Saphos Trains 2020

Was it Saphos who ran with a CK/FK in the rake for a period of time?

 

Would like to see LSL operate in other parts of the country such as ECML/Scotland, particularly with the return of 60007 next year.

 

Give it time, they're still a young company no point running before you can walk.

 

I think they already do. They have a trip up (or should that be down?) the ECML to Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh this weekend.

Peter

 

There are a couple in the works, but i think one is a MK1 Pullman, the other a Brake.
Couldnt hazard a guess on when they might come into service but it could be fairly quickly if they are a priority

Is there an upto date list of the Rolling stock the have in service ? its not quite a full train of MK2's and not quite a full train of MK1's and a pullman Bar car ? IIRC

 

West coast railways dont charge anywhere near that,best value railtours imo. I notice one railtour company is charging £125 for standard ,and another £140 when hauled by Scotsman!! Why extra for FS,it supposed to be the peoples engine. I travelled behind it lots of times in the 80s and 90s, and it was always the same fare as the others.

 

With FS I would assume simple economics ie. supply and demand. Demand exceeds supply as the NRM restrict the number of operation days (and have higher hire fees?) Whilst personally I do not get the whole FS thing (many other locos I would prefer) it is the one loco that most of the public have heard of (plus maybe Tornado as well).
Not sure I buy the "peoples engine" thing. It is just another, albeit high profile, Science Museum object.

 

That's true, but West Coast's own brand are generally in a different market niche, offering 90 to 150 miles of steam and probably needing three shifts to cover the total movement from Carnforth to Carnforth. Loco unspecified in advance. Up to 13 coaches depending on demand.

Compare that with the recent A1LST train (TOC WCR) from Leicester to Carlisle, the Pennine Explorer. Diesel and coaches from Southall at 2am to Doncaster at 10am, two long shifts on Tornado with 300 steam miles, diesel back to Leicester late Saturday and Southall late Sunday. 11 coaches. 600 miles worth of charges to pay Network Rail, overnights for the staff.

Different sums. Anyway, it all depends what you mean by value. For some it is steam miles, for others the view out of the window, or there's the loco, or there's the red pen on the network, or there's the chance of a fast run. BIL on the Dalesman last year ticked a few of those boxes!

 

Even if scotsman costs the same to hire as a similar Pacific, chances are it will be one coach less and probably and or a diesel... less seats= higher seat prices

 

Having been quoted a recent price a third party paid to hire Scotsman for a few hundred miles of running in the day I'd suggest you could save money on a pair of steam locos from a few other stables, or simply keep over half your money and use another powerful enough steam loco. The information quoted tells me that added to stock and operating charges the RTC fares for FS are sadly fully justified even if it prices many members of the public into not bothering. That said those who have the money will seemingly pay anything up to 50% extra over a low price all day steam excursion until the novelty wears off a little, which could be a while looking at current interest.

 

A very good point. I was hoping for a few more trains to be run from LSL's Southall base and servicing the southern half of the country, so much as I am delighted to see a train to Eastbourne included in the 2020 programme, I was a bit disappointed that the overall number of trains doesn't seem to have gone up but much since 2019 and one or two that ran this year aren't being repeated (e.g. Bristol-Weymouth),

Having said this, hand maybe the persons involved feel it is better to take a bit longer to feel comfortable running the current frequency of trains before stepping up the programme. If so, who are we to criticise them ? Moreover, while Saphos has gone for a few tried and tested routes such as Bristol-Kingswear and the Settle- Carlisle, I like the way the company has already been prepared to try a few different itineraries as well. We also need to remember that the main line operational fleet is currently quite small, especially with 46100 currently out of action for repairs. With 5029, 6024 and 60532 all being worked on, plus the owners of 60007 having signed an agreement with Saphos, the future in perhaps just a couple of years' time could be very exciting.

 

I assume the route is Burton - Wychnor - Lichfield and then Cross City line to Brum, passing Shenstone on the way

 

With pickup spots along the Nuneaton - Leicester line I would’ve assumed the route to be: Crewe - Nuneaton - Leicester - Castle Donnington - Tamworth - Smethwick(?) - Kidderminster - Bridgnorth. Or at least take one of the routes through Birmingham having come in from the Washwood Heath direction.

 

Shenstone is specifically mentioned in the write-up, so Lichfield and Cross City line is on the itinerary as things currently stand.

 

I'm puzzled by their trip running on 27th June, the Great Western Envoy.

It travels out via Coventry, Leamington, Oxford and Swindon, and advertises three hours in Bath or four in Bristol.

I thought Bath would be reached first, then Bristol so how do you get longer in Bristol than Bath, or am I missing something obvious?

 

John, I work for a company that's not long up and running, we have so many exciting plans for the future, I really can't wait for next year, but like Saphos it's all about biding your time, the best things are always worth waiting for. Roll on next year for both beer and trains!

 

I'd say it might be a typo.

 

Yes, my assumption too, but it says it twice which made me wonder.

I emailed them about it soon after we booked, but I've had no response.

 

Presumably operates direct to Bristol then by top 'n tail (diesel on the rear ?) train works the Bristol - Bath link as a top 'n tail shuttle.