Vintage Trains 2024

Living only 50min from Birmingham by train, I would love to do more VT tours, but as Chiltern are apparently unable to run anything from Brum later than 22:22 on a Saturday (compared with 23:45 on weekdays), it means a hotel room booking is almost always necessary, generally doubling the price.
Sometimes the provisional timings look like they might be OK for a day trip, but they can still change massively as demonstrated here.
The York trips later this month have the opposite problem, although they're on weekdays, the provisional start times from Birmingham or Nuneaton are 'only just achievable' and a significant change in the confirmed times could make them a non-starter.

Even the Shakespeare Express is difficult, the first Chiltern train on a Sunday arrives in Birmingham 5mins after the Shakespeare Express departs, though it is possible to do from the Stratford end if you don't mind a lot of hanging around.

Not VT's fault, they and Chiltern are both at the mercy of the 'rules of the network' that control when lines are blocked for engineering access, along with the limited paths available for steam tours, but it's still frustrating when you want to support reasonably-priced mainline steam that doesn't stick you in a mk2 coffin!
Thankfully they do tend to have at least one or two tours a year that stop at Banbury, so no such concerns when getting home is a 20min walk!

Would perhaps be nice to have some more trips that are maybe a guaranteed 'no earlier than 09:30 start and no later than 20:30 return', so you can be sure they're definitely doable in a day.

 

I seem to remember an outfit based in Crewe (who now push Pathfinder for the title of longest days) saying that was there aim when they launched.

 

I think that was Days Out run by Mel Chamberlain

 

They really pushed the boundaries (literally) and ran to places no steam had gone before (since the sixties). I recall going on a trip from Acocks Green to Marylebone and back with Clun Castle, the first trip INTO London from the West Midlands in the days when the that was the only London Station open to steam. They had a lot of critics but they were great pioneers.

 

Re; Blackpool Illuminations Trip I am I correct PLS in thinking that it is
STEAM ON/OFF both ways @ Nuneaton??? -- any 100% conf mucho appreciated
Many tas N

 

Top and Tail operation.

Bahamas works ECS from Tyseley to New Street
47 works New Street to Nuneaton
Bahamas works Nuneaton to Blackpool.

Set is turned via Lostock Hall/Farington Jn whilst passengers enjoy Blackpool

Return journey operation as above

 

It's a bind for us from down here in South East Wales. Trains? What are they? Bit risky to rely on there being no issues on the M50, M5 and M42 on a Saturday morning; and moreso late Saturday night. Got no interest in the top 'n' tail sections so despite it being something we don't like doing, we've booked a hotel in Nuneaton, a 15 minute walk from the station, for Friday and Saturday nights. We can leave the car there and I can have a beer or three out and about in Blackpool. Be good to have Bahamas up front and to be travelling in the Mk1 FO that we upgraded to as soon as it was added to the consist. Unlikely to be I count on my Steam on the Mainline Database as the box on the back is unlikely to remain quiet all day. Unlikely to do any serious timings either - other than on the Vintage Tram down the Prom!!!!

 

Hello

We agree the return timings for this Saturday's Blackpool trip are too late arriving back. There is, of course, a trade off between staying in Blackpool long enough to enjoy the illuminations in the dark and getting home. However, we have asked Network Rail to retime this train and so it is now expected to arrive back at New Street at 22.47. Passengers will be advised when the tickets are sent out, but we hope this helps a little bit

 

Although, only from a pure point of interest, not fully understanding the process for charter timing do Network Rail even have to respond to that sort of request Michael?

 

Shot from Hatton Footbridge of the final Shakespeare Express of the year.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

The Shakespeare Express on its final day of operation in 2024, captured at speed at Lapworth and near the top of the 1/75 gradient just before Wilmcote Station.

 

The mighty Earl on the charge through Dorridge !

 

NR have responded and agreed the revised times. It's all down to relationships between people

 

Martin, thanks for pointing this out.

 

Not going to live up to the "Illuminations Express" name is it? The lights aren't being switched on until 1700 hrs on Saturday according to their schedule. Ticket letter says we need to be back at North Station at least 20 minutes before the departure time of 1726; as in 1706 hours. You need to be down Central Pier way to see the best of them, and that's a good mile from North Station. Maps says it's a 22 minute walk. Might get a quick look at them from Queen Street, though the promenade end is quarter of a mile from North Station. C'est la vie.

 

Updated return timings now on RTT, as per Michael's comments.

 

A sight seen many times before back in the day as a jubilee arrives at platform 3 at Stafford with a northbound express, Bahamas draws to a stop for the pick up and to let a Pendolino past and then restarts on its way to Blackpool.