Saphos Trains 2018

46100 thundering through Stratford-Upon-Avon Parkway on the return leg.

 

My video from on-board yesterday's tour. The length of the video has been knocked down to around half an hour after a request off someone and for this trip I even covered over the microphone on the camera with a glasses cleaning cloth in a bid to cut down on the wind noise which does seem to have partly worked as you can her 46100.

 

I’ve seen an interesting thing from a few photos listed in the light engines and tests thread. The rear coach of 70000’s Test run... is that a simple BG coach or have Crewe got a generator coach joining the fleet?

 

Looks like 6311, which is indeed a BG that was converted into a generator car many years ago.

 

They've had one for a while, hopefully we'll see it more next year and fingers crossed the diesel won't be needed.

 

Not the best of shots, but this is the coach in question, Saphos Generator car ex BG Numbered as Sc6311 bringing up the rear of yesterdays Britannia test run climbing to Searchlight Lane junction.

 

Good to see English Rivera express returning for 2019 and a grealy price £65 standard price if you book early.

 

Have any other tours besides the English Riviera been announced for next year?

 

Hi Anthony

Where have you seen this advertised as I can’t find it on-line on the Saphos or Icons of Steam website?

Any chance you can post the link?

Cheers

 

http://www.tauntontrains.co.uk/news
Read on this page, a bit further down from top.

 

A change in direction for the Moors Explorer; it will be doing the route anti-clockwise. It's not often you can get a run over Copy Pit in this direction, so fairly happy. Also does the hitherto rare east curve at Earlestown.

...Or even clockwise...

 

Clockwise surely, or am I missing something?

 

If you look on Railway Herald Railtours page, there are all of next years tours, The Fellsman, William Shakespeare, Welsh Marches and the return of the Lakelander

 

The Wednesday workings to Weymouth are interesting...

 

Of particular note, The Fellsman starts from Crewe rather than Lancaster and the loco pool is LSL not WCRC. Preservation debuts of Braunton and/or Royal Scot over the S&C quite likely. There are only three Fellsman's listed that I can see. Will there still be some from Lancaster?

 

Hasn’t Statesmen been sold Ian hence no Carnforth involvement?

 

Correct, but it was sold over two (maybe three?) seasons ago with WCRC continuing to operate the Fellsman. With LSL now established, it would appear the time has come for them to take the Fellsman fully in house.

 

I would suspect that WCRC will no doubt replace with something on the Lancaster route as previously as they always seemed to sell out months in advance, possibly something for the fledgling Riley Tours?

 

At least it implies a steam departure from Weymouth as shown at the moment.

 

Is there anything about getting rid of the coffins and their diesel on the back???