Vintage Trains - First trips with Clun Castle

Thanks for the advice.

 

The comments about giving VT some slack on the issue of diesel assistance until operations get established seem fair and reasonable. The alarm that some of us feel is that this is more likely to become normalised unless there is strong protest from customers and supporters.

 

Unfortunately (as if they were ever needed) the merits, or lack of them, for an operator of "flying solo" were seen once again today at Berwick upon Tweed. It matters not whether steam or diesel. Of the few steam charters I've travelled on, twice I recall jobs were "caught short" by a lack of assistance in the consist and nothing close by. One of them was known about far enough in advance to run diesels light to take over and only cause a cold wait with a one hour delay. The other time was many hours of delay and piles of knock on issues.

I do respect freedom to choose and the reasons people give (even if I would never feel the same re steam being diesel assisted or not) BUT... VT are wise to ignore a small proportion of moans/criticisms on this subject as the financial/damage to business implications of an operating incident they have no way out of easily especially on a vac steam charter are far greater than a small but vocal group of steam enthusiasts who have a right to make their own choice to book or not.

It sounds like a few jobs will fly solo in the future but do hope that works out ok for both operator and tour passengers. The Shakespeare jobs are indeed the safest as an hour in a taxi to TY if there is no spare driver nearer to the shed should be about the worst delay and any further faff time getting the loco down. So even that job is a 2-3 hour delay if it's the Warwickshire end.

 

You obviously have more faith in the info than VT themselves do. This (rather ambitious) disclaimer is in their T&C:

"VTL attempts to ensure that the information contained within its advertisements and available on the VT web site at any one time is accurate. However, VTL cannot guarantee that it will be fault free. VTL does not accept liability for any errors and/or omissions and reserves the right to change any of the publicised information found on advertisements and on the VT web site at any time without notice."

 

If by standard you mean mediocre / thoughtless, you may possibly be correct. The whole of VT's T&C are poorly drafted, which is surprising for what appears to be a competently run organisation.

 

And surely if there is still any doubt :-

• Telephone: 0121 708 4960
• Email: tickets@vintagetrains.co.uk
  

 

Just to confirm for anyone else on Nat Pres who's booked on the Cotswold explorer on 18th May. I rang Vintage Trains ticket office, its advertised to run on 18th May, its Mainline Steam tours index who have in error published the wrong date on their website on the 2019 tours calendar.

 

Like any other heritage organisation I am sure they would welcome someone with the necessary skills to assist in improving this area!

 

Happy to help. I await their invitation but I won't hold my breath!

 

Uksteam-info mainlinesteam tours index 2019 may
Anyone else in doubt thinking its on 19th may due to this website above ring vintage ticket desk up.

 

Just had call from VT. Saturday's Cotswold Explorer has been postponed. Offering transfers to 6th April or other trains. No doubt more info to follow.

 

In my ignorance a question regarding a diesel at the rear on Saturday's Cotswold Express:

If it is deemed necessary to attach for the purpose of complex manoeuvres at Oxford, for providing heat for coaches and 'just in case' of a problem with 7029. Does this automatically mean that it will be providing a shove (probably to lift it's own weight), or can it just be dead at the rear...?

 

Read post above. Train postponed.

 

I feared this may have been just a bit too short notice for getting enough bookings, only announced 3 weeks ago?

 

Bugger - Re think plans time

 

Aw dam, one less up Sapperton

 

I've got a missed call from a Birmingham number which must have been VT. Their website now says the following:

"We have decided to postpone the Cotswold Explorer planned for 9th March until later in the year. Passengers and shareholders have made it clear to us they want to travel on our first railtour behind Clun Castle, but we have not provided them with enough notice; so we have listened and our first will now be on Saturday 6th April.
All passengers booked on the 9th March have the option to travel on the next Cotswold Explorer scheduled for 6th April.

Unfortunately 6th April is also the date of A1SLT's 'The Devonian' with Tornado which I've been booked on for over a year now, what with all the postponements. I think I'll probably transfer my Cotswold Explorer booking over to the Chester trip on 27th April, when I contact VT in the morning.