Vintage Trains 2025

Nice afternoon trip out to Scarborough and back from York. Nice run leaving Scarborough from 5043 and I discovered a good pub for cider, happy days
I'd better book for the Newcastle trip.

 

I was in 3rd coach from front and 5043 was fair roaring along between Scarborough and York, table covered in coal dust!!

 

My pic of 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe at Scarborough plat 1 after a nice fast noisy ontime tour in coach P after joining it at Burton on trent with my 3 travelling companions for the day a lad I had travelled with was on my table today previously on the V.T. Swansea cathedrals express with my friend Colin and a elderly lady who had done numerous steam tours throughout her life like with 46229 Duchess of Hamilton and 3717 City of Truro to name a few.
And many thanks to the V.T. stewards and engineers on the footplate and support crew. I most certainly will be travelling with V.T. again on the Birmingham Newcastle tour on 18 October and possibly the London tour on November 1st the double headed Jube 45596 Bahamas and 7029 ile give a miss due to having other plans.
I hope everyone on the white rose tour enjoyed themselves today in York and Scarborough despite the typical wet and windy weather and much needed rain to help the plants crops and trees grow.



Davo 56F

 

Good morning everyone.

What loco is working the Shakespeare today (Sunday July 27th)?

Thanks in advance!

 

Ta

 

No need to apologise for removing me from the Wood End shot Martin; if only I could vanish from those videos too !

Wood End , trying to get that 60's look. And yes we all knew how close that unit was going to be.

A smoky passage through Henley in Arden, well; it was that kind of day and a Stratford bound train rolled in just as 5043 reached the far end of the platform.

And to finish a fest of Great Western atmosphere at Droitwich.

 

A cracking day out pointing a camcorder at The Earl, caught at Old Hill, Danzey and Ladywood. Also features an appearance by a certain A3 up Eardington Bank. I hope you enjoy the video

 

5043 powering through Willington on the return of today's Shakespeare Express from Derby:

 

Anyone know what Tyseley have turned out today ?

 

Clun castle 7029 no water carrier mk1 coach behind tender(Bob just photed it )Joan

 

Leicester departure

 

Timings up for the 6 Sep Mayflower double-headed trip (Clun Castle & Bahamas) to Plymouth.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U61609/2025-09-06/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U61610/2025-09-06/detailed

This trip has always been advertised as unassisted, so good to see the LE moves:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U61607/2025-09-06/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U61610/2025-09-06/detailed

There is some decent rain forecast for next week for the SW so just hoping this one can operate as planned. If it's anything like the 29 March Shap trip then we're in for a treat.

 

A rare standing start for Rattery. Good job there's two up top !

 

Re THE MAYFLOWER -- Anyone able please to advise what will haul the legs to/from Bristol??
TIA N

 

Afternoon all, it’s my first post on here since becoming a member. I have been a casual reader for sometime and thought that I would create an account.

I sent the team at Vintage Trains a message inquiring about the number of coaches that will be on The Mayflower tour and it’s currently expected to be 10 coaches including support.

Having kept a close eye on the website over the recent months I have noticed that over 130 seats are still available in standard class and 48 in Pullman Class. That must have had a significant effect on the financial viability of the tour.

In my personal option I think that it would have been better run as either a) a single header with Clun Castle or b) a double header with Earl of Mount Edgecombe as well. Bahamas as a loco is fine, but it doesn’t suit the whole Western Region image of VT and certainly doesn’t fit the Mayflower as a tour. I think that's maybe why the tour had had low booking relative to the previous run last year.

 

Thank you, I appreciate the welcome.

I didn’t know about their issues with rolling stock and that they can only haul vacuum brake trains. That is quite a restriction on possible running days and really makes finding suitable trains to run quite difficult.

I am not sure regarding the price, £165 isn’t a bad price in terms of the experience (Clun Castle, Devon Banks, unassisted with proper stock etc) but it’s still a lot of money if that makes sense. A real shame that it’s not filled up.

Does anyone know the current status of Earl of Mount Edgcumbe?