Saphos Trains

Had considered booking, but if steam is only on the return, I'm now wary of making the effort.

 

This post on the Members Page on the 60007 website explains why it's one way steam.

Update 10 July:

On return to Bishops Lydeard after the English Riviera Express on 8th July it was discovered that a bearing in the inside motion had failed. Repairs are in-hand but unfortunately 60007 will not be available for the planned Welsh Marches Express on 13th July. The repair work is planned to be complete in time for the locomotive to be ready for the tour scheduled on 22nd July. The locomotive is however now rostered for tours on 24th August (60007 Bristol-Plymouth -Bristol) and 31st August (60007 Bristol - Shrewsbury notene -way only).

 

Times for the Welsh Marches Express tomorrow:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66204/2023-07-13/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66209/2023-07-13/detailed

Unsure whether it is steam in one direction only.........

Cheerz,

Alan

 

The outward is timed at "95 mph max" all the way, the return likewise from Bristol, implying steam only from Shrewsbury to Bristol.

 

1Z49 diesel hauled on outward leg https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66204/2023-07-13/detailed
Steam loco 5Z53 Crewe to Shrewsbury to haul the return https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66235/2023-07-13/detailed
1Z52 return. Steam Shrewsbury to Bristol https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66209/2023-07-13/detailed

 

Indeed - steam one way for today's Welsh Marches it was, loco move at Yorton in sun and the train at All Stretton under the cloud. I did wonder whether 34046 was rostered after it's return to Crewe yesterday evening.
Back in April when I photographed the two LSL green 37s here I thought there was little chance of a steam loco at roughly the same time of day - never say never I suppose.

 

With just a hint of exhaust haze, 46100 powers past Bayston Hill with the Welsh Marches this afternoon...........



Cheerz,

Alan

 

How else do you operate the air con then?

 

Yawn - every member of this forum knows this by now. GIVE IT A REST PLEASE.

 

Are they going to continue with a couple of aircon coaches in the rake or is the intention to make it all Mk1s when they have enough serviceable ones?

 

When I was on the English Riviera Express last weekend most of the passenger coaches were Mk 1s except for two at one end, which were both Mk 2s. One of those Mk 2s was actually from the Statesman set, which I'd not seen as part of the Saphos rake before, I assume it was replacing a failed coach.

It was a hot day and I was in one of the Mk 1s so when I boarded at Kingswear the coach was boiling, whereas those passengers in the Mk 2s were arriving to a cool, air conditioned environment. So although they wouldn't have been able to hear the loco as well as those of us in the Mk 1s, they wouldn't have had to endure the heat that we did.

 

Generator Coach????

 

But equally if it does go wrong with the steam loco WCRC don’t have the immediate back up. So it’s 6 of 1, and half a dozen.

Saphos have that back up, they’ve also got something to assist the steam which in theory does help to reduce wear and tear overall. But then yes it’s not as nice if you’re sat right at the back and you can here the 47 all day (Been there and done that!). However what draws me to Saphos more than the rest is just the quality of service, food and interior. I’d take the diesel for that any day.

That being said it is absolutely stunning to see the steam go solo. And that is one of the advantages of WC.

 

Regardless of that the diesel brought the train north from Bristol and the Scot only worked in the southbound direction as a substitute for the unavailable A4, but let's ignore the positives in that the passengers got at least half the steam presence on the train they paid for. There is no doubt the class 47 was working as it passed All Stretton but Shropshire is no less affected by the dry conditions of late and had a generator coach been in the train the load would have been 13. It rained last week and it is today but the ground in my garden is still quite dry below the surface.
The 60 minute adverts for Saphos/Statesman etc all underline the target market for these trains is not the enthusiast and if the customers are happy all well and good.