Vintage Trains 2023

Off and running !

 

Seen on both trips at Henley-in-Arden:

 

Just after sunset 5043 begins the climb towards Elford with its loaded test run sounding just as good as she used to.

 

Two brief shots of the Mighty Earl seen at a windy Shustoke and then putting the power down at Willington.

 

Phoned VT this morning to add another person to our Lickey booking (a friend we've persuaded to drive us to Birmingham in exchange for paying for his ticket).

Sounds like the poor VT staff have been getting a lot of abuse by phone and e-mail from people demanding a refund because they now can't reach the tour by service train, or are RMT members themselves and don't think the train should be running.
It's not VT's fault that a completely unrelated set of railway staff are striking, so that kind of behaviour is really not on! I'd hope nobody here is guilty of it.
Hope that doesn't dissuade them from providing these kind of enthusiast-focused tours in the future, if that's the way people are going to behave.

 

I do not support the abuse from the public, but RMT members who seem to want to involve people who are not in their union in the dispute is just beyond the pale in my view.

 

With the greatest of respect, Vintage Trains do not have a ballot against them for strike action on that date and neither do Network Rail who provide the infrastructure. A small outfit who like anyone else will be fighting to survive at the moment should not be expected to put itself out of action for solidarity or anything else.

Transport for Wales will not be cancelling their trains either, for example, as they're also not part of the dispute.

 

It seems strange that Vintage Trains have seemingly been picked out in this instance when other operators have had no such experience. It does not seem to be RTM policy to object to other companies, with whom they are not in dispute with, carrying on with their normal business as best that they can. A local hothead may be sounding off but that is not national policy and I think that this is understood across the railway community.

Peter

 

I do wonder if the issue is more individual RMT members, who'd like to travel on the trains, but would have to cross picket lines or be seen on railway premises by their managers/colleagues when their union is on strike (even if they weren't actually rostered to work on that strike day).

Either way, the member of staff I spoke to seemed quite upset by the attitude they'd been subjected to, and I think was happy that I was booking an extra ticket, not demanding a refund.

Just important for all of us to remember that the people who provide our fun days out are still human and deserve some kindness and respect, no matter how upset we might be at the circumstances.

 

If they were booked on the tour I'd expect them to be on a rest day or annual leave, in which case they won't be classed taking part in strike action. I've had discussions about this with senior EMR managers and union reps and they've confirmed as much.

 

In relation to the 2 Castles tour on Saturday, does anyone know whether the speed restriction south through Tackley is still in place (Asking for a friend - well actually an aged relative with a serious Castles habit who used to work in the Works at Swindon!).

 

There is this restriction mentioned in the STN.
30mph Tackley Station DCL Up Main/Fast (1100) 72m48ch Tackley Station Up Main Platform 2

 

Does the STN have the times for Saturday? If so what time does it arrive

 

Sorry should have said arrive Didcot

 

Confirmed timings are due tomorrow for us passengers.

 

Thanks, just out of interest, is there a similar restriction northbound?

 

You can also add Radley to the list, southbound that is. I think they're all southbound restrictions.

 

What about Culham?
Is there any restriction there?

 

You're OK southbound, though not sure about northbound.