Vintage Trains - First trips with Clun Castle

This is the latest programme, handed out on today's Chester trip. As you can see, they are running some trips with 5596 later this year.

 

I heard that WCR "owned" the Shakespeare paths, and for whatever reason, they took the hump with VT and won't release them.

Not sure if there is a grain of truth in that?

 

Photo from yesterday's Chester Venturer on the return approaching Widney Manor. Bit grainy due to the low light.

 

The West Coast paths to Stratford on a Sunday still show in RTT. If they intend to use the paths for themselves I wouldn't have thought they have any obligation to give them up? I don't know what the rules on open access are around paths a toc is not using.

 

I profoundly hope this isn't another instance of dog in manger. Have West Coast ever run Birmingham-area (or, now, from a bit further away) to Stratford on their own account or only when they were the TOC for VT?

 

I don't think they have, though as LMarsh1987 said above, there is talk of them operating Burton on Trent to Stratford upon Avon services on Sundays. I'm not sure how paths work, and if, for example, WC could incorporate parts their existing paths into new ones from B-O-T.

If this proposed new service by WC comes to pass, I wonder how the logistics would work regarding loco and stock stabling. If it involved bringing stuff up and down from Carnforth every week, it would surely make the economics rather questionable.

 

There's the Nemisis Rail Depot at Burton that can be used for stabling stock, so no need for ECS movements from 10A every week.

 

All our Bahamas trips (with the exception of York) are now up on the website and available to book - www.VintageTrains.co.uk

Cheers!

Ben

 

I travelled on Saturday's trip to Chester. I liked the format, with a decent length of stay in historic Chester. I thought that one tour leaflet between two was a little parsimonious.

Can't blame tour operators for the very strict elfansafety prohibition on vestibule travel, nor indeed for the awful weather!

Clun Castle is a beauty, and I look forward to her doing some trips to Stratford-upon-Avon later this year??

 

No need to stand anyhow and risk getting thrown off before the destination at a station it may be calling at beforehand, 7029 has a sharp bark anyhow we can hear from our seats in the carriage, And thats even with the sliding window shut afterall vintage are a new T.O.C. and want to show a good reputation to N.R. due to health and saftey without having passengers windowhanging i guess.

 

I was just wanting to know the cotswold explorer on the 18th of may can passengers board and alight at birmingham moor street

 

Yes

 

Cheers al it makes it easier for me Coming into birmingham new street to get to moor street. V.T. do pick up drop off at moor st.

 

Times not yet confirmed though and not on RTT

 

Times for the Cotswold Explorer on 18th May have been on RTT for a couple of weeks now, along with the Welsh Marches on 25th May.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10501/2019/05/18/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10504/2019/05/18/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10517/2019/05/25/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10520/2019/05/25/advanced

 

Anyone received their tickets yet for the cotswold explorer on 18th may

 

No not yet. Vintage still show times as provisional though they are on RTT

 

Tickets posted yesterday so all is well. We are in coach G.