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Saphos Trains 2026

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by GWR7812, Oct 7, 2025.

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  1. steam_mad

    steam_mad Member

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    Do you really think Railtour organisers are going to rely on people who suggest they’re “prepared to book at the last minute” in their decision as to whether a Railtour is viable? Wake up…
     
    steam_mad, Dec 16, 2025 at 9:02 AM
    #41
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  2. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    sorry Fred but that is a poor comment . Railtour companies need tickets sold and bums on seats . Decisions have to be made before large losses get incurred and relying on the lottery of last minutes bookings is an absolute recipe for disaster
     
    Sidmouth, Dec 16, 2025 at 9:34 AM
    #42
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  3. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    I think that if Saphos offers a few more trains like this (or 71000's recent unassisted run to Carlisle), last-minute bookings aren't going to be an issue. Sadly I live rather too far south to contemplate one of these trips, but I'm just hoping that someone will point out to the powers-that-be in LSL/Saphos that 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of 60532's somewhat less-than-successful encounter with Honiton Bank. I for one would not wait to the last minute to book a seat on an unassisted run over the L&SWR West of England line behind this loco.
     
    John Petley, Dec 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
    #43
  4. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    It would be a real help if the Tour operators, charter TOCs and Network Rail could get their act together on providing confirmed timings for a tour months/weeks instead of days in advance. Sometimes it's been as little as one day before, in the case of the recent VT trips).

    It doesn't encourage people to book early if you don't know if a tour is going to be doable in a day from home, or is going to need extra spending on hotels before/after, (especially if you rely on public transport or a long drive to reach a pickup location).
    At least officially, there's no recourse for passengers if the actual timings turn out to be wildly difficult to what was originally proposed, so it's no wonder some of us have to leave booking until the last minute.

    I have, however, booked the Blue Peter run in Feb, along with accommodation.
    Offer an attractive option at a reasonable price and people will make the effort!
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2025 at 11:19 PM
    LittleRedTrain, Dec 16, 2025 at 7:21 PM
    #44
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Network Rail has a standard timetable for bids to be put to them to run charters. It's down to each TOC to do that and there is plenty of time, as I understand it. I think you will find that the 'confirmed' timings depend on how good the proposed times are that are submitted by the TOC. The nightmare for NR will be when they come to look at the timings to allocate the paths (and I don't imagine that this is at the top of their agenda) they then find that it is a poor 'fit' leading to them to have to make last minutes changes...that also may not be at the top of their agenda.

    So what I'm saying is that the simplicity that some folk hope for is not in practice, simple at all!
     
    Big Al, Dec 16, 2025 at 9:24 PM
    #45
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  6. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Then imagine the complexity of say the Great Britain, 10 days if you include movements the day before and day after.
     
    RalphW, Dec 16, 2025 at 9:33 PM
    #46
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  7. No.7

    No.7 Well-Known Member

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    This is not the case (on the two the "Shap Trials II" tours), £165 for a solo seat on a table for two.
     
    No.7, Dec 17, 2025 at 7:15 AM
    #47
  8. No.7

    No.7 Well-Known Member

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    I think the statement could be super caution, the plan is no diesel. I think the "requested" maybe because even in March/April 2025 we were looking at fire risk issues. The entire concept of these tours is built on the success of the 71000 tour so no diesel in the plan.
     
    No.7, Dec 17, 2025 at 7:32 AM
    #48
  9. NathanP

    NathanP Well-Known Member

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    Which tours are those? They're not on the VT website.
     
    NathanP, Dec 17, 2025 at 7:42 AM
    #49
  10. No.7

    No.7 Well-Known Member

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    Saphos, not VT.
     
    No.7, Dec 17, 2025 at 8:31 AM
    #50
  11. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Decisions, decisions do I book for Blue Peter, (Get down Shep!) or Sir Nigel.
    I know I'll use some money that the government have given me and do both, mind you the £10 Christmas bonus won't get me very far.:rolleyes:
     
    RalphW, Dec 17, 2025 at 2:47 PM
    #51
  12. Andy2857

    Andy2857 Member

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    Booked on for the Blue Peter trip. Noted that standard is already sold out, which I suppose is unsurprising if it is only one coach and given the interest in the trip. Looking forward to my first trip behind the A2, and with Saphos.
     
    Andy2857, Dec 17, 2025 at 8:56 PM
    #52
  13. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    So for all of us who support 60007, still no mainline run based out of the North East, as promised when it went to Crewe.
    Realise ECML north of Newcastle is now almost impossible, might be time to move my monthly DD to another LNER pacific, if it runs out from home base....
     
    guycarr360, Dec 18, 2025 at 11:11 AM
    #53
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I plan to be on Blue Peter as well having never seen it 'in the flesh' so to speak.

    As for Saphos, I was on one of their first trains back in 2018 with the properly restored rolling stock and lovely touches such as the antimacassars on the seats from the company of this website's founder. At the time it struck me that Saphos was on the side of the enthusiast despite some of the (jealous?) comments about the owner and where the wealth had come from. And with DB Cargo crews leading the way until their own team evolved I felt that the hearts of the footplate folk were in the right place when it came to steam performance and the role of diesels. My trip had a diesel on the back but Pete Sheridan up front made certain it remained quiet even as we struggled to get away from Telford.

    Since then I have stood back from Saphos for all the obvious reasons and watched as slowly it established its market position and expanded into wider traction trips, other than with steam. I hoped that the enthusiast element had not been dismissed and now it seems as though there is increasing recognition that in small parcels, targeted enthusiast style trips have a place. The DOG run is an example and now we have Blue Peter and SNG at a 'stripped down' price with the same comfort but without the silver service and its attendant price hike for the food and the staff.

    Let's see whether the February and March trips run as suggested. If they do, and I, for one, will be grateful for that, I really think that there should be little reason to snipe at the set-up. They are now trying to be all things to all people at a good standard and that's good. What they are also learning is that the main line is an unforgiving place in all respects, including the operational elements, as LSL is occasionally discovering.
     
    Big Al, Dec 18, 2025 at 11:25 AM
    #54
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  15. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    So the first thing is to add an extra standard class coach.
     
    RalphW, Dec 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
    #55
  16. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I imagine it will be the same train set as with DoG - i.e. 8 plus POB plus generator car.
     
    Big Al, Dec 18, 2025 at 11:39 AM
    #56
  17. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    2857Harry, Dec 18, 2025 at 11:48 AM
    #57
  18. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    Treated myself to 1st class single seat on both plus hotel in Crewe for after each trip, i got snookered with the DoG trip as my train from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly was late and missed my connection to Huddersfield didn't get home till nearly mid night
     
    neildimmer, Dec 18, 2025 at 12:24 PM
    #58
  19. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    SNG's Members Area states the 11th March will be unassisted. Taking the November 6th run with the Duke and these 2, Saphos have recreated Mel Chamberlain's Sept/Oct 1995 Shap Trials - over 30 years later and with 2 of the same locomotives; 60007 and 71000. This time we have 60532 as no Duchess is available. I hope both trains are the same as 71000's so we can do direct comparisons as we did in 1995. Kudos to Saphos for recreating the trains in the right way unlike Vintage Trains who 'recreation' of 7029's Farewell to Steam Railtour had a Class 37 on the rear that assisted unnecessarily on the only section we could do, the Billiard Table that is the Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads route.
     
    1020 Shireman, Dec 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
    #59
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  20. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Why is it I get the feeling someone’s still slightly bitter about a post from a certain someone based in the Midlands regarding coal…
     
    Matt37401, Dec 18, 2025 at 1:53 PM
    #60
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