Non - Stop BRISTOLIAN 17/4/2010!

Program now on VT website.

 

Mmm thats a mighty tasty programme!, afraid it looks like the Bristolian will be too chingy for me when including Travel from Brum and other matters , can't decide between the Cornishman & Red Dragon instead though, Cromwell along the GWML or Edgcumbe & Rood Ashton destroying the Devonk speed bumps....

 

Pity its a bloody HST doing the alternate leg instead of a 47 or the Western :S The chance of been at the back for the steam leg is also a bit of a dissapointment,the other annoying thing is the Cornishman is the same weekend as the Coronation

 

You'll have to decide whether you favour the GW or the LNE most. Another factor is that Bunker Rail is probably more likely to run several more Coronations than VT are to run further double headers with this combination to Plymouth.

With regard to David 1984's comment re fares to London, it seems that VT are arranging Chiltern add ons which are available from VT as part of the package.

 

Afraid to say i'd rather have an A4 up Beattock But thats my choice.....

 

Well that's sorted that then, although it seems a strange way to send a train purporting to be the Coronation.
No accounting for taste though.

 

and an excellent choice it is Mark...

 

Pity most of the usual non-brum based vt reg's are on it then,eh?

 

its a pity that the return trip isnt Western hauled, it would be more inkeeping with the attraction, steam out, western return, Now getting back to the stretched tender idea , can anyone come up with a mock up photo of a castle with a bogie or 8 wheeled gwr outline tender, just to see what it would look like, who knows, it might actually proove to be a looker

 

Sounds like the making of a film! :jaw::smile:

Tender idea would seem most likely or some variant on that.

Regards

Duncan

 

One for those who know what im talking about (i.e if you don't you wont be alone,its something that is a laugh on the tours!)


I wonder if they will use "Beerdragger's" tender and couple it between the loco and the first coach?

Total joke,obviously!

 

Good idea, bur with that amount of water, why stop at Bristol? Why not carry on non-stop to Penzance?

 

Well,the loco would need to be converted to whatever that stuff he drinks is first anyway?!

 

Being forced to travel one way in a HST and pay £125 for the privilege is not what I regard as a steam hauled railtour. Normally Vintage Trains are very compeitive with their prices but this one to me is priced way over the top. The steam section after all is less than 120 miles whicheve route Bath or Badminton is taken. I sense First Great Western want a share of the profits from this one. It is only enthusiasts who fully appreciate the siginificance of the non-stop run, not the general public, so I sense they will be priced out of the market. I certainly wish VT well with the venture but I believe the marketing is completely wrong for this trip. Time will tell but I for one as a dedicated steam enthusiast and previous VT supporter will give this a miss.

 

Thats rather pricey for a one way stream trip, the add on tours either side are far better value. it sounds like FGW are after some of the profit for sure. Looks like I too wont be on it for that kind of cash either!

 

'Beerdraggers' tender could certainly solve all the problems. Very good idea mark to think of that, with the surprising high liquid cappacity. Happy days for Tysely!

 

Instead of criticising FGW for wanting a share of the profit from this trip, maybe a good share of the praise for making this trip possible should be going their way.
After all apart from supplying the HST's, I'm sure they must have gone the extra mile in ensuring that the non stop steam legs of the tour are not held up by any of their trains.
Maybe other TOC's will look at this and see it as a way of working with steam operators to the benefit of both sides of the industry.
As someone on another forum noted this is the FGW that a couple of years ago was known for it's anti steam stance......how times have changed
So hats off to First Great Western for their help in making this tour happen. :yo:

 

Sent my booking for the Up train off yesterday.