Vintage Trains 2022

Will these tours have a kettle on the back for shunting, shovage, steam heating, resilience etc?

Hat, coat...

 

Many thanks for the helpful reply.

 

The standout tour for me for the rest of the year is surely 7029 on the S&C. Potentially 4 steam trains at Carlisle on the same day which also coincides with LNER Azuma Carlisle diversions.

 

Cumbrian Coast and Northern Belle being two of those. Which was the fourth? There is the Lune Rivers Trust, but that is headed for York rather than Carlisle. A very busy day in the Northern Fells though!

 

Saphos Coronation Scot see https://saphostrains.com/journey/coronation-scot-24-09-22

 

With all the other services at Carlisle that pretty much guarantees a box on the back. Just like with 6233, though fair play they did intend to run it solo over the S&C. I'd like to see VT be brave and send the 47 light to Appleby or Carlisle to re-attach for the Carlisle movements and vice versa. I'd contribute to make that happen.

 

Sadly unlikely though saying that I don’t think there was that much assistance with the Duchess tour with VT in March. I will hopefully be at Carlisle that day and it will be the first time I have ever seen a castle or an unrebuilt Bulleid.

 

Agree, 2 seats now booked for Club Class!

Be interesting to see how far steam stays on for the return.

Was also tempted by the Llandudno and Ffestiniog trip, but choice had to be made!

 

I've just gone to the VT website to have a look. Clicking on "Calendar" goes away from VT's own website to https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/vintagetrains/items/calendar/?full-items=yes which tries to run scripts from some other domains. However I have NoScript running, which warns me about those scripts and lets me choose whether to allow them to run. I prefer not to.

 

If it was anything like the Welsh Marches trip, the 47 will be clinging on for dear life!

Sam, you will be in for a treat..

 

Here we go ....rail strikes announced for 21st, 23rd and 25th June.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61723515

Probable tour cancellation / postponement:
Vintage Trains. 25th June. Pair of class 20s from Snow Hill - Worcester - WSM return.

 

That was an excellent trip. I always love the VT trips along the Marches. Incidentally, you've captured me in that photo as well. I'm standing to the left of the "L10" box.

 

If it was anything like the Welsh Marches trip, the 47 will be clinging on for dear life!

Very nice to put a face to a name! Agreed, that was a sensational trip and went some way to reaffirm my passion for mainline steam after a few disappointing trips.

 

Chances of Carlisle handling 4 tours if it is a diversion day must be remote I would have thought.

 

Just an update on the booking situation, if you book directly with VT by calling 0121 708 4960 and not via their third party website you avoid the booking fees...I queried when I booked and was told I'd found the loophole...saved quite a few quid and gained bookings as I wasn't going to otherwise, as others have said it's not great to find a hidden charge at the checkout stage.

Derek

 

Without knowing what contract VT gave to whichever commercial operation that developed the new site we will never know if what has been delivered meets the original specification or not. To me it does appear to be a retrograde step, but then a great percentage of commercial website "upgrades" seem to achieve that, as have a few Heritage Lines in the past.
I have not gone into to the fees in any depth, but from a poster on another forum the booking fee was stated as being higher for First over Standard. If that is actually true then it is not a booking fee at all but a tax.
Booking fees, hidden or not, are a bad idea as they make people feel lied to, would be far better to include it in the ticket price, if actually required. Also if it is avoidable by ringing direct then slightly extra profit for VT. But if they do not charge over the phone then it should be made clear on the website.

 

I agree on the principle of booking fees, but suspect that if many people used the phone, booking fees would be charged for any booking as the saving in payment to the website (I suspect a percentage based model may be at work) will be offset by the cost of having to take the calls.

There is no good reason why the costs charged by booking engines shouldn't be embedded in headline prices, and the sooner that these fees disappear, the better.

 

Nigel Harris (of RAIL Magazine) has confirmed on Twitter that these have now been cancelled due to the strike action.
https://twitter.com/RAIL/status/1534856746329677824

The Chiltern HybridFLEX unit will be providing shuttles to Honeybourne on the 22nd only.

 

Duchess of Sutherland 17th June
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64448/2022-06-17/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64449/2022-06-17/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64450/2022-06-17/detailed
Return Journey diesel hauled
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64451/2022-06-17/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64452/2022-06-17/detailed