Vintage Trains 2025

Sad to see that scheduled 37418 was replaced by 47773 but pleased to see the train return to Lostock Hall for reversal; images below -



37240 passes Leyland on the outward journey



47773 enters Lostock Hall with ecs



37240 leads ECS from Lostock Hall Junction for move to Farington Junction then return to Blackpool North

 

VT on Facebook announces 5043 is due on next Wednesdays Christmas White Rose, also with the inclusion of Tornado a doubler header on the return leg back to Birmingham

 

A Castle and an A1 together on the mainline, those lucky northerners get treated rather well when it comes to steam on the mainline compared to us poor southern folk........ although I guess we have Clan Line!

 

This Ad from VT has popped up on my Facebook feed, suggesting ticket prices for the Tornado trip to York on have been discounted.
However, I can't see any changes to the prices on the website. Does anyone know what has been discounted and how to get it?
I could call or e-mail them but I know their office hours are rather limited.

 

Can't answer the question I'm afraid, but it's possible the prices haven't been reduced. There don't appear to be prices mentioned in the post, just the words "New ticket price", which could just be a tactic to drive traffic to the website.

 

The website pricing for the forthcoming Christmas White Rose trips is a little curious:

3rd Dec - 5043 with added Tornado on the return. Tourist Adult £121.90

10th Dec - Tornado both ways. Tourist Adult £174

So perhaps not surprising a discount is apparently on offer for the 10th Dec trip.

Nick M.

 

I wouldn’t say it’s curious. The difference will easily be the steaming fee for the A1. I bet it’s not shy of £15k per day.

And of course the pull factor of the engine it is being worth that extra few bob to some folk.

 

When I travelled on VT’s Shap Mountaineer with Bahamas earlier this year, a Tourist Enthusiast Class ticket was £130. The same itinerary with Clun Castle in September was also £130 for a Tourist Enthusiast Class ticket. So, no premium to travel behind a sought-after hired-in loco in this instance.

Nick M.

 

I'm not with you. On the Dec 10 trip,isn't the tourist fare £165?

 

Plus 6% booking fee if you book online.

Nick M.

 

I don’t get it. Why would I pay a huge premium for a trip behind Tornado with a diesel on the back, as opposed to an unencumbered trip over Shap with Bahamas?

 

I suspect you’re missing the point. Vintage Trains will be having to make the income work for the fact that the A1 will undoubtedly be a higher steaming fee than most locos. It would be the same with the A3 for example, well actually likely higher…..£175 with UK railtours for Standard Class on the Festive Flying Scotsman. In MK3 stock of course!

 

You wouldn't.

 

I haven’t!

 

I understand your point now. Let's see if the train is half empty or chocka. But anyway if there's a run over Shap and Ais Gill next year behind Tornado with no diesel and the VT train, that's one of the few tours I'd stump up for.