If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Saphos Trains 2026

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

Page 6 of 6
  1. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2024
    Messages:
    205
    Likes Received:
    150
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    First two Fellmans trips have been updated to show Blue Peter as the rostered locomotive.

    Very unusual for Saphos to publicly put a loco down on their website, I assume this will become the norm for the trips where Standard Class is available and is more enthusiast based.
     
    Alex Productions, Jan 14, 2026 at 10:30 PM
    #101
    3ABescot and 26D_M like this.
  2. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2023
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    3,744
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Conductor/Guard
    Location:
    Kidderminster/Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I believe this is to become more the norm as things progress. Certainly encouraging
     
    2857Harry, Jan 15, 2026 at 8:54 AM
    #102
    Alex Productions and 3ABescot like this.
  3. 30567

    30567 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    Messages:
    6,445
    Likes Received:
    4,446
    Any more from your sources re whether they intend to run any of their regular series without a diesel?
     
    30567, Jan 15, 2026 at 10:21 AM
    #103
  4. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2023
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    3,744
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Conductor/Guard
    Location:
    Kidderminster/Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    They are trying yes. Quite difficult I understand with some of the trips, like Fellsman where the diesel is necessary to Chester, and ERE where it’s necessary to assist with the shunting, etc.

    I’ll try ask for some further info as we head towards the season.
     
    2857Harry, Jan 15, 2026 at 10:46 AM
    #104
    Alex Productions and 30567 like this.
  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    23,449
    Likes Received:
    23,839
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Although LSL is not telling us their thinking in the way that VT does, (and why should they), there does seem to be a compelling logic about what they are doing. In other words, get everything in place as you want it - stock, locos, routes, charter programme, price point - and then attend to the next layer of detail, such as where the enthusiast market can sit so that it doesn't detract from the core offer to the public.

    As you say, it all looks encouraging and whilst some may feel it is not ideal, it definitely feels to be sensible and increasingly transparent, to use that emotive word not completely understood by everyone in the heritage railway and main line world.
     
    Big Al, Jan 15, 2026 at 10:58 AM
    #105
    green five, Paul42 and MellishR like this.
  6. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    9,148
    Likes Received:
    7,825
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Although perhaps with the exception of the purely enthusiast tours the steam content either by design or NR pathing seems to be declining of course from what we were used to in the past, but with even longer days. A lot of the English Riviera Express trips start around 06:00 and finish near midnight, for what to me whilst a pleasant run along the sea wall is not a great deal of steam mileage.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Jan 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM
    #106
    MellishR likes this.
  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    23,449
    Likes Received:
    23,839
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A sign of the times. Limit the steam bit and hurry along with other motive power on the rest.
     
    Big Al, Jan 15, 2026 at 2:06 PM
    #107
Page 6 of 6

Share This Page