Vintage Trains - 2021

Thanks. Quoted from VT, and contains more details of their proposals.

 

With respect, that’s a typical armchair expert comment, 45596 is now at the Nene Valley, contracted to run there on next week’s Gala and driver experience. 45305 is at the GC so that would involve booking a low loader, getting a FTR done and a support crew together, most of whom will have day jobs to go to on Monday. On top of the logistics there’s the considerable cost.

 

It would be interesting to know why the Earl's return has been delayed. A few years ago they were saying the overhaul should be pretty quick.

 

Possibly Covid related?

 

And they state the Duchess is hauling a trip to Chester on in the 27th November, while it is listed on the RTC website to haul the return of their Ealing Broadway to York trip.

 

There is no trip to Chester listed on Vintage trains website for 27th November. At the end of the day the promoters website is the one to go by, provided it gets updated, and not a 3rd party one like RA.

Dave B

 

True enough, but it was the people at Tyseley themselves who thought it would be quick, and they do tend to know what they're talking about.

 

Agreed I never trust RA.

 

I can only echo this. I don’t know where this has come from, nor who within VT has told RA anything, especially before being announced officially via the website and social media.

 

I suspect their efforts are focusing on returning 7029 to an operational condition asap so they are not reliant so heavily on 3rd party locomotives.

 

With respect its a comment from a prospective passenger who would pay the premium for steam but doesnt then want to get lumbered with a couple of Class 20's because, and I quote Michael Whitehouse "We've learned a lot about having a diesel on the train because out of 200 people that came on the train everyone was perfectly happy about it".

 

RailAdvent talking ********? Didn’t see that one coming...

James

 

Just depends if your a kettle on wheels purist or willing to pay £200+ for a ride behind a diesel loco which some enthusiasts dont mind, but when its advertised as steam and a diesel has to be substituted it's very disappointing and the 2 alternatives are if you dont want to go on the tour is a full refund or transfer your booking to another date when your more guaranteed of getting a kettle on the front. The new vintage trains T.O.C. is most certainly alot different to how it was when west coast railways used to be the support crews on board vintage trains and provide the carriages the pannier ramblers and 49XX Halls were allowed out on the mainline now a hall is only suitable for heritage lines due to the new gauging methods so the new vintage trains are concentrating on their 3 castles and 45593 and maybe if funds allow to overhaul one of their mainline pannier tanks soon but I at least thought by now 7029 and 5043 would be running, and maybe 4936 Kinlet hall but there again covid hasent helped the heritage railway sector over the past year and a half.

 

Yes of course the pandemic has set everything back, but my impression whenever it was (three years ago?) was that overhauling the Earl would be quicker than various other jobs.

 

They have stated in the past, that profits from running tours is used to pay for the overhaul their own fleet.

 

I seem to remember that about a year before covid there was news in the magazines that they'd received a sizeable inheritance which they were going to be using to fund the Earl's restoration. I think it's what they used to fund the repairs to the turntable as well.

 

Good news Email from VT today
Dear all,
We would like to make you aware of an additional tour date which is available to book by clicking here for The Shakespeare Express on Sunday 5th September. The train will be hauled by 7029 Clun Castle (steam). If you would like to book by using a voucher that was issued to you recently, either call the bookings line (0121 708 4960) or email your booking request with your voucher code to bookings@vintagetrains.co.uk.
If you require any additional information or have any further queries about this tour, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your continued support in Vintage Trains!
Kind regards,
Vintage Trains Ticket Office Team
0121 708 4960 (Office hours 9.30am-4pm)