Vintage Trains 2025

Interesting, perhaps it’s something the operators need to consider. I know PF often gets criticised for their pricing but I always thought VT seemed reasonable. Can you remember last year’s prices, perhaps there has been an increase which to some has made it not worth while?

 

The price, A 6am start and possibly Plymouth in the wet !

 

Ah yes it may possibly be wet, but at least then you may get a little slip climbing up the bank to Mutley tunnel!

 

As @Big Al said elsewhere it has been done to death over the past couple of years. But I will say some have argued that all you needed was Mk1's and any unassisted steam. But it does appear that is not the case. The tours that seem to sell out are those at the top end, Belmond, Northern Belle, Saphos. Most of which run with diesel assistance, but are somewhat more than the cheese sandwich and thermos flask brigade.

 

Not all VT's fleet are Mk1's though? I full rake of mk1's like you got pre-covid would make a huge difference.

 

If you want to be pedantic opening windows then. But for most a generic not a Mk2 coffin becomes a Mk1. Same as a Dyson can still be referred to as a Hoover.

 

I am not sure that that’s the case, the mk1’s and mk2’s are significantly different. Just because a mk2 doesn’t happen to he a coffin on doesn’t mean it suddenly resembles a mk1. They are fundamentally in their ride, smell etc. and offer a totally different experience to each other.

 

The Great Western 2 day tour last year was £250 (minus overnight accommodation). That included steam Birmingham - Bristol - Plymouth all the way back to London, a large chunk unassisted and non-stop. An awesome and memorable day out.

£165 for double headed steam on a 1/3 of the above mileage? At least £30 too much IMHO and little to interest me personally as you would barely notice the banks with that loco combination. Better to have sent 45596 or 7029 solo as a swansong. Bahamas solo over the Devon banks (guaranteed unassisted) would have had me interested, given hardly any Royal Duchys have run in the last couple of years.

I have said it before on this forum and will say it again, railtour prices are now firmly in the premium category and therefore need to be an exceptional offering. I would happily pay £250 again for something as unique as the Great Western and it will likely be my only mainline trip of the year, I won't pay £125 to be pushed over the S&C.

One up side of doing less mainline steam is I have done more heritage railway galas this year, far better value. But you can not experience an express steam loco accelerating hard to 70+mph on a heritage line.. that itch will always need scratching - but very difficult to achieve these days.

 

An interesting development by InterCity railtours this year (& last) has been a multi traction day centering on a town, with several mini trips each with different combinations of diesel loco and routes. Last year focused on Preston, with a Peak, Class 20s and 37s. This year was a South West theme centred around Bristol, with a class 40, 45 and 52.
Both sold out quickly and seemed very popular. Obviously LSL have some locomotive riches available to them, but would a steam version be popular or even achievable?
Last multi traction steam tour I did was the legendary Scottish Lowlander tour which featured an A4, Duchess and Jubilee, oh and over 500 unassisted steam miles. It was through first time I spent over £100 on a steam tour - unlikely to be repeated now sadly, but what a bargain...!

 

Well £250 is a good price for a 2 day tour, I can see why it was popular at that price.

It sounds to me like we like similar things, I too would have preferred to see either 7029 or Bahamas run individually as, like you say, the banks become almost unnoticeable with 2 locos upfront unless of course one isn’t working/steaming correctly, then in fact you will notice it more. The last few years of Royal Duchy’s (always a guaranteed steam only run) have been pushed along by a 47 or 57.

I too have been getting involved in heritage railway events far more this year and agree with you when you talk about value for money.

 

Even if two locos together have plenty of power (and adhesion!) in relation to the load, they still have to work hard. Watch for instance this video of last year's Mayflower
or from back in 2010 a double header up the Lickey

 

It's nothing to do with which year's prices, but what my appetite is to pay for something.

 

Looking at the website it looks as though they have added more first class seats to the train. The tourist class has gone from 135 seats available to 19, can’t be that many people booking surely? Unless payday has just hit and people and though let’s do it…

 

Also the chance that some have had an eye on the weather, to see if the promised rain arrives.

 

Yes, the "last chance" email they have just sent out about it says they have added more First Class seats "due to phenomenal demand"

 

Well that can only be a good thing!

 

It's my first and probably last steam charter this year for all the reasons you mentioned!