Vintage Trains 2026

I have now had timings and seat confirmation come through for Saturday's 'Whistling Ghost' to Minehead.

I was fully expecting, given the weather, to have received notification that it would be diesel-hauled due to fire risk, but no mention as yet, so fingers crossed. I do fully expect some diesel assistance regardless. Let's hope there's a little bit of rain by then to damp things down.

VT commented on their Facebook post earlier today that they expect 5043 to be hauling the trip.

 

It is red fire risk and expected to remain so through to the weekend.

 

Some needed couple hours of rain from storms last night across the West and Midlands so hopefully that helps things a little. Obviously not an over night fix annoyingly

 

Thunderstorms and heavy rain overnight in the Bristol area. Long grass in the fields dry as a bone by 7am. <BJ>

 

In Worcester, considering how much rain there was overnight I was amazed how dry the roads and everything else is this morning. Only real change here is that rather than just hot it is now hot and muggy!

 

Ready to go at Snow Hill.
Not sure what's on the back.

 

37 (presuming 240) . We’re one behind the Castle so too far to confirm. Despite heat most places seem fairly green so fingers crossed. I guess with Red fire risk it’s steam with diesel assistance. Only 17 mins in BL so maybe pilot attached rather than loco change; not sure.

 

Will Clun Castle be ready for the Newcastle run on Friday 12th June, i'm booked on it but heard nothing since date change' Thanks

Neil

 

I’ve been told work is well advanced on the retubing so it should be ready but still sounds tight to me. We’re also on it.

 

fingers crossed all round then!!
Thanks

 

5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' racing past Wadborough Foot Crossing on the outward leg of "The Whistling Ghost" earlier today.

 

5043 in the Somerset sun.https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/55304017019/in/dateposted-public/

 

I'm quite confused about "red fire risk", I always thought that meant a mandatory pilot diesel on the front and the steam loco doing effectively pretty much nothing. That was certainly not the case on this one or the Saphos operation to Kingswear today which did not seem to be much different from normal. Or maybe the red fire risk was later rescinded in the West Country today?

 

So Tangmere ran Carlisle to York on red last week. Diesel majority of work, with steam a show job. There is no requirement for the diesel to be positioned at the front

 

Red means mandatory diesel in consist, it’s up to the TOC as to how they use it. Black is no steam

 

My footage from yesterdays tour to the West Somerset if anyone is interested ☺️

 

Here's my footage of the Earl & the Two Manors in action with The Whistling Ghost tour yesterday. I filmed the Earl at Charfield, Fordgate and Cogload Junction, and the Manors at Churchlands Bridge, Washford and Williton. I hope you enjoy it.

 

From a passenger POV, another excellent tour by Vintage Trains.

With the hot weather, it was never going to be one for the pure steam enthusiast, and we did get shoved around a lot from the back to avoid setting fire to half of Somerset. However, it was partly made up for with a nice noisy unassisted run with the two Manors along the WSR section.

We did manage to keep mostly to time, however, got delayed on the return after an Emergency Call from another train near Droitwich brought us, and everything else in the area, to a halt. Hopefully wasn't anything too serious.
5043 was certainly causing much excitement amongst the late-night revellers at Snow Hill station, always nice to see 'normals' still getting excited about steam.

As usual, a great atmosphere on board with the usual friendly stewards and buffet staff. I ended up spending most of the trip having a nice chat with the couple sat opposite.

I'm looking forward to the Newcastle trip in a couple of weeks, just hoping that 7029 is ready in time. Suggestion from some onboard that it might be a bit 'tight' but I haven't heard anything from VT officially so assume it's all good at the moment.