Saphos 2024

The loco and first coach do present a very nice late '50s look.

 

If it’s £900 for two that makes a Belmond trip look like remarkable value. You get the real deal, genuine fine dining in proper Pullman luxury

 

The only issue with the Belmond is if you are doing it from an enthusiast point of view the routes are the same standard thing, not that that’s much different to Saphos this year and I suspect makes no difference to 95% of the punters.

I’d love to do the Belmond, but I’d be more inclined to spend the cash if it was over the S&C or something like that. Perhaps I’m just fussy?!

 

I get what you mean but the new route around Kent is far superior to the old Surrey Hills circuit with a few gradients to make the engine cough a bit and you get to see France on a clear day! Except possibly in the leaf fall season there’s the added advantage that there’s no diesel on the back!

 

How very dare you!

 

Does anyone know which of 34046 or 70000 are on tomorrows Golden Arrow around Kent?

 

Should be 70000, as RTT reported it being said engine on the Greenford turning move yesterday

 

Sounding perfect on Bearstead Bank approaching the summit, diesel seemingly to have done nothing on the last part of the climb

 

And, not long before you took that nice photo, I had driven a few miles from home to get the Brit hurrying through Borough Green.

Bryan B

 

Well it was hard to top off the opening shot at Bearsted with the Brit near on full regulator up the grade, but she put on a fine show as always for the rest of the day, even with it being put behind a stopper before Martin Mill bank:

 

All very good sequences, but I particularly like the sound track of the Brit storming up Bearsted Bank.

Bryan B.

 

Britannia yesterday Working the Golden Arrow, Filmed at Bearsted, Ashford, Walmer, Folkestone and Otford, Enjoy

 

Joining into the bandwagon with @TheModster and @DanielsTrains on yesterdays Golden Arrow outing, here’s my contribution on Britannia following the shadows of her long lost sisters 70004 & 70014, captured on Bearstead Bank, Ashford, Walmer, Folkestone West & Otford

 

Mayflower at Taunton today on the last tour before the Christmas programme.

 

61306 Mayflower at Bradford-on-Tone with the Golden Hind en route to Plymouth.

 

Westbound just below Ivybridge...

 

Well worth a watch...

Behind the scenes at Locomotive Services Ltd in Crewe (youtube.com)

 

Nice to see The Brighton Belle featured in that video as well. Looking forward to what they can do with that.

 

There was an LSL train in Windsor & Eton Riverside today with 47 Roger Hosking on the front. Didn’t see the full consist

 

That was The Statesman, on its final tour before going out of action for a year to fit new air conditioning and heating systems to the Mk2s.