Saphos 2025

Reports on another forum of Braunton starting a fire at Craven Arms. No idea if true, but seems to be delays to other services (from RTT) after it passed.
Diesel from BTM is the report.

 

I hadn't realised until now that Saphos were running a tour from Shrewsbury to Paignton and back and then a few days later Paignton to Shrewsbury and back. Were they offering the option of one way each day with a stay in Devon?

 

National Rail Service Disruptions reported delays due to a lineside fire at Craven Arms at the time which would be consistent with 34046 passing.

 

Maybe - but is that the reason that 34046 was taken off at Bristol or had it failed? There was an awfully long delay at Bristol before the train got going again.

 

I believe an AWS fault was the cause of last nights failure.

 

Very brief footage of Braunton at Ashley Down Station yesterday:

 

Does anyone know as yet what loco is on the Riviera this coming Saturday? I'm presuming its Braunton?

 

Does anyone know what the rough plans for Blue Peter are in the coming months? I appreciate these things are always subject to change/availability etc but would love to catch up with this loco, but it’s quite tricky give Saphos tours usually sell out well in advance! Is it currently the only serviceable loco based at Crewe?

 

SNG is booked to do the tours on 16 July and 15 Sept. Will 70000 stay in London? You would think Blue Peter is booked to do the bulk of the Fellsmen and Lakelanders but without inside info there's no way of being sure.

 

I was told at the weekend by one of my Crewe sources that one of its planned workings had been cancelled due to “Network Rail Issues” which I belive was the Edinburgh job on 18 June?

I was also told Mayflower is down to do 3 of the Northern trips….1 Fellsman and 2 Lakelander.

 

It is. However, it has caused delays today working a Bristol-Plymouth private charter throughout with several lineside fires between Taunton and Exeter and at Marsh Barton. So it may be back to diesel inside again providing the power.

 

Thanks Harry. I wonder if the headcode on RTT of 1Z61 for The Lakelander on 14th June may be an indicator that Mayflower is rostered for that one? And so might do the 5th July too?

 

Just looking at the Saphos and Sir Nigel Gresley websites. These are the northern based trips over the summer.

11/06 Fellsman - Sir Nigel Gresley
14/06 Lakelander - TBC
02/07 Fellsman removed from website, cancelled or fully booked?
05/07 Lakelander - TBC
16/07 Edinburgh Explorer - Sir Nigel Gresley
26/07 Lakelander - TBC
30/07 Edinburgh Explorer - TBC
06/08 Fellsman - TBC
13/08 Edinburgh Explorer - TBC
16/08 Lakelander - TBC
03/09 Fellsman - TBC
15/09 Edinburgh Explorer - Sir Nigel Gresley


9th of September - Steam Dreams Lakes Express northbound over the S&C. Blue Peter is listed to haul this.

 

30/7 is due to be 71000…..But again my info from the weekend is this will be “patchy”.

 

Day 2 of the 4 day "West Country Luxury Steam" holiday from RailTrail. With this year's Golden Hind tours replaced by the Edinburgh ones, it is the only time this year Saphos run a tour to Plymouth.

 

IF the forecast is right may be a fair amount of rain before then in the SW.

 

Yes, we’ve had moderate rainfall overnight in mid-Cornwall
and the forecast is for more each day until Sunday.

 

Timings for the next Saphos Trains charters:

Settle & Carlisle Fellsman 11th June with 60007

outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U54592/2025-06-11/detailed

return: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U54591/2025-06-11/detailed


The Lakelander 14th June

outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U54527/2025-06-14/detailed

return: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U54536/2025-06-14/detailed

 

That tour had totally been off my radar, I thought when I saw the times for this pop up that it would be a 'Chairman's Train' so was surprised by the stock when I went out to see it. Are there any other main line elements of the itinerary?

 

No, that was it.
Day 1 - 1st June - journey from home station to Bristol and check into hotel for the next 3 nights. Private tour of SS Great Britain in the evening.
Day 2 - 2nd June - steam-hauled return journey between Bristol and Plymouth on specially-chartered Saphos steam train with full Premier Dining service for every passenger.
Day 3 - 3rd June - Day at leisure in Bristol.
Day 4 - 4th June - check out of hotel and head home from Bristol.

Price - £1425 pp