Vintage Trains - 2021

Well it was my 1st ride up the Lickey bank and dident know what to Expect coming up it I would have thought that 6233 would have been able to attack Lickey bank solo with the diesel only ticking over but as LMarsh1987 says network rail may have advised vintage to use the diesel up Lickey to prevent any delays of service trains. But besides that I enjoyed my day out riding behind 6233 on the midland Bristolian and I hope other passengers on board did also have a good day out.
Davo 56F

 

46233 Doesn’t sound as loud as 46229 used to either. I recall the latter on the Welsh Marches and thinking it sound like a Harley Davidson being ‘given the beans’.

 

Agree

 

I think the PRCLT would have a fit if there engine was given the beans. I remember back 2012 when the Duchess had just returned in green and there was two stunning runs over Shap, enthusiasts, linesiders and timers were delighted, the Trust not so much. I'll share Steve's video, where you see Gordon Hodgson giving it the 'Said' beans out of Crewe, notably from 1.38. I think this was Gordon's penultimate run with the Duchess.

 

I remember that very well Liam , Gordon was doing what he did best but maybe not what the Trust wanted but on the day nothing was said as far as I know and as we left Carlisle Mick Rawlings gave it the beans hence we slipped big time as we departed Carlisle

 

I think it's about time they fixed the draincocks it can't be that difficult can it.

 

Times are on RTT for the Welsh Marches trip with 6233 next Saturday.

Outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63461/2021-11-13/detailed
Return: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63463/2021-11-13/detailed

Different way round to normal. It's normally through Gloucester on the outward and Telford on the return, but that does give us the climb of Old Hill doing it this way around. It's also non-stop from New Street to Hereford so they're making good use of the water carrier there.

 

Plus unless I am mistaken there has not been any tour without a diesel involved since September has there?

 

I prefer this, we would have risked a significant chunk of the Marches in the dark otherwise with the clocks having gone back.

 

Can anyone who was on this confirm whether they've sorted out the 'unallocated seating' chaos from previous tours?
Did all the 'good seats' get bagged by people who got on at the first stops, leaving only the dregs for those who got on later?

Tempted by the Welsh Marches trip but don't want to risk getting on at BNS only to find that all the window seats have been taken by people boarding at Tyseley and we end up being stuck in two aisle seats, or our group split across multiple tables.

Also, was the heating working properly this time?

 

Why don't you contact Vintage Trains. I'm sure that they would be happy to answer all of your questions.

As for passengers bagging all the window seats at Tyseley, why don't you board there yourself? <BJ>

 

I never got any reply from VT when I e-mailed them with feedback from my last, slightly disappointing, trip with them, so I was hoping someone on here would be able to share an update based on experience.

As for boarding at Tyseley, not everyone has the luxury of a car, and by public transport it's much easier to reach New Street/Snow Hill, especially that early in the morning.

 

I think VT need to up their game when it comes to communicating with their customers. A number of questions have been asked of them on this thread which they have not responded to. And it seems they are similarly unresponsive to emails. This is rather concerning.

 

If you have bought an individual ticket then, yes, you may find when you board at BNS that all the shared tables already have 3 people sitting at them so you may not have much choice. I bought their "bubble for 2" ticket so I should be able to board at BNS and claim a table all to myself, since their website says they keep "bubble booking" passengers separated from individual booking passengers.

 

I can answer those as I was the PM guard on the Midland Bristolian. The heating was working very well throughout the day and was even turned off from around 11am as the train had warmed up very well. The 47 providing ETH throughout the entire day, with the Duchess providing steam heat to Eagle as it is currently steam heat only. All seating was allocated on that tour.

 

Many thanks for the info.
I've also had a very helpful chat via PM with @Will RL who has given me the latest on the seating situation.
It does sound like VT are taking customer feedback onboard.

Just got to see if I can get the Mrs on board and get a dog sitter!

EDIT: Now booked :-D