Vintage Trains 2024

Thanks Michael, that really is most encouraging.

 

A group of us are travelling on the Shakespeare Express tomorrow. I telephoned the Vintage Trains office yesterday to enquire about the potential use of a diesel on the service as, being one of the old school, I prefer to feel as if the steam loco is hauling our train rather than being pushed. The young man was most courteous and explained the situation which was virtually the same as has been explained by Michael.

Thank you to both gentlemen. [BJ]

 

Also as a rider on the trains and therefore contributing toward a couple of pieces of coal I am extremely grateful to Michael for keeping us enthusiasts in the loop on NP despite having an awful lot else to do. I have got a party of five tomorrow on the Worcester SE and the lunchtime SE to Birmingham, one of whom is an ex-Worcester loco-crew who has come up from Exeter for this. From Michael's comments I was able to reassure him that all should be well (or as well can be) on the day for which, as I say, was much appreciated. Thanks VT.

 

Good Morning from Tyseley Locomotive Works.

Looking forward to forward to welcoming everyone on board today’s Shakespeare Express from Worcester Shrub Hill.

The train is formed as following leaving Worcester Shrub Hill: 5043 ‘Earl of Mount Edgcumbe’- Pullman Car B- Pullman Car C- Pullman Car D- Buffer Bar Z- Tourist- E-Tourist F- Tourist G- Class 47 No. 47773.

If anyone is interested , we have a pick up booked at Birmingham New Street at 1118-1126 on the morning run and a set down this evening at Birmingham Snow Hill at 1743-1747. If anyone is interested in joining us , we have limited space available so please feel free.

We hope everyone has a good day!

Best Wishes,
Joe Bevan
Deputy Tour Manager
Vintage Trains

 

Out and about today around Solihull

 

From this evenings return trip from Stratford to Worcester.
5043 framed by the ironwork of the handrails of Edstone Aqueduct, where 39 years ago I photographed 7029 at about 8:30pm on a beautiful June evening, no chance of that today.
And nearly pure Great Westernry at Droitwich with 5043 pulling forward from a signal check having arrived early at the junction.

 

Well VT pulled it off with some assistance from the DL due to the fire risk but there was plenty of activity from up front for us to listen to. The support from passengers boarding at Shrub Hill and Droitwich was a credit to the fans from Worcestershire. We did the lunchtime run as well so all in all a very worthwhile day given the issues. Thanks again to all at VT.

 

5043 making a rare departure from Droitwich during Sunday morning on SE duties




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Why are you always having a go at West Coast, what have you got against them? They have almost singlehandedly kept main line steam running for the past 30 years. There would not have been much else without them, until the advent of the overblown and far too expensive Saphos. Fair play to Vintage trains of course who do not run many trains, but are always well run, and reasonably priced within the reach of the true enthusiast, who of course these trains were originally created for. Splendid trip yesterday from Worcester, despite the 47 apparently doing most of the work over the Lickey. Please correct me if i am wrong, but i was told the diesel was flat out all the way up the bank, and i personally could not hear a sound from the castle, except for a whistle at the top. But as i said, great trip with 2 different routes out and back,and at an affordable ticket price,

 

the diesel was certainly pushing hard up the lickey and also shoving on the Shakespeare Express i was on i can see why people do not bother to do mainline steam anymore

 

Yeah I mean I can’t understand it to be honest….We’ve just been through the hottest period of the year to date. The ground is tinder dry. The nearby Severn Valley suffered around 15 lineside fires in 2 days, with the fire brigade out to most of them. Earlier in the week a Black 5 caused at least 1 fire on the National Network causing havoc…..Why would they have the diesel pushing?! Unbelievable!!

 

I see my post regarding the SVR has been removed censorship ia alive and well on Nat pres goodbye

 

This must be the most pig ignorant post of the month, did you even read Michael Whitehouse's post just above yours? VT have been completely open and transparent about diesel assistance (unlike others) and in my experience normally the diesel just adds an extra 100 tons of weight for the steam engine when it does accompany on their trips. VT have also run the only non diesel accompanied trips of the year so far, including sending one diesel light engine all the way to Plymouth!

 

We persevere because we still love the thrill of steam at 75mph, we owe an enormous debt to persons like Michael Whitehouse for keeping faith with main line steam and we are realistic that we will win some like Plymouth and to an extent lose some like this weekend most of which was down to the weather. I and many others bother because the world of steam will be a poorer place without the main line, DL on the back or not. It's 56 years since I thought it was over so I'm still living the dream.