UK Steam info web site 2011 rail tours

That would be one possible route, certainly. I suspect there's still some details to sort out on this trip, though. If you look at the "Dates" page of the SD web site you'll see that 6th Aug is not mentioned yet, though it is listed on the Tornado site (see the Tornado thread in the Steam Traction section). This is a tour where I think we'll have to wait and see.

 

Looking at the Steam Dreams leaflet through today it says The Severn Valley Railway & Worcester suggesting a connection onto the SVR at Kiddy. This would mean that the route around Birmingham would be Water Orton - Walsall - Perry Bar North Junc - Soho North Junc - Stourbirdge to Worcester. Of course there may however be a coach connection from Worcester onwards to the SVR allowing the route to be via the Lickey.

It mentions that Tornado will feature heavily throughout the programme, hopefully not too much!

 

Including use on the Green Train for the first time. This must mean West Coast must be crewing Tornado as the GT is vac only.

Tornado will feature heavily throughout the programme and, for the first time, will be appearing on our customary Green Train. Other regular performers on The Cathedrals Express are likely to be Britannia, Tangmere, Bittern and Oliver Cromwell but one unexpected guest will be the only remaining mainline certified 8F locomotive 48151 which will be involved in several trains culminating in a trip from London to Plymouth in tandem with Tornado on 7 July and an unaided climb out of Weymouth on 9 July.

 

Reading this months SR Mag on page 66. Looks like 30777 SirLamiel, 34046 Braunton and 34067 Tangmere are going to be penciled in for this rail tour. Prices start at £249.00 Standard seats up to £575.00 for Pullman seats. Reading the article 30777 will take the tour from Waterloo to Westbury. Then 34046 & 34067 continue the tour to Exeter over the south Devon banks. There is also a visit to Bodmin and Wenford Railway on day two. Day three is the return trip back to London with 34046 & 34067 to Exeter where 34067 comes off the train and a diesel loco goes on the back. With some top and tailing to Oakhampton. The tour makes it back to Yeovil where 34067 takes the tour back to Salisbury and onwards to Waterloo.

 

I presume that lodgings at either Padstow or Rock are included in the price (I believe that you have the option of busing it from Newquay or getting off at Bodmin to take the BWR and cyle the rest of the way to Padstow)? There's very little information concerning the format of this at the moment, but I'm interested. If its £249 for standard with lodgings for the two nights, then it could be construed as a bargain when considering the steam mileage involved.

 

Excludes Hotels - from email I received from Steam Dreams. Same price as previous 3 day Steam Dreams trips.

Email as follows : -

"Dear Passenger



As one of our loyal passengers and someone who enjoyed our June trip on the Cornish Riveria Express, we have pleasure in giving you advance notice of our plans to launch a new three day trip to Cornwall – the Atlantic Coast Express.



This steam-hauled train will leave London Waterloo on 4 September 2011, using classic Southern engines. A wonderful journey through the English countryside, including Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset, will lead to a three hour break in Exeter. From there, we double-head along the Devon Coast and moors and into Cornwall over Brunel’s famous suspension bridge over the Tamar.



The train continues to Newquay with the option of leaving at Bodmin for transfer by the local steam railway and coach to hotels in Padstow.



On the middle day (5 September 2011), optional trips will be available or you can enjoy lunch or dinner in one of Rick Stein’s restaurants which have been reserved for our passengers. On 6 September, we return by a similar route, but with the bonus of travelling on the closed line to Okehampton in the heart of Dartmoor.



Hotels will include St Enodoc, St Petroc (Rick Stein’s hotel), Headland Hotel (Newquay) or the Great Western (Newquay).



Fares are £249 (standard), £349 (First Class), £449 (Premier Dining) and £575 (Pullman Style) per person per trip (excluding hotels).



The planned locomotives are Sir Lamiel, Braunton and Tangmere."

I have checked the hotels listed websites and expect the standard class passengers will stay at Newquay. The Great Western is owned by the St Austell Brewery.

 

Forgive my ignorance, but I haven't yet got round to using Steam Dreams on a trip, so I'm not sure what to expect. I take it that you can book the accommodation through Steam Dreams?

 

Yes

Once you have booked the trip, Steam Dreams will send details of the hotel options and prices( which includes transport if necessary to them) plus the current availability( It is best to book early)
They usually have a good selection. You do not have to book accomodation through Steam Dreams though most passengers do.

They will also send details of trips/excursions available on the middle once they have been finalised.

 

Tornado is listed as the rostered loco on 13 of the 28 tours for next year currently on the website( Excluding Cathedrals Explorer).

 

There's a close relationship that has evolved between SD and the A1SLT. Probably because of the involvement of Graeme Bunker on both sides.
So you would expect the loco to do a lot of work for SD, and after all if it isn't working for SD it doesn't mean that it would be working elsewhere, like all owners their engine needs to earn money so you can't blame A1SLT for taking on guaranteed work with a company where there is someone who knows the engine inside out and will ensure that it is handled well.
Not exactly the same situation I know, but Vintage Trains uses almost exclusively TLW engines for much the same reason.

 

I am not surprised. Steam Dreams trains are quite frequently 13 coaches ( though can vary between 11 & 14), so a class 8 like Tornado is ideal loco.

 

I also notice in Steam Railway that the Railway Touring Company are planning on doing a couple of trips from St. Pancras (the new 'local' bit). However, until they reveal their spring programme, we'll just have to wait and see.

 

A1 and Steam Dreams working together does this also mean WCRC and the A1 coming together. I thought WCRC said they didn't like it? Notice also the 8F is booked to pilot the A1 on atrip down south somehwere.

 

Talks are still ongoing i understand

 

DBS were used for the first two years as they are the only steam charters TOC that have previous experience of introducing new rolling stock into service.

Regards,

Dan

 

St Pancras to Rowsley with 46115 ?

 

Something to look foward to!

 

More details appearing on UKsteam.info now, including locos for Steam Dream's Cathedrals Explorer: 34067, 60163, 46115, 70000, 62005, 61994, 44871+45407 and one more still to be announced.

 

A few RYTC tours have been posted up on UK Steam Info. Apart from the St. Pancras trips and a couple to East Anglia/Lincolnshire (one going to Sheringham, the other Skegness), there's not that much of interest at the moment. However, its early days yet...

 

Further trips are given on page 14 of the Railway Herald including a possible 5029 & 4936 combination on some of the Bristol to Weymouth trips.