Vintage Trains - First trips with Clun Castle

2 First Opens for the Diners and the Restaurant Car. Hope that's not the dining consist for the Cotswold Explorer.

 

Yes, and unless those 3 coaches have already had vacuum brakes added, it will necessitate the use of the Class 47. Don't want Sapperton ruined by diesel assistance.

 

We are a new TOC using a locomotive fresh from overhaul with a mixture of coaches that do and do not have steam heat, plus we have a revised shunt in and out of a very busy Oxford station. The 47 will be on the rear for the next few trains, including the Cotswold on Saturday 9th March.

 

Thanks for that Ben. We'll wait to renew our acquaintance with 7029 until the need for a diesel on the rear has ended.

 

I'll be doing the same. Fingers crossed for the Welsh Marches.

 

The coaches must be vacuum braked if they are operating behind a vacuum braked loco such as 7029.

 

Can anyone on Nat Pres tell me if they have had their tickets posted out for the Worcester tour on 7th march I'm booked on this trip but not received my tickets yet have they been sent out by vintage yet?

 

Sorry, mis-read post!

 

Done it many times. No interest whatsoever of riding with an oil burner on the train. They are too damn heavy, 120 tons +, not to have to interfere in the running. Been conned when so called steam came on after the starting point of the tour and diesels ran around and reattached on the rear. Then we got off as soon as possible. Of more concern to us is that we bought shares in VT. Their prospectus mentioned diesel hauled trains and other work outside the steam hauled trains but there was an emphasis on the steam hauled trains, the only ones we are interested in. There was no mention of any period when there would be a diesel on the rear of steam hauled trains, nor about hiring in other owners stock that have no steam heating facility nor vacuum brakes unless we missed that in the prospectus. We were about to invest another £1k or more but are now seriously reconsidering.

 

Can anyone tell me who has made the mistake on mainline steam tours index the cotswold explorer is adverised for 19th may sunday and on vintage trains website its showing as 18th may and on 2019 railtour info its also showing as 18 may which one do i believe.

 

The Cotswold Explorer starts from Moor Street so actually there won't be a drag from Tyseley but, yes, given how it is the first trip then erring on the side of caution is perhaps to be expected, plus Ben mentioned some complex shunting needed at Oxford.

 

There were similar comments like this about Saphos, however, they now have a generator car and have run some trips unassisted - albeit with a strategically placed Thunderbird. I think some patience and most of all faith is needed as this new TOC takes its first tentative steps.
VT are taking an almighty risk here and require support from all of us enthusiasts to enable Great Western mainline steam to survive for the next few decades via this venture. However, it would seem some see a diesel and lose all sense of perspective and reality.

 

Suggest you trust VT as they are organising it.

 

Well yes I do trust them, but mainline steam tours index are showing the Cotswold explorer running on 19th May whilst on 2019 mainline info and Vintage are showing advertised as 18th may, its only my 3rd booking with Vintage. If it turns out to be Sunday I'll either have to book a hotel in Birmingham or cancel it but all the other Cotswold explorers are advertised for Saturday so I'll guess mainline steam tours index have got the date wrong I hope. And thus my booking acknowledgement says 18th May from Vintage Trains!

 

@Davo if the tour says 18th May on VT'site and they are the tour operator then that is who you take notice of, not something you see elsewhere which is probably a typo.

Dave B