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Vintage Trains 2026

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Michael Whitehouse, Dec 18, 2025.

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  1. NathanP

    NathanP Well-Known Member

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    The supplement is to get a seat at a table for two, it's not for sole occupancy of the table. Someone else travelling by themself can also pay the supplement for the other seat. It's very rare that I ever find myself occupying the table by myself. As to the billy no mates thing - I like to be by the window so I can watch the scenery, but I also have a bladder condition which means I need to have regular, easy access to the toilet without disturbing someone next to me by getting them out of their seat regularly. So a seat at a table for two gives me both the window seat and easy access to the aisle.
     
    NathanP, Jan 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
    #21
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  2. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe Member

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    I understand what you mean now, yes that's not a bad idea actually. You want to sit at 1 of the two tables on a table for two and are happy to pay an additional supplement to do so.
     
    Charles Smythe, Jan 6, 2026 at 2:06 PM
    #22
  3. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe Member

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    But that is your opinion, others may differ as can be seen with Nathan's posts. I personally think the 'billy no mates' thing is a little unfair given that it's very common for people to travel, go on holiday or do day trips alone while also having as good of a time if not better than with others. I have done many trips alone to various places and think there is a lot to be said for the benefits of solo travelling.
     
    Charles Smythe, Jan 6, 2026 at 2:09 PM
    #23
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  4. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    WCR sometimes have more table for 2 requests than there are available, so some 4 seat tables are designated for two.
    I have on several occasions had passengers saying 'but we've booked a table for two' when being shown to their table, but happy when told that there will not be anyone else joining them.
     
    RalphW, Jan 6, 2026 at 2:16 PM
    #24
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Charters are not the same though. Usually the folk have a (sometimes tenuous) connection with each other so, whilst strangers, there is often something to talk about or you can simply choose not to. Far more irritating is to travel as a singleton when you are just given a table. If you join at somewhere other than the start, your seat has been decided by the three others at the table who are often a threesome anyway. The RTC is far more accommodating and makes the effort to allocate with care.
     
    Big Al, Jan 6, 2026 at 2:17 PM
    #25
  6. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    You can't please all of the people all of the time etc etc..
     
    RalphW, Jan 6, 2026 at 2:18 PM
    #26
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  7. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    In days of yore, my wife and I were often lucky with RTC and had a table for four to ourselves without paying any supplements, but we haven't travelled with them since the unfortunate Mk1 ban.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM
    Enterprise, Jan 6, 2026 at 2:47 PM
    #27
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  8. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    out of interest has anyone on the VT mailing list had one about 60103's tours . I haven't but of course that could be the vagaries of emails . Last one I had was the Shap Mountaineer on the 23/12
     
    Sidmouth, Jan 6, 2026 at 2:57 PM
    #28
  9. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    No, that's the last one I had for 60103 as well. Just had an email for the 37s over the Central Wales line so still on the list.
     
    Kje7812, Jan 6, 2026 at 7:34 PM
    #29
  10. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    thats just landed in my inbox as well
     
    Sidmouth, Jan 6, 2026 at 7:35 PM
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  11. Leviathan

    Leviathan New Member

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    Tourist Enthusiast Class already sold out!
     
    Leviathan, Jan 6, 2026 at 8:47 PM
    #31
  12. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I was lucky on one VT trip, finding myself at a table with only one seat. I would happily pay a supplement for that same seat on another trip, but they seem not to offer it. It's not that I object to company, just that having no-one opposite avoids the problem of where to put one's feet.
     
    MellishR, Jan 6, 2026 at 10:18 PM
    #32
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  13. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    A table on your own sounds like my ideal railtour.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Jan 6, 2026 at 10:51 PM
    #33
  14. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe Member

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    There definitely appears to be a market for it as a few others have mentioned this to me in times gone by.
    Exactly, perfect thinking time as well.
     
    Charles Smythe, Jan 6, 2026 at 11:07 PM
    #34
  15. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe Member

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    Does anyone know the maximum number of coaches that VT have that could be on the train if all seats were sold out etc.? I have always thought that they owned 13 coaches but I have never seen more than 12 on one train at once. They have the GUV but that won't be used on this trip.
     
    Charles Smythe, Jan 7, 2026 at 2:06 PM
    #35
  16. NathanP

    NathanP Well-Known Member

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    I remember on The Mayflower one of the stewards remarked that every operational coach at Tyseley was on the train, but I can't remember how many coaches were on there. YouTube should tell you.
     
    NathanP, Jan 7, 2026 at 3:16 PM
    #36
  17. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe Member

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    I believe it was 12 on that day Nathan, so there is my answer. I did read in 2024 that the have aquired Mark 1 FO No. 3110.

    Does anyone have an up to date fleet list?
     
    Charles Smythe, Jan 7, 2026 at 3:33 PM
    #37
  18. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Try asking VT or going on their website, not here please.
     
    Big Al, Jan 7, 2026 at 3:59 PM
    #38
  19. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    The Friends of Vintage Trains website publishes stock lists (their own stock plus what is in the Works) which have just been updated.

    https://friendsofvt.org.uk/about/publications/
     
    Robin, Jan 7, 2026 at 4:07 PM
    #39
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  20. 30567

    30567 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Thanks, some good reading material there especially the Ray Churchill farewell to driving article.

    Looks like eleven coaches plus the GUV at the moment with one coach under repair.
     
    30567, Jan 7, 2026 at 4:24 PM
    #40
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