Vintage Trains 2025

Clun Castle and Bahamas haul the Mayflower from Bristol to Plymouth on 6th September 2025.

https://vintagetrains.co.uk/the-mayflower/

 

Well, I've booked York-Scarborough on the White Rose in July. I wonder what the loco will be .

 

Hasn't Bahamas done that before......

 

7029 flying past Stenson.

Some tidying of lineside clutter !

 

7029 'Clun Castle' steadily accelerating past Edstone Farm Crossing en route to Birmingham this afternoon.

 

My photos of 7029 and Tyseleys latest addition to the diesel fleet 37240 from Yesterday at Stratford on Avon Station after travelling with a friend from Derby in dining Coach D on the V.T. Shakespeare

 

I wonder if there are likely to be any assurances made for The Mayflower tour like last year with regards to not turning the train?
Also given one of the USP's from last years tour was the tour loco's/shadowing loco's being Class 20's; I wonder what might be used this time around, though given that VT also now have a Class 37 available, that would also probably suffice for a lot of people!
Best just book tomorrow and then hope for the best!

 

About to ask exactly the same as the 2024 was probably the tour of the year .20s or 37 and booking will be made .47 and much less likely .

 

Timings are now available for D1015's tour to Plymouth on Saturday, 10/05.

Note: no rear gunner (outbound) from Bristol TM to Plymouth. <BJ>

The South Devon Explorer : Vintage Trains

0Z40 11:54 Kidderminster S.V.R. to Tyseley Steam Trust
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52765/2025-05-09/detailed

Sat.:

5Z76 0650 Tyseley Steam Trust to Birmingham New Street
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52766/2025-05-10/detailed

1Z77 07:27 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52767/2025-05-10/detailed

0Z77 10:58 Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52764/2025-05-10/detailed

5Z78 13:47 Plymouth to Laira T.& R.S.M.D.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52768/2025-05-10/detailed

5Z79 15:05 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Plymouth
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52769/2025-05-10/detailed

1Z79 15:56 Plymouth to Buckfastleigh
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52770/2025-05-10/detailed

1Z80 18:00 Buckfastleigh to Birmingham New Street
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52771/2025-05-10/detailed

5Z81 00:11 Birmingham New Street to Tyseley Steam Trust
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52772/2025-05-11/detailed

Sun.:

0Z81 12:10 Tyseley Steam Trust to Kidderminster S.V.R.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U52773/2025-05-11/detailed

Thanks to John and Simon C

 

A short video of 'The Champ' cruising along at Bourton, this morning. I hope you enjoy it

 

Doesn't that look glorious!

 

A grand day out on the South Devon Explorer on Saturday.

Fairly sedate running from Birmingham to Bristol, load 9 plus dragging 37 240 probably not helping. The highlight of the day was the storming run from Bristol to a brief signal check just before Exeter St David’s, with the performance of the loco being fully exploited and an excellent path. Much running in the high 80s and 70-ish into Whiteball tunnel. After a 4 minute late departure from Bristol, we were 5 minutes early passing Taunton.

On the return journey, for reasons that were not clear, our departure from Plymouth was delayed by 34 minutes. We then had the excruciatingly slow stagger from Totnes up to Buckfastleigh and back, without time to visit a pub. It did not add much to the day apart from 90 minutes.

I bailed at Bristol on the return journey, but my friend continued to Birmingham where he reported the train arrived a day late, albeit a matter of 90 seconds.

As seems often the case on these trips coming back to Bristol, a Weston Super Mare stopper was let out just in front of us, resulting in a rather slow signal-checked (but on schedule) run from Worle Junction to Bristol Temple Meads.

A special shout-out to the Train Manager. When I booked the trip by phone, finding Enthusiast Class already fully booked, I was offered to be seated in the coach behind which was fine, but on the day, we found our seats were in coach E, four back from the loco. On explaining this to the Train Manager, he very kindly found us seats in coach G which we were able to occupy until Dawlish. And from Dawlish on the way back. Thank you!

Well done to all concerned with the running of this excellent trip.

Nick M.

 

Even some of the loco owners and DTG working members couldn’t get seats in the front coach .
An excellent tour from start to finish .
I believe the Plymouth delay was to allow the SDR service train to get to Buckfastleigh before we arrived to access the branch .

 

Here's my video of the trip. Filmed at Starcross, Hemerdon, Totnes Riverside, Newton Abbot and Tiverton Parkway,

 

27th September Castle over Shap. Carnforth-Shap-Carlisle-S&C-Hellifield.

 

For those who fancy some more Western action, D1015 takes on Shap and the S&C on Wednesday 2nd July.

 

Some timings for the Whistling Ghost?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U53917/2025-05-31/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U53918/2025-05-31/detailed

I also noticed the following Instagram post a few days ago:

 

I am booked on this, it's my next tour, but I very much doubt any part of it will be steam unfortunately. I'm fully expecting diesel throughout, due to the steam ban/fire risk.

 

I think the SW is now green for fire risk

 

Really, I am amazed. Even the rain we had here yesterday has done little. Maybe safer down in the extreme SW where I believe they have had a lot more rain.