Saphos Trains

Nice "RHS Garden" between those tracks at Torre I see.

 

Yes indeed it doesn’t enhance the photos! I was going to chase 60007 to Torquay to see what that was like last Saturday but ended up staying at Kingswear for 4555.

 

This is absolutely correct. Any tour operator / TOC can hire 60007 on the mainline, they just have to hire via LSL, the same process as hiring 46100 or 34046 etc. To date, there has not been a request.

 

Whiteball this morning. Little assistance (If any) from the diesel, which should please those on here who doubt it capable

 

Climbing up past Saltern Cove on the PDSR

 

Very little audible in person at the time so I’m still saying Little.

 

Return is seen at Kingswear and then Collumpton, albeit nearly missing it at the second shot hence the short video

 

60007 Sir Nigel Gresley on the Riviera Express at Bradford on Tone.

 

Cullompton this evening

 

1Z27 Slough to Plymouth. 60007 forward from Taunton.

Tour delayed by 60 mins at Bristol TM due to suspected kink in track at Parson Street. Line reopened at 10:10. No problem found with condition of track. [BJ]

 

60007 Sir Nigel Gresley leaving Bishops Lydeard en route to Norton Fitzwarren.

 

On the return, 60007 on the way up Hemerdon. The 47 on the back was not doing much at this stage......
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hemerdon/53138396112

 

However it seemed to be doing a lot from around 10 mins 20 in this clip that I was directed to by a society member who was very unimpressed.

 

Of course it is, but I think he expected a little more contribution from the front, and I tend to agree.

 

Afraid Saphos Trains just aren't worth supporting. Steam hauled they aren't and in fairness they don't claim they are. Their type of train is what so many people want these days and that's fine for them. Sadly it's taken so many superb steam locomotives away from doing what they were designed to do. Same for Steam Dreams who we also miss.

 

There was a post elsewhere on NP that stated that 60007 and other LSL locos are available to hire by third parties, but to date they had not been approached.

I would guess that the loco would need to be approved by West Coast or DB, (it is far simpler to hire to a heritage railway), but technically it is feasible. Several of the LSL stud have been used by West Coast in the past before they became a TOC in their own right, I remember travelling behind 46100 on a West Coast operated trip.

I am suprised there hasn't been more of an effort to replace 35028 on the Pullmans for instance, all LSL locos would be suitable. It would make more economical sense to gain approval for a series of trains rather than a one off, but of course support crew and other factors also influence economics.

 

Also to be considered is the hire charge for the loco and the movement cost to the part / end points of the rail tour (i.e. who pays the associated movement costs). I would venture to suggest that Mr Hosking charges a "commercial rate" that covers his costs but doesn't discount for "favoured friends" hence his locomotives remain available for Hosking Group services.