Saphos 2025

Saphos very rarely make a big deal out of the type of rolling stock their trains use, as I suspect their primary target audience wouldn't know or care. So I was most amused to receive a marketing email from them today about the Edinburgh trips, in which they specifically mention their "vintage carriages with opening windows". It's the first time I've ever seen them promoting their tours based on the fact that they have opening windows. A not so subtle dig at WCR perhaps? Although, as mentioned, most of their passengers wouldn't even know who WCR are!

 

I would agree that everyone on here would see opening windows as a plus. But as you say the target audience probably do not care, and I suspect some in this age of air conditioned trains, cars, offices etc may view it as a negative.

 

Saphos appear to have chosen their wording well. If "vintage carriages with opening windows" are what you want, you are encouraged to book. If that's what you do not want, you have been warned and can choose to book or not.

 

Should some of this be in the Saphos 2025 thread

 

Wed 30th April The White Rose; Barrow-in-Furness to York. Saphos Trains, 60007 Warrington - York - Warrington CANCELLED BY THE TOUR OPERATOR

 

Received ticket and confirmed timings yesterday for The Lakelander on 26th April. Something a bit different about this one as the timings are much longer than they usually are. The Lakelander's usual path leaves Preston at 10:15 to get into Carlisle at 12:30 (for example, as the one on 5th April does). However, the one on 26th leaves Preston an hour earlier to get into Carlisle at the same time. So three hours from Preston to Carlisle instead of two hours. Timings not yet on RTT but either it's having a mega water stop somewhere, or it's going via the S&C instead. I await the RTT timings with interest...

 

I have no doubt it will be linked to the closure of the WCML north of Carlisle for engineering work. This often affects tours as they struggle for platform space at Carlisle, or indeed paths in to Carlisle off the WCML. Not so long back we had the run of tours going to Appleby instead of Carlisle to help deal with these issues during engineering work.

 

Thanks Harry. I hadn't realised that work was still going on!

 

Any idea what is hauling tomorrow's trip to Canterbury? Britannia maybe?

 

I believe so. Not sure anything else is still at Southall? Can’t remember if Braunton came back?

 

It is Britannia.

 

34046 Braunton in Golden Arrow regalia seen passing Acton Main Line this morning.

 

Well I got that wrong. Sorry.

 

I believe a full MK1 rake today as well? Must be a while since that’s happened as Saphos spent much of last year with at least a MK2 in there somewhere.

 

Just watched a couple of videos and, yes, a full Mk1 rake. Has happened before a few times, but only rarely. Two kitchen coaches as well, by the look of it. Seems that the buffet coach isn't in there, presumably because they don't do Standard Class anymore.

 

The ex Steam Dreams RBR repainted to the Saphos Steam fleet colours and added to set to bolster dining capacity from five FO’s to up to seven FO’s.

 

The Golden Arrow, 34046 Braunton, 26th March 2025.
Filmed at Bearsted and Wye.

 

Bruanton out and about on today's Golden Arrow, firstly putting on a great soundtrack at Ravensbourne as it climbed the grade with greens all the way, then heading along rare track for steam on the return at Elmstead Woods, and finally Wandsworth Town:

 

Some great whistles IMHO (and whilst I may not be great, I am at least a Wistle)