Vintage Trains 2022

Update on tomorrow’s Shakespeare Express

Due to the high temperatures expected, we will be taking a class 20 diesel with us to support 7029. Clun is still expected to perform.

Unusually we will be running tender first to Stratford via Dorridge this week.

 

Update this morning.

Steam is not permitted onto the mainline today. The Shakespeare Express will now work with a single class 20.

 

Two class 20’s out with Vintage Trains on 12 August. Originating from Tyseley the duo head via East Midlands pickups to the town of Skegness. This tour replicating the typical seaside excursions of the 70’s and 80’s with 20’s heading from Leicester to the Seaside resort.

Tickets just £79pp!

 

Just £79! Used to travel to Skeggy with 2 20s a few years ago,as a regular summer service for about 8 quid. Railtour prices are getting beyond the joke lately.

 

Whilst it's true that railtours are probably one of the most expensive day trips it is possible to go on, £79 for a diesel trip of that distance is actually quite reasonable in the market these days. Book a diesel trip with Pathfinder, LSL, UKR, or any of the others and you'd probably be paying closer to £100. The UKR trip this Saturday is £119, the Pathfinder one is £125.

Also, while I'm here, with the news that RTC's trip to the WSR this weekend will be diesel-hauled due to the steam ban, I'm guessing Sunday's Shakespeare Express will be as well. Perhaps @Will RL can confirm?

 

Sounds like a good 30 years ago at that price and with 20's as regular traction.
Current Off-Peak Day return from Nottingham to SkegVegas appears to be £28.10 - on a unit.....
Cheap Day Return from Tyseley to Skeg is £65.30, but you can't depart before 09.26, otherwise its £83.90.

 

Frankly, Skegness is well at the bottom of my list of places to visit! Apart from a single railtour in the early 2000's, the last time I had been there by rail was in the 1980's when the 20's were a regular feature, as were 40's. Only other times I've been there was when Roadcar ended up running a load of our former Leyland Atlanteans there in the late 1990's......
I just quoted the going rates off the EMR website to illustrate how out of date the "£8" figure was. I'd go for less than the quoted prices nowadays anyway with my Senior Railcard! (A 3-year version of which has more than paid for itself after just making 4 trips since I got it in May)

 

Steam ban continues this week. Whilst Clun is fit to run, we will be running tomorrows Shakespeare with a pair of 20’s.

 

Here in the Manchester area it rained most of yesterday, quite heavily at times, part of last night and currently there is a heavy drizzle which set in about mid-day. Fairly well par for course in the (not so) sunny North West.

 

£79 compared to many other tour operators is a bargain, and in comparison to Birmingham to Skegness fares it stands up extraordinarily well, with the bonus of decent traction instead of a packed out 15x/170.

 

Decent coaching stock agreed. Personally not would regard Class 20's as decent traction, but that is just me.

 

20's had busy few days running up and down the Severn valley also.

 

Timings for Skegness now in. Very sociable and not much hanging around.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/servic ... 2/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/servic ... 2/detailed

 

Clun returns to the Shakespeare Express tomorrow! (Fire risk mitigating diesel assistance will be with us).

 

Or not. The 47 is now working solo from the latest post on their Facebook