Vintage Trains 2025

That video of last years Mayflower tour is very good. Last year it ran with 12 coaches so it would be (although it doesn't always work like this) the equivalent of running with 6 coaches per loco, quite a light load when you consider than Clun Castle ran with 8 + GUV in May last year prior to the Mayflower tour in September. The real hardwork that comes with double heading is if one locos isn't steaming well or has another issue as then you are really loading up one loco compared to the other one.

Clun Castle is the most powerful and sure footed loco here by a long way so I would imagine that she will be leading (would be criminal if not on a Western route).

 

True but the modern fragmentation of operators plus the inherent unreliable infrastructure of the national network and other TOC's would make that a mega gamble even if the two tours were operated by the same TOC.
It is interesting to read reports of some of the final tours of the Southern Steam era where an arrival back at Waterloo 12 minutes late warranted a mention as poor performance. Today I would regard anything within 30 minutes late as "on time" and an hour not unusual.

 

Two steam charters (3 steam locos) through Dawlish within 4 minutes of eachother on Saturday lunchtime and two steam charters within 20 mins on the return. Happy days. <BJ>

 

Indeed. The LSL tour is due to pass the VT tour at Tiverton Loop. Any photographers near there should get a rare shot of one steam train overtaking another! I'll be on the VT tour so this'll add a bit of excitement to the wait while I'm there counting the number of weeds on the overgrown Tiverton Jn platforms!

 

Anyone able to advise pls if the diesel legs for the MAYFLOWER on Sat
will be hauled by the 47 OR the 37???
Many thanks

 

I'm assuming it will be the 37. The recent Shakespeare Express from Worcester was due to be the 47 and 37 top and tailed. But because the 47 was poorly it was just the 37 by itself. Apparently the 47 is fine for shuttling back and forth by itself but conks out when it tries to pull a load.

 

Hi, I haven't been on here for a while...domestics...but there are a few updates worth saying bearing in mind recent comments:
* 5043 is alive and well, but we use her sparingly pending wheel tyre replacement which is coming ever nearer; tyres are in stock but we need to drum up the cash to do the work and face up to her being out of traffic for up to 12 months whilst that is done. She won't appear on WCML trips as the track there 'eats' her tyres which are 'original', unlike 7029's which are new and as hard as steel. Take a trip behind 5043 while you can, but wheel tyres apart, she is in very good shape
* 7029 is alive and well. 7 years of her boiler ticket is up by the year end, so to keep her going for the balance of the 10 years we will retube her over the winter, so she is available next year onwards. She is in very good shape
* the 47 has had some minor electrical issues which we are working through as time permits
* the 37 seems very popular!
* we will augment First class by adding a second (opening toplight windows) FO from 2026, making 100 First class seats. There is very high demand for this class which allows a comfy seat, opening windows and tea/coffee/pastries/afternoon tea on board with pax taking lunch at destination. We will review the onboard First offer
* Pullman remains the top seller (except on Diesel Explorers) with tables for two way ahead of everything else. But, we currently think, 100 Pullman and 100 First about right
* For us, but I appreciate not for you, the jury is out on Tourist class. Certainly Tourist afternoon tea on the Shakespeare Express sells out time and time again and so we will look at more catering options for that. On Diesel Explorers, Tourist is a sell out. For Express Steam Trains, Tourist has generally been on a steady decline over the past 25 years. What does this tell you? Passengers seek an on board experience more than just the loco. Feedback welcome!
* Fareharbor will set out the maximum capacity we set. We rarely run the maximum Tourist capacity (as above) but it is there 'just in case'. We think, but we may be wrong, that First class will overtake it in demand. We only run trains which make a surplus. Yes, we run slightly shorter trains than the competition, but generally speaking our overheads are lower and we insource nearly everything. We do require all our trains to make a maintenance contribution and, as everyone will know in their hearts, this will have to increase. Hence the comment above
* General feedback is that the special Express Steam and the 'hardy perennials' such as Shakespeares, York and Llandudno are always put in calendars. The 'Extended Shakespeares' certainly work in Pullman and First

Thanks for your support. We depend on it

 

Really appreciate the update first hand.

Pleased to hear about the class 37. Caused self and friends to book 1st class with VT for this month's trip on the Cambrian. Can't wait.

 

Pleased to hear about 7029 and 5043, I know understand as to why Bahamas is being used on The Mayflower instead of 5043. Regarding an additional FO for 2026, does would this take the maximum length of the train to load 13? You say that you run shorter trains than the competition but last years 1Z48 tour with 7029 was load 8 + watter carrier which is exactly what RTC run on the Royal Duchy (minus the water carrier of course) and The Mayflower last September was load 12 so the same length as Pathfinder or LSL tour. I messaged your tean on Facebook and they said that this train (as of a few weeks ago) would be load 10 which is still a healthy length. I assume that, due to water not being able to get to the front loco, the water carrier cannot be used for double headed trains hence why it wasn't used on last year Mayflower?

 

May I be nosey and ask which vehicle number the second FO is?

 

A Mk. 1 FO in chocolate and cream (presumably one of the former Riviera vehicles) is heading from Carnforth to Tyseley today.

 

A1 Trust announced a Brum - York tour using VT yesterday. Great news, except it’s slanted for Saturday 10th December ….. which doesn’t exist? So is it Wednesday 10th maybe?

 

Michael, good to see you back here, and thanks for the very interesting insight into your operations. Your contribution to the Forum is clearly much appreciated judging by the number of ‘likes’ received.

Regarding Tourist Class on your steam trips, Enthusiast Tourist Class would always be my first choice if offered. If not, then the decision between Tourist and First mostly depends on who my travelling companions are and what they would prefer.

One recent development you didn’t mention but which I would like to applaud, is that your website now shows prices inclusive of the FareHarbor booking fee. I feel this upfront approach is the right way to do things and puts you beyond reproach in this respect.

If you are looking for ideas for future steam tours, may I suggest a 2-day trip to the South West with a destination in Cornwall, and for the most part, unassisted steam. No doubt a challenge logistically with Par being the westernmost point at which a steam loco may be turned, but not being an ideal destination for passengers seeking overnight accommodation. From that perspective, perhaps the tour could be worked forward from Par by diesel to somewhere with rather more hotel accommodation - perhaps St Austell, Truro, or even Penzance? I feel a date in September would be ideal for such a tour, as accommodation is more plentiful and less expensive than during high summer. It has been too long since a GWR Castle made the welkin ring in the hills of Kernow!

Nick M.

 

I suspect that falls in the WIBN category, but it might be possible. It is perhaps worth mentioning Steam Dreams' Atlantic Coast Express which went to Penzance and back in September 2014 with Nunney Castle and Braunton (and Tangmere on the legs between London and Exeter). Was WCRC the TOC? One of those locos is in WCRC's stable but the two that went to Penzance are now in LSL's.

 

WIBN? Could you explain what that means please, thank you.

 

Wouldn't It Be Nice

 

I'd second that. That would get self and friends booking, liking the idea of West Country Castle haulage on the Cornish banks. The suggestion of diesel forward is a good one too, the VT Transrail class 37 would get me out, aside from one of your Castles. Paul

 

I have fond memories of the Castle to Edinburgh trip many years ago! A 2 day trip north of the border with the A1 (unassisted) would get my wallet twitching, especially if it included the Glasgow South Western in one direction. Agree September is probably a good time with still light evenings.
Tourist is still important in my view, purely and simply as it means mainline steam is still accessible to those of us without huge amounts of disposable income.