Saphos Trains

Glad I had my brolly to hand for this one...


A West Country in West Cumbria

 

British Pullman use a generator coach, but in their case that's an extra coach to haul around as well as a support coach for the loco. Any reason why Saphos couldn't combine those functions?

 

Was 34046 planned to come off at Preston last night? 47805 took the train back from there while Braunton and support coach ran back to Crewe. There was a light engine move from Chester to Crewe just after the tour arrived - I thought that would be 34046 but it turned out to be 47853.

 

Thanks for the kind words Al.

 

They have a generator coach for the air con. The trip from Bristol at the start of July had it on as 45231 + 46100 were unassisted up the Lickey, but they need the diesel on the back for a lot of their tours as they turn the whole set around a triangle, generally between the outward and return legs but sometimes during the trip such as at Maindee (Newport) when running to Cardiff.

 

Yes there are places where you need to turn the train, but the CME's rarely turn the train at Carlisle so unclear why the Saphos trip yesterday would need a diesel unless they did not want to have the loco on the back of the ECS move to Shrewsbury.
Of course we are the only sort of people who would be upset, most passengers I suspect were happy a shiny steam loco was at the front.
I have had many passengers whilst stewarding who did not know a diesel was still on the rear, and quite a few who were very surprised that one was not.

 

The train did not run via Crewe. And there was a problem with a steam pipe in the cab which was attended to at Sellafield. AN

 

No problem in the USA, at least if you’re famous like Madonna.

 

I guess you’ve lived a sheltered life .

 

Italy, actually...

 

As an enthusiast it doesn’t bother me one bit having a diesel loco on the back of a Saphos tour I must admit. In fact, I much prefer the extra security of it especially when going somewhere like the Cumbrian coast where a failure may leave you stranded for many hours waiting for rescue from Crewe. That could have easily been the case at Sellafield on Saturday if the steam chest pressure gauge pipe problem had not been able to be fixed and there was no option on the back. It certainly encourages my wife to come along knowing we are likely to get there and back on time and I’m sure many others on board feel the same. No issue with the steam loco not working hard either - Braunton sounded well all day yesterday from way back in the train with the rear 47 unobtrusive and professionally handled. The whole LSL operation comes across as very professional and well organised.

Back in 2019 the generator car was used and they sent a light engine 47 from Crewe-Carlisle and back to shunt the ECS whilst the steam loco was serviced. I guess that luxury is uneconomic with Covid reduced loadings which together with the additional back up of having a diesel loco in case of failure is why it is there. No one wants a stationary failed train stood for a long period of time with no free flow of ventilation in a mark 1.

I guess they also had their fingers burnt (financially and reputationally) when they ventured without a diesel on the back to Canterbury at the end of 2019 and the amount of delay minutes that will have landed at their door that day…..

 

That train was overloaded for the route.

 

Times now on RTT for the next couple of trips:

William Shakespeare to Stratford 1st September
Out: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63162/2021-09-01/detailed
Rtn: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63166/2021-09-01/detailed

Magna Carta to Salisbury 4th September
Out: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63172/2021-09-04/detailed
Rtn: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63174/2021-09-04/detailed

 

I'm booked on the latter as it's my birthday....full dining! Everything's crossed.

 

Me too, but slumming it in second class

I'm sure you'll have a cracking time. I've done a first class (non dining) trip with them and that was pretty good.

 

Black 5 according to RTT for today.