. The test will be the Marches.
     
    staffordian, Mick45305, green five و 2 آخرون معجبون بهذا.
  2. 84H

    84H Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏6 مارس 2017
    المشاركات:
    234
    عدد المعجبين:
    624
    مكان الإقامة:
    Shropshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Here is my effort, looking down onto Wellington Station. 8mins early at this stage. Good to see quite a few people out to watch her. 622EFC0E-4306-4626-B105-E303E272261F.jpeg
     
    MikeParkin65, Bluenosejohn, staffordian و 5 آخرون معجبون بهذا.
  3. g4pfk

    g4pfk Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏28 جويلية 2006
    المشاركات:
    244
    عدد المعجبين:
    42
    الوظيفة:
    engineer
    مكان الإقامة:
    north birmingham
  4. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏19 جوان 2013
    المشاركات:
    2,972
    عدد المعجبين:
    3,917
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    الوظيفة:
    TBC
    مكان الإقامة:
    Birmingham & Arley
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A decent show up Chirk Bank, and the Bullied looked in fine form. Roll on the Marches.
     
    1020 Shireman, Mick45305, 84H و 1 شخص آخر معجبون بهذا.
  5. David likes trains

    David likes trains Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏31 ماي 2014
    المشاركات:
    890
    عدد المعجبين:
    3,771
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    مكان الإقامة:
    Colchester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Two photos of today's tour:
    [​IMG]
    Laying down a smoke screen over Chirk Viaduct.
    [​IMG]
    Speeding through Albrighton in front of plenty of onlookers.
     
    Matt37401, Copper-capped, Landshrew و 4 آخرون معجبون بهذا.
  6. walkerp1

    walkerp1 New Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏27 مارس 2008
    المشاركات:
    196
    عدد المعجبين:
    1,529
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    مكان الإقامة:
    West Lancashire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  7. Pendle Witch

    Pendle Witch New Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏19 اكتوبر 2008
    المشاركات:
    63
    عدد المعجبين:
    27
    Trip fine, if a little rushed, felt fellow passengers would have liked a break in Shrewsbury. No route guide, very poor timing sheet with only basic times and only one per table of four, there were 4 single travellers on our table but only got one to share between us. Diesel right behind coach G annoying. but the worst was couldn't hear the steam engine at all (sealed box coach), Oh and the constant Hiss of the air powered doors. Needs a lot of improvements for future trips as they will not attract people at full price. Good that we got Braunton and the new Norton Bridge route.
     
  8. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏7 أوت 2012
    المشاركات:
    6,125
    عدد المعجبين:
    4,088
    Thanks to you and @Big Al. And just checking--- the only Mk 1 coaches were the diners?
    .
     
  9. Kylchap

    Kylchap Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏15 ديسمبر 2015
    المشاركات:
    492
    عدد المعجبين:
    935
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    مكان الإقامة:
    East Anglia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Looks and sounds really good in the photos and videos. If the diesel was only doing the heating, that makes it load 12 equivalent, doesn't it? A good load for that route.
     
  10. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏16 إبريل 2009
    المشاركات:
    8,912
    عدد المعجبين:
    5,849
    I was in coach B, the second dining coach, but the fourth in the rake and the last of the Mk Is. Plenty of sound from the loco going up Gresford Bank, and some in a few other locations. Blowing off very audible several times. Max speed about 71 after Shrewsbury, but only just over 60 anywhere before that and, surprisingly, below 60 all the way from Bushbury Jn to Crewe.

    Edit: if the figures in post #45 are correct then mine above were mistaken. I wasn't timing seriously but only looking sporadically at a speed app on my phone. On past trips that has agreed fairly well with the old fashioned quarter-mile posts method, but perhaps not this time.
     
    Last edited: ‏30 إبريل 2018
  11. Landshrew

    Landshrew New Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏11 إبريل 2018
    المشاركات:
    166
    عدد المعجبين:
    977
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    الوظيفة:
    Guard with SWR
    مكان الإقامة:
    London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Great shot at a nice angle. That's me crouching down with the blue backpack, she caught me quite off guard chatting to those other two gents! Here are my offerings from Chirk Viaduct/Aqueduct crossing the border and at Wellington. Great run for her after 9 months off mainline duties. DSC_1885 (2).JPG
     

    الملفات المرفقة:

    Gladiator 5076, 84H, Matt37401 و 4 آخرون معجبون بهذا.
  12. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏10 مارس 2018
    المشاركات:
    1,792
    عدد المعجبين:
    868
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    الوظيفة:
    Gricer and Grandad
    مكان الإقامة:
    Wallers Ash
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Sounds ok but doesn't encourage me to book any future trips
     
  13. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏17 جويلية 2007
    المشاركات:
    2,950
    عدد المعجبين:
    4,381
    مكان الإقامة:
    Powys
    States in latest SR that LSL are working on restoring further Mk 1's and eventually the Steam rake will be all Mk 1's - seems a little patience is needed with this one.
     
    أعجب بهذه المشاركة jsm8b
  14. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏27 مارس 2012
    المشاركات:
    1,524
    عدد المعجبين:
    2,172
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    الوظيفة:
    Retired
    مكان الإقامة:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    34052 (34046) at Stafford this afternoon...

     
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏30 ماي 2009
    المشاركات:
    22,591
    عدد المعجبين:
    22,721
    مكان الإقامة:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Correct but I am impressed with the standard of restoration of the rolling stock. Can only speak for Standard Class but I have to say that it makes the Riviera set look quite tatty.
     
  16. Spike.

    Spike. New Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏16 سبتمبر 2017
    المشاركات:
    76
    عدد المعجبين:
    605
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    مكان الإقامة:
    Stafford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Hopefully here is my shot of Braunton at speed passing Sytch Lane, Mill Meece, between Stafford and Crewe. I say hopefully as this id my first post and that i have done it correctly.
     

    الملفات المرفقة:

    • IMG_3829.JPG
      حجم الملف:
      6.2 ميغا
      المشاهدات:
      66
    Landshrew, 84H, oddsocks و 6 آخرون معجبون بهذا.
  17. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏8 جويلية 2005
    المشاركات:
    1,786
    عدد المعجبين:
    642
    مكان الإقامة:
    Rugby
  18. admin

    admin Founder Administrator

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏16 مارس 2005
    المشاركات:
    13,028
    عدد المعجبين:
    266
    الجنس:
    ذكر
    الوظيفة:
    Founder National Preservation
    مكان الإقامة:
    dover
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Any comments on the Antimacassars on the trains?
     
  19. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏8 جوان 2014
    المشاركات:
    15,551
    عدد المعجبين:
    11,955
    مكان الإقامة:
    Wnxx
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    What livery were they? ;)
     
    أعجب بهذه المشاركة Landshrew
  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    إنضم إلينا في:
    ‏30 ماي 2009
    المشاركات:
    22,591
    عدد المعجبين:
    22,721
    مكان الإقامة:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes, there are antimacassars at all seats including in Standard where, it appears, passengers are no longer the second rate group from the point of view of attention to detail. Another stylish touch is that the coach letter is not a piece of paper stuck in the corner of a window but what appears to be a transparent transfer letter. Makes it look as though it has been etched on the glass.

    I spoke to one of the loco crew who said that the coach restoration workshop is something else and given the rolling stock awaiting attention on the site, it may be the case that, over time, more 'traditional' Mark 1s may become available for the steam charter part of the business. Either way, Saphos does seem to have 'arrived' and who wouldn't want to wish them well? As always, the market will decide.

    On a practical point, in Standard the fixed tables and arm rests between seats do make it difficult for folk to slide into their seats if they are large or with limited mobility. I say this because it was the one point mentioned by a couple opposite me who were in neither of the above categories but were clearly appraising the whole package. And they also mentioned the lack of opening windows.
     

مشاركة هذه الصفحة