Vintage Trains 2025

And yet you have 34009!! As someone said, Never Mind the Why and Wherefore.......

 

Sherborne? Easy - 30906 got there first!

 

Enthusiast Class already sold out, proving the demand for unassisted traction, opening windows, a route with nice scenery and some challenging gradients, and an opportunity to be close to the loco.
I'm a steam man, but could not resist booking this one. The trip up to Buckfastleigh and back with Western haulage is the USP for me.

Nick M.

 

I am considering it, mainly for the through run onto the South Devon, but for me it would require at least the night before in a hotel, adding to the cost and hassle.

 

The room rate in the Premier Inn Waterloo Street, Birmingham for the Friday night is currently from £49.
Nick M.

 

True, but that's a non-refundable rate. As has been mentioned on this forum many times, booking non-refundable hotels for tours is a bit foolish. The cheapest fully-refundable rate is £64 as long as you cancel 3 days before, or £76 for cancellations on the Friday morning.

 

Yes, but although it is non-refundable, you are still able to amend your arrival date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival. This takes care of the risk of the tour being postponed. In the event of a cancellation, I am sure I would use the hotel booking for another VT trip at a later date, so I have no need to pay extra for a refundable room rate. Over the years, I have booked many such non-refundable rooms and the accumulated savings are now such that even if I lost a booking, I would still be quids in.
Nick M.

 

I hear your logic, but even when I was stewarding a lot I never felt that was worth the risk.

Only one coach though isn't it for enthusiast class so 64 seats?

 

The last time I travelled Enthusiast class, I think it was a brake vehicle, so fewer than 64 seats.

 

Most certainly looking forward to a trip up to Cumbria next Saturday, planning already underway so the all important times are required, should be a good day out. Times are:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U44228/2025-03-29/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U44235/2025-03-29/detailed

Would be doubly good if I could "plan" the weather too............

Cheerz,

Alan

 

The good news is-- looks like snow on the tops. The bad news is-- we won't be able to see it. Clearing up in the afternoon for Mallerstang and Ribblehead though.

 

Hope you’re right. I’ve got rain showing all day!

 

It's Coach H and we have Tables 9&10 so must be a TSO.

 

Ah, OK. We are on table 4. I’ll come and say hello. We are travelling up from South Wales on Friday and staying over in the city centre.
This trip has all the makings of a great day out.

Nick M.

 

Coach H table 16, so I guess that makes it 64 seats.

Peter

 

My wife and I have table 15 in coach H - looking forward to it!

I think 45596 is travelling over from Keighley on Saturday morning so should be warmed through a bit for Shap!

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U44216/2025-03-29/detailed

Julian

 

Looks like coach H could be a Nat Pres mobile forum.

Dave B

 

I hope all those travelling behind Bahamas (particularly those in coach H) enjoy their trip. I was sorely tempted but a bit too early in the year for me however I am planning to watch the northbound leg.

 

It will be fascinating to compare the performance of Bahamas over the hills with those of its single-chimney siblings.

And indeed, to compare with runs by Tyseley’s Castles, for while Bahamas is only a Class 6P vs 7P for a Castle, I am struck by how similar the two classes are dimensionally. Weight, driving wheel diameter, boiler pressure, grate area are all very comparable, the significant difference of course being in the cylinders.

In the meantime, I have some Birmingham pubs to explore…

Nick M.

 

We can only hope that with the improvement of traction in this part of the world tomorrow we see an improvement in the weather! The return journey looks awful at the moment, 50mph plus winds for Ais Gill!