Saphos Trains 2020

Guide Bridge, Hyde North and Colton Jnc, coming and going!

 

My video of the Brit passing Todmorden on the return yesterday evening is now uploaded:



Cheers,
Mark

 

I know it's not the best of shots but all I can manage is a still from a video I took at Smithy Bridge.
Having made up lost time and running a touch early, 70000 was going like the wind and as it was the first video I'd taken with this camera I cocked up the focus. That's my excuse anyway.

 

A shot of Britannia working away from what's left of Ferrybridge Power Station, before a signal check as she passed Ulleskelf
©copyright 2020-PA

 

Saturday's trip seen just after departing York:

 

Going nicely past the crowds at Colton Junction.

 

Coronavirus statement on Saphos website:-

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) STATEMENT 10/03/20
As a professional travel promoter, we take the current situation regarding the Covid-19 virus very seriously. All our trains carry hand sanitiser gel along with guidance on prevention measures and our on-board staff are available to assist as necessary.

Should you become ill prior to the trip with us, or test positive for the Covid-19 virus, we understand this will be a concerning time and we strongly recommend that if you exhibit any symptoms to call the NHS helpline 111, and follow the guidance they provide.

If you are ‘positively’ diagnosed with Covid-19, and unable to travel, please call our reservations team who will be happy to transfer your booking at short notice onto another train (subject to availability) operating prior to 20 December 2020 or provide a full refund.

This is a temporary amendment to our standard ‘Terms & Conditions of Booking and Travel’ and may be superseded at short notice as the situation develops.

 

Good to see but I hope they have gel well protected as apparently Salisbury Hospital had a dispenser ripped off the wall yesterday according to BBC local news and there are reports of them being removed from the end of the beds at Swanage Hospital.

 

Simply Wonderful. If i had the means for a 'full size trainset' it couldn't be any better than that...

 

Climbing out of the city by Matthew Evans, on Flickr

70000 Working hard up Miles Platting


To the Tunnel by Matthew Evans, on Flickr

Then a short while later at Chinley East Jnc

 

FB Update regarding the Virus.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) STATEMENT 16/03/20
As a professional travel promoter, we take the current situation regarding the Covid-19 virus very seriously and as everyone is aware the situation has become more serious and widespread since our last statement was issued on the 10th March.
The health and wellbeing of our valued customers and employees is of paramount importance and for that reason we have made some further temporary amendments to our ‘Terms & Conditions of Booking and Travel’.
All trains due to operate between the 20th March and 10th May have been cancelled and every customer will receive a letter offering a choice of either an immediate 100% refund, or a transfer onto another train operating in 2020.
A decision regarding trains due to operate after the 10th May will be made in a few weeks as the situation develops, and we will keep our customers updated.

 

Not good news but a clear, decisive statement, and yes it does affect me. Also, I am already booked on trips with other operators (RTC and WCRC) and must now await information from them. All the indications suggest we are in for a very long haul, who knows when steam will return to the mainline but let's hope that there will be no tailgunner. I fear that some operators are going to find the situation much more challenging than others. We must collectively "keep our chins up"!

 

Yesterday, 23rd April, was the day widely celebrated as Shakespeare's birthday. Yesterday the weather forecast for Stratford-upon-Avon was sunny with temperatures in the low 20s. Yesterday Mrs W and I had booked to travel on the "William Shakespeare" hauled by 70000 Britannia to Stratford-upon-Avon; how quintessentially English would that have been? Alas, as we had known for some time, the trip was cancelled (and we have our money back).

I was looking forward to this trip as it is outside my normal patch and I last visited our destination way back in the summer of 1964, on a day much like yesterday. The occasion was a school trip, by charter train from Accrington (a black 5 and some old LMS side corridor stock - I think). The purpose was a visit to the RSC to see a performance of Henry IV part 1 which we would be studying for O Level the following year. Apparently it was directed by Peter Hall but was wasted on me, I was much more Science Museum.

I can remember very little of the day. After arriving we were "marched" down to a grassy area where we ate the food that we had brought with us. In my duffel bag I had my GPS (good plain sandwiches) parcelled in a bread wrapper and a bottle of pop - I wonder if it was Corona? The highlight of the day was when we were allowed to go for a row on the river; no health and safety back then. The teachers hung about on the bank, smoking. My mate Donald and I went much further than we thought (with the current) and took ages to row back against it. Happy days.

 

You can hear Toby Jones as Falstaff in Henry IV Part 1 on Radio 3 at 7:30 this evening (Sun 26th).

 

Falstaff: “Play out the play.” (Act ll Scene i). My thanks to Wikiquotes. Unfortunately, I will not be listening as I am washing my hair - I wish!

 

Just received letter from Saphos; Fellsman of 27 May now postponed to 2 Sep. If unable to travel on the revised date Saphos will provide a credit voucher for use on future trips up to 31 Dec 2021.

I hope that the trip does run on 2 Sep, but I have my doubts. Being in the extremely vulnerable group (waiting for a vaccine or an effective treatment) I won’t be on it - so credit voucher it must be. Postpone or credit voucher is a significant change from Saphos’ previous policy of cancel and refund.

 

Looks like Saphos now have a standard class mark 2a so hopefully will feature on future tours

http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/G...ks/mk3tso5366eastleighworks23rdapril2020.html

 

I have just received a letter from Saphos; The Fellsman of 24 June has now been rescheduled to 26 August. Of particular interest is, ". . all carriages will be equipped to conform with social distancing regulations and the number of passengers reduced by 40% in addition to an enhanced level of housekeeping for the lavatories and hand sanitisers available at each entrance."

Although I have a booking I will not be travelling and have opted for a credit note. I hope that it runs and is diesel free. Hopefully things may have calmed down enough to allow me to watch.

 

There is an article in the latest SR received today, about what they are doing to comply with the regulations.