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Vintage Trains 2025

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 30567, Dec 12, 2024.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Thanks for taking the time (and money!) to travel and provide a comprehensive account of the day. I agree that Bahamas did what it could but was faced with the impossible to deal with on its own and there was also probably an instruction for the diesel to put in its fair share of work. That said, it seems that Bahamas made its presence felt so that was good.

    It was also good to read an extended post in WGO about the trip and the performance of the motive power involved. I contrast it with a once-read extended narrative from the lineside that was more about the weather, the view and a feline than the passing of the train. There's a place for both of course, and why not, but this is WGO and that's really about the train and the experience.
     
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  2. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    It would be very boring to a lot of us if all we had was a list of speeds, times and the odd comment about whether the loco could be heard, I read the first few lines of the Cathedrals report then moved on. Just saying..
     
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  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes, I get that completely. But there is a singular dearth of information about what these steam locos are actually DOING on the trains that are around at present. And into the void all manner of stuff has dropped. So the report by @1020 Shireman is a welcome attempt to rebalance.

    Although given the current weather conditions and the behaviour of the TOC that shall remain nameless that may not change much anytime soon.
     
  4. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    Same. I got to the bit about the train being too much for a jubilee and switched off. Not really sure what people are expecting as the train has to pay its way, and as such needs the coaches it needs to make it pay.
     
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    So that makes two of you which is fine, of course. My concern is that this was a trip by VT that generally tries to do the right thing by all its customers including the enthusiasts.

    I didn't touch this trip, even though I have never had steam into Swansea, because the weather made it highly likely that the diesel would have had to work to minimise risk from the front end, even though Bahamas is generally well behaved.

    Nonetheless, even though it was a long read it was worth reading if that interests you. As I have said there is also stuff on WGO that I don't even skim because it is supposed to be about (mostly) steam charters.

    (iron) Horses for courses. :)
     
  6. 30567

    30567 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    But what is there to say really? Without inside knowledge you can't say for sure what the diesel is doing, though you can have an educated guess and maybe talk to the crew. So that leaves how many, three or four unassisted trains this year. Maybe we ought to run a sweepstake so one of us can go and report on a British Pullman run.
     
  7. dublo6231

    dublo6231 Member

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    Nobody forces any one to read posts on this forum if they don't want to - in much the same vain that everyone is entitled to ones own opinion...
    The trouble is the criticism of posts is often taken personally - so sometimes maybe things are better off unsaid...

    I know which of the two makes for preferred reading (this is after all a forum that is supposed to be about the railtour itself) - and for that I thank 1020 Shireman for his in-depth analysis and write up of the tour that he traveled on.
     
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  8. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    From personal experience I know just what a commitment it is to produce such a detailed report of a trip and am always pleased to read them, with or without a diesel, so thanks from me (but why no mention of a cat?)

    In a perfect world all trips would be steam only, this year currently available stock and extreme weather have made such trips almost impossible to find. Previously a regular on WCRC and RTC trips I have decided that mk2s with unreliable air con in hot weather is not for me.

    A trip on a Saphos trip to Edinburgh was cancelled, we have booked another for next week but because of the upcoming dry spell I fear that it may be diesel hauled. I’m undecided if I will produce a report, if I do it will not be as comprehensive as Graham’s and it may include mention of a cat, if this offends you then don’t read it.

    I would gladly change from my lineside stories (with cat tails) and report on trips behind steam with or without a tail gunner but haven’t travelled on any. Many of us long for a bit of pure steam and mk1s but it is not widely available. I have high hopes for September’s Shap Mountaineer.
     
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  9. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    I get what you say but I do wonder how less than 2 years ago it was apparently economic for RTC/WCRC to run an unassisted Bristol/Par "Duchy" with Bahamas and load 8? Apart from the absence of the Mark 1's and obviously the fire risk I do wonder what has changed.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
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  10. TH Railway Videos

    TH Railway Videos Member

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    I could be wrong but I think even 2 years ago the Royal Duchy fares were higher fares over the usual fares for other by RTC to make up for the shorter formation, even today the best for standard class is £149 (let’s not even mention how much Flying Scotsman’s Royal Duchy trip cost), I think they did the same with the last time The Welsh Mountaineer ran, cheapest fare was £165 standard class and that was running on a revenue earning 5 coach train
     
  11. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    In practice yes, there are few mentions in this section of railtours (or light engine or ECS movements) without steam, but those do all belong quite appropriately under the WGO heading if someone cares to post about them. With the combination of WCRC's current choice of coaches and the fire risk I have not yet booked any steam trips this year but I have been on several with diesel power.
     
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  12. 30567

    30567 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Could it be that the combination of the two factors you mention plus rising costs/prices and diesel on the back syndrome has caused the market to shrink?
     
  13. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    My wife and I did only two RTC trips last year and we will do none this year unless things change. We decided to travel only on proper steam tours, that is Mk1s and no diesel. Our next steam trips are with British Pullman and VT. In the future, we might add travelling occasionally on tours hauled by selected vintage diesels, for example a Deltic or the Western. However, our options are likely to be limited by the familiar problems of poor paths and towing an unwanted 47 around.
     

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