6201: 75th anniversary of speed record Special To Glasgow!!!

All, - I just want to (attempt) to clear up a few things being discussed here.

1 – We at Vintage Trains do NOT put a Diesel on the back without a good reason. On this tour it is required for ECS moves in Carlisle and Glasgow.

We could have a Diesel follow us up light engine, but that represents a significant additional cost that would have to be passed onto the passengers in the ticket price.

2 – We do not dislike nor do we have any malice towards photographers who turn out in all weathers to photo / video our excursions. Many are gracious enough to give us rights to use their photos in our books; these in turn generate income that is used to maintain existing and restore mainline engines for everyone’s future enjoyment.

The one exception to this are the “gentlemen” who claim that have arrangements with the engine crew for black smoke or steam at a given location. A suggestion that such people wear an inflatable pink object on their heads to make themselves more visible to said train crew was a great idea and one I personally cannot wait to view in the near future.

3 – The majority of the train crew and stewards on our trains are donating their time. We want to put on a good show for us as well as the passengers and lineside viewers.

4 - Lastly I would ask that you consider one final item. Vintage Trains are run slightly differently from the other tour operators. The majority of the proceeds from our excursions are re-invested in our engines and rolling stock. A large proportion of our income for the next few years is to be used to upgrade the workshop facilities at our home base in Tyseley and the continuing Heavy Overhaul of 7029 “Clun Castle”.

Hopefully this clears up a few things. If there are any further questions about this or any other tours, please do not hesitate to contact me via this forum or directly.

Regards.

Ben

 

I wondered why that bloke next to me at Burton Salmon was wearing a huge pink hat.................................I should have knocked him off his step ladders! :laugh:

 

I would be interested to know just what this "significant additional cost" would work out at per passenger. The standard class fare is £150 - a few quid extra may not have made a significant difference (especially when you factor in that the absence of a diesel may have brought in a few extra passengers). The Class 37 which was used on RTC's West Highlander ran light engine to/from Scotland and was only attached to the train when needed, That tour cost £475 standard class, but that was 4 days vs 2 on the VT trip, used 3 steam locos instead of 1, and included 3 nights accommodation, 3 breakfasts and 1 dinner - quite a bargain.

 

In general it would be interesting to know the cost of a diesel running LE for a day...
I assume there's the hire cost (or offset against maintenance cost), crew, fuel, pathing... £5k perhaps ? / 500 passengers.. £10 each ?, £20 if 2 days ?, plus say crew's lodging and meals ?

Maybe you could run a " take the diesel off the back" surcharge.. If enough opt in (passengers and photographers) it goes... If not it stays and no one gets charged ?.... Thing is I suspect I know how that would pan out already...a most people, like myself, don't care.

 

.....

 

Well said, however I fear my friend that you are pi**ing into the wind.

 

Bryan - thank you - we know where we were when it mattered, and what we did - so the ungracious slings and arrows say more about the senders than us.

Camraman - of course it was 4932 - with wellies rather than fire hoses probably.

Should I change my sign off to "never forget - you have a choice" Nice to see the 1962 Funchal coming to the end of her refit in Lisbon and the good old Marco of 1964 still plying her trade - Bed, travel, three meals, and a different city every day - at a quarter of posh class! - and civilised non judgemental company to boot.

 

Thanks Ben,

Your comments conccur with mine, but alas still seem fall on deaf ears. The reasons you have given are ample on there own without my own view that also during the month of November a belt and braces approach is best. Presume some also chose to ignore the lack of platforms at one of the countries busiest stations. Maybe its really cos all the WCpensioners are all in the Med on a cruise spending their pocket money and not available to drive that weekend. Humour/joke/light hearted leg pull/no offence etc etc

Once upon a time(1980s) you could play out on the Marches or the S&C all day long and nobody gave a monkees. Those days, as everybody surely knows are sadly long long gone.

Mike Wylie

 

Totally encapsulates the problem - you don't know you've been had - until you are!

 

You still don't know how good you have it, wasn't there a steam trip to Turkey a few years back and the only locomotive on the run was a BR 52 which was leaking so badly it couldn't produce steam to pull itself, and was pushed the entire trip by a diesel.... That's when you've been had.

 

Well said that man.:clap2:

 

Second that...........I never thought I'd see em on the main line again.......an A4 on a preserved line just does'nt seem the same as it galloping up the ECML, whether it has a box on the back or not.

 

This is my point. I have no problem with a Diesel on the back for insurance, but if this is to happen all marketing must clearly state this so that any passenger is aware at the time of booking.

 

Right with you there Frank.

Although in this instance one of my biggest objections to getting what you see advertised and have paid for has been partly overcome. There is good advance knowledge of what the train consist will be and in my book that has to be applauded.

And as for those who keep on about us being grateful etc. Don't you know what can, and is still happening on the UK main line steam scene when all concerned decide to go for it?

A number of outstanding runs up with, if not better than the very best ever hill climbing from real steam days behind 60163 on the East Coast mainline.

I think the Bristolian last year? (I wasn't on it, I'm very allergic to shiny copper).

And on 9th July this year a Bulleid pacific gave me my second fastest time ever non stop to Southampton from Waterloo on the fabulous Steam Dreams trip I shall never ever forget. (Until next year's trip maybe! LOL). My first such fast run from Waterloo to Southampton being in 1962.

Then on the same day this year a non stop run Salisbury to Waterloo, (actually a signal stop outside of Waterloo), in a time that taking off the various checks would have been around the same as the up Atlantic Coast Express was scheduled for in 1964.

So a suggestion to those who keep on about us oldies wanting to live in the past. Please check out what is actually happening when all concerned decide to do their best to ovecome all the hurdles, (and I fully accept there are plenty around), to replicate steam loco running from the 1960s. It can be and sometimes is, alive and well in 2011! But I do accept it can't all be like that.

Now to 46201 and the 75th anniversary trip. Some here may have noticed I'm quite a keen SR Yeti. But I do have soft spot for Crewe - Carlisle - Glasgow as that was the last UK line where I timed fast steam in the 1960s. Black 5 s and Brits. (Makes me really laugh about the 60 mph Black 5 limit these days. Superb machines that could go like rockets in the right hands).

I could have been tempted into a late booking to get a run behind 46201 on that route: I really enjoyed a trip behind her to Bristol not long ago.

I don't know that the load will be on the day. But hopefully with the loco in top condition and a dry rail with no howling gale blowing will see a great trip of pure steam haulage for those on board. Leaving me with another trip I have passed by because of the dreaded box. But I know my time will come again and I'm patient and will wait for it and I cope very well with missing trips that would have suited me. And in the meantime there's been report of that very secretive and rarely seen bird, a Long Eared Owl, back on the roost it used in July the Isle of Sheppy, so that will be my focus for the next week or two...........

It's true. Yetis do look like Victor Meldrew

 

I see your point, but in many cases they are required for certain conditons that only become apparent late in the day - so I am not sure how this can be achieved.

A bigger issue is the fact that a lot of the operators put a tour on website etc but then never update the details (not VT I add) and this is altogether more of an issue in my opinion.

 

Tysley dep 07-12
New street 07-37
Wolves 08-23
Stafford 08-52
Crewe dep 10-00
Carlisle 13-37 / 16-15
Glasgow 18-55

Glasgow 08-45
Carlisle 11-40 / 13-09
Crewe dep 16-43
Stafford 16-10
Wolves 18-30
New street 10-24
Tysley 20-00

In coach G

 

Thats a pretty slow crawl back from Wolverhampton to Tyseley! :smile:

The layover in Carlisle means the climb of Beattock will be in the dark too. Is that how long it takes to refill the water carrier?

 

A short Stop in Carlisle is 3 hours?