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Vintage Trains 2017

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Paul42, Jan 14, 2017.

  1. daveb

    daveb Member

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    Apologies if this has been asked before - I can't find the answer either in this thread or on VT's web site.

    Does anyone know what the difference is between Standard Class and Enthusiast Class? As far as I can see from the VT web site, the answer (at least as far as "The Moonraker" is concerned) is £15.00. What extra do you get for the extra £15.00?

    Thanks.
     
  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    A seat in the coach next to the loco.
     
  3. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Download a brochure gives full details.
     
  4. Where's Mazeppa?

    Where's Mazeppa? Member

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    The answer to that lies in the print version of the Vintage Trains Excursion Programme brochure - a very smart and neatly produced A5 brochure which this time round celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Vintage Trains. Page 6 describes exactly what you get for your hard-earned rail-tour buck in each class of travel, and for the Enthusiast Class, it states "consists of a limited number of seats in the buffet coach, which is guaranteed to be the closest passenger coach to the loco in one direction, providing the best seats for recording engine sounds etc. The cost..........includes tea/ coffee, a bacon roll, warm snack and cake"

    So, especially good for the circular trips that VT operates (Cotswold Explorer/ Welsh Marches/ Shropshire Express) because you can stay up close to the sound track all day. Obviously less so for the out-and-back itineraries like the Moonraker (unless they turn the whole train - not 100% sure about what happens at Salisbury).

    And as far as "best seats for recording engine sounds" is concerned, I'm sure that VT would be very quick to point out that this quite explicitly does not mean poking recording devices through the sliding vents, which sadly, like cameras, I gather, is strictly verboten.

    So, one example, however isolated nowadays, of the potential superiority of the print medium over the digital medium for communicating the detail.

    Edit: when I compiled this post, I hadn't noticed the facility that Paul 42 draws attention to, to download a copy of the printed brochure. However, when I did this, what appeared was the last edition of the brochure covering the period to April (culminating with the Moonraker trip) Can't remember when I received it, but the latest edition, covering February-September 2017 arrived some weeks ago, and it was from this that I quoted in the foregoing post.
     
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2017
  5. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    And a bacon bap in the morning and snack in the afternoon.
     
  6. daveb

    daveb Member

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    Thanks for the responses, everyone.

    DaveB
     
  7. andalfi1

    andalfi1 Well-Known Member

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    Usually the coach behind the GUV/support coach.
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
  8. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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  9. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    I think it's a converted brake with the support section in the cage part, and the buffet at the other end with seating for around 20 passengers.
     
  10. andalfi1

    andalfi1 Well-Known Member

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    Travelled in it twice, The Midlander and the last Pannier bash.
     
  11. eggbert

    eggbert Member

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    My dads video as I was away on the weekend
     
  12. David likes trains

    David likes trains Member

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    FAO @Ben Vintage-Trains , could well just be on my computer but your email has got some funky text wrapping going on. I'm using hotmail in google Chrome.

    upload_2017-3-16_20-23-24.png
     
  13. PaulT

    PaulT New Member

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    Sorry a bit late on this. A great Report, makes me feel almost there instead of 12,000miles away! One question that I hope someone can help with. Why did the loco go back to Newport to turn? Is the triangle south of Canton not suitable? It 'looks' OK on Google Earth. Has some of it been lifted since Aug last year? Thanks.
     
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I believe it is to do with other traffic using the triangle that makes it difficult plus exactly where the loco and stock sit during the layover. Other trips to Cardiff have had similar problems recently.
     
  15. PaulT

    PaulT New Member

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    Thank you.
     
  16. Ben Vintage-Trains

    Ben Vintage-Trains Member

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    Looks like we will have 10 including the GUV and Support Coach on Saturday 25th March.
     
    LMarsh1987 likes this.
  17. Ben Vintage-Trains

    Ben Vintage-Trains Member

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    Enthusiast Class is guaranteed to be the closest passenger coach to the loco in one direction. It is excellent for sound recordings, etc. The vehicle we designate is 9101 which doubles as he buffet, and since you are already in the buffet, you get free tea & coffee, bacon roll in the morning and a snack and cake in the afternoon.
     
  18. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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  19. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    Just noticed that the Whistling Ghost in June with 46233 now has Droitwich Spa as a pickup / set down instead of Worcester Shrub Hill, so it'll be passing straight through Shrub Hill now. It is due to be an interesting day at Shrub Hill as there are two other rail tours there that day, but none at that time.
     
  20. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Considering the layout at Shrub Hill, Im suprised there hasn't been an attempt to put a "through platform 3" round the back considering 2 must be a constraint at times.
     

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