Vintage Trains 2025

I was more so making the point that the first info was on an enthusiast forum which not all potential passengers joining at York would necessarily frequent. Then as per my previous post that initial post by Michael Whitehouse whilst appreciated wasn't fully clear, hence why the Black Watch and Neil Dimmer also posted querying it's intention

I appreciate the situation was fluid on the ground and out of Vintage control with the initial issues of the points /signalling problems, but the call to amend to York only would have meant coal and water supplies needing to be arranged at York along with using the turntable so would have been made a reasonable time in advance

Most passengers joining at York would have departed home by 0930 unless they lived very close to York

One of those days where things happen, just pointing out that Nat Pres isn't the centre of the universe for putting out information to tour passengers

Ironically I would have been seated in Coach H the nearest passenger carrying coach to loco which looking at the arrangements at Newcastle and Tyne Yard would have meant standard class being at the front in both directions

Hopefully Vintage decide to do one of these add ons from York in the future (albeit appreciate they did offer to Scarborough earlier this year but that didn't have the same appeal as a blast on the ECML)

 

Just got home, was a great day out despite not making Newcastle.
Totally understandable given the situation out of VT's control.
I've always liked York; anyway.

My journey home just missed the situation at Watford Junction, but I got caught up in the mess on the Nothern Line.
Not a great weekend for the railway it seems, and certainly not isolated to VT.
Thanks to the guys and girls who make it all happen.

 

I was one of those booked from York to Newcastle. I understand that VT couldn't have done much else in the circumstances with the ball thrown at them. The one criticism I will make is the absence of information to those of us on Platform 11 that didn't have their phones on all the time. Nothing from the station PA system, though they were voluble enough later in the day with platform safety announcements about the return trip. Also, there were several VT representatives on the platform ready to meet Clun when it did arrive at 12.30. Could one of them not have turned up earlier to explain things to those of us who were waiting?

At least I got to see the loco on its arrival and before its return departure. It was turned out magnificently. There was a brief series of wonderful Castle barks as it left for home, quickly followed by an almighty growl and shoving from the rear. The 37 was belching out more black smoke than Clun.

 

I have been trying to contact Vintage Trains for several days. The phone system keeps me holding for a little while then tells me "all of our agent are busy", which seems unlikely. I have left messages but they don't call back. They were holding a place for me on the Farewell to Steam trip, waiting to decide whether one could join at Paddington. Eventually they announced yes, but only for Tourist class. Then they changed their mind and emailed to say "you will be able to travel in Pullman with the 4-Course Evening Dinner and be able to join at Paddington." But I can't get through to them to confirm and pay.

 

I guess they might be busy dealing with enquiries following the curtailment of the Newcastle trip (at York)

 

I would initially contact them by email and then continue to telephone them.

bookings@vintagetrains.co.uk

Good luck. <BJ>

 

I did email to say I would phone the next day to pay.
I grudge the supplement for booking online but I have just tried that and the checkout process failed to complete.

 

This does seem most uncharacteristic of them.
They must be very busy with this train, the fall out from the foreshortened Newcastle trip and maybe pathing difficulties with Sunday's Shakespeares consequent to the Chiltern route substituting for the main London-Birmingham route and the Hatton-Stratford line service closure.
I do hope you get it sorted.

 

Railway Herald says Sunday's train is cancelled. It was still available to book on the VT website last night (Pullman class only), but it's now saying not currently available to book online.

 

In desperation I have tried booking on line. That means paying the booking agent's supplement, paying for a lunch box that I probably won't want, and pretending that I will be joining at Widney Manor. Even after that, after I enter my card details I
get
"Your cart is empty.
Click Keep Shopping above to add something!"

That has happened twice.

I reckon I won't be on this trip.

EDIT: They have just phoned me and I am booked.

 

VT posted about Sunday a few minutes ago on Facebook advertising bookings so maybe Railway Herald is wrong?

 

Wouldn't be the first time!

 

They're a magazine, so 99.9% of their focus each week is spent on producing paid content for their subscribers. Listing railtour information publicly for non-subscribers to view online is just something they do on the side when one of them gets a spare minute here or there. We should be grateful they even go to the trouble of trying.

 

Kindly do not rely on Real Time Trains or Railway Herald for details about our trains. RTT is often simply wrong as, if NR press the 'secret times' button RTT can't get any information. Whilst we are busy, please ask us; an email will always get answered. On any SE you can always simply turn up - there will always be Tourist seats [but not restaurant car seats]

Now we know the booking pattern for the Farewell to Steam trip we can accept London departures [food only in picnic boxes]. We were awaiting news of other potential events at Pddn, none of which will materialise

You 'need' to be on the FtoS trip! It won't be recreated again: reproduction headboard and even buffer beam numbers to expect

 

Enjoy the trip, I hope it goes as well as my recent trips with VT!

 

The paths for Sunday have appeared now https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=TY

 

And for the in-between run to/from Birmingham: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=TY

 

Railway Herald have corrected their mistake and reinstated the tour. RH should check with tour operators before assuming that a tour is cancelled. <BJ>