Vintage Trains Bahamas Tours

I don't suppose they're missing you and your goggles

 

Considering the number of trains that have been cancelled they appear to be missing the cash that he would have spent on fares, food, drink etc.

Let's hope that bookings have improved for the Bahama's tour on Saturday. <BJ>

 

As far as I know the bookings are up, the one on July 4th probably suffered for two reasons, it was advertised at short notice and was in the working week

 

I have travelled with VT numerous times over the years, but not once since they became their own TOC. One thing is the weekend tours just haven't suited to other commitments, but the midweek evening stuff just isn't worth the effort. At £160pp, I don't want to be rushing away from work early to make it into Birmingham, to sample the tour and then rush home for work the next day. If I'm paying that much I want to be able to enjoy the evening itself, which includes making a bit of effort dress-code wise considering it's a more pricier trip.

I've done the evening curry train (5029?) and L94 test run in the past, all of which were cheaper options and I didn't feel I need to make as much of an effort. Turning up in a jacket and jeans with my mates to enjoy a midweek evening after work was what it was, the current offering just isn't that. Afternoon Tea at teatime doesn't appeal either. I just feel the current marketing is restricting who is going to be available to book on these tours. But then again, at £160pp you need to find 2x people to make the same amount at £80pp for a supper train. So what's easier - finding a couple wanting a more high-end dining experience or a table of 4x looking for a supper train, on a Thursday evening in Birmingham..?

 

You said in your first patronising post ( I say first, maybe all your previous posts were patronising as well...) that "These tours are marketed to people who want an enjoyable day out with a good lunch/dinner" well I dont want to have a meal on a train so if you can tell me a TOC that doesnt have 75% and more of the train dining, premier dining,non pleb four forks and four knives Downton Abbey dining then I might consider it but maybe not even then as I cant stand by the droplight nowadays and see and here the loco I have paid a lot of money to see and hear.

 

Has anyone else received their tickets yet for the vintage welsh marches tour to hereford who may be going on this tour on 20th july

 

Bahamas now scheduled to work the Shakespeare Express on the 4th August

 

No ticket yet, but I am assuming it will be in tomorrow's post. Thursday is the usual day that I receive VT tickets, much closer to the tour date than other operators / promoters.

 

Thanks for this, was starting to get concerned myself.

 

Thanks bleeder its david again who was sat opposite you on the strongbow cider if you remember me from the cotswold explorer on 18th may anyhow thanks for telling me that ile be joining the train at brum moor st so i may see you about then bleeder if your on this trip with 45596 to hereford
Davo 56F

 

And the henry westons cider i like drinking brewed in hereford

 

G.W.R. are increasing the frequency and faster journey times it says on the Bristol post news about faster more frequent and more seats on bristol to paddington and cheltenham services, i saw on google news feeds on the paddington to Bristol line and the same on the G.W.R. Paddington to Exeter plymouth and penzance line i saw last night on a google news article last night after December 2019 G.W.R. will begin thease new services. Is this anything for vintage to worry about would there still be suitable pathing and running such excursions as the cotswold explorer and future double headed tours with 5043 71000 and 7029 over whiteball to penzance and maybe affecting other tour operators?
Davo 56F.

 

5643 would never get suitable pathing (knowing full well you meant 5043). But I reckon steam will still have a fair shout.

 

I remember over 20 years ago being on one of the 'last' steam tours over Shap, now there is at least one a week! Where there is a will there is a way, we just might need to kerb our expectations - more visits to loops etc. Most of the VT tours are only on the mainline for short sections, so should be OK. There was talk of the Torbay Express 'path' from Bristol being written into the timetable, indeed several operators have used it this year.
Where there is difficulty is with the London termini, however there is still steam out of Kings Cross this year, which many had written off! The 07:10 out of Euston is also regularly used by operators (if not for steam). Getting charter paths into the timetable has got to be the way forward, it will mean more repeat itenary or variants on a theme, but there will at least be certainty and hopefully reliability.

 

Interestingly the LT class 20 has just taken the stock to Dorridge. Can’t see that accompanying the tour today...

Load 8 (inc POB and GUV).

 

I stand corrected. There is a red 20 on the back today..!

 

Looking good through the Hawthorns

https://www.flickr.com/photos/31339850@N06/48328394827/in/dateposted-public/

graham

 

Not much but my contribution anyhow from getting another bit of action off Vintage trains & 45596 about to reverse south of Hereford railway station in a siding for watering and servicing, where I'm not sure because its my first visit to Hereford town. Davo 56F

 

Bahamas making a storming ascent of Llanvihangel as well a few shots earlier in the day

 

Some lovely shots of 45596 doing the business today. Hopefully another VT success

Roll on next weeks ‘White Rose’ to York!