Saphos Trains 2026

i see that all single seat 1st class is now sold out for both trips, and all 2nd class similar

 

Although the current market is not enthusiast driven, I feel the 71000 £99 no frills Euston-Carlisle rtn (steam from Crewe)changed the game.
The majority of enthusiasts have been priced out of the trains, which combined with a box on the back and MK2 coaches, make for an unattractive package.
Saphos have been quick to recognise this extra business opportunity to run alongside the dining trains, and Vintage trains having tried it before are doing it in 2026.
I suspect 71000 will be tempted to do it again.
I think it’s great, and will hopefully satisfy many of the Members, and deal with a lot of the issues on here relating to diesel assistance.


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Many thanks for this information of which I wasn't aware.
I believe the tours were on 26/10/68 and 29/6/69. I have found some outline times for the tour in 1968 from which it is clear that it wasn't a rapid assent of Shap or Grayrigg. If anybody has some times from "The North Eastern" in 1969 I would be very interested.

Only 14 seats left on 60532.

 

All sold out now

 

If anyone cannot make the Blue Peter trip, that has already booked, and has two tickets they would like to sell, please let me know.
Regards

 

Standard Class (£99) reintroduced on four Fellsman trips this summer.

 

Just 16 1st class seats remaining for the 60007 SNG run 11th March

 

Interesting news from SRPS. Such a shame that another operator is not so forthcoming. <BJ>

''Our next batch of MK1 vehicles made the journey to Glasgow Works in Springburn today for fitment of our CDL system in preparation for our exciting 2026 Railtour Programme!''

 

I think that is now a lost cause, more interested in getting money in than spending any on projects like CDL

 

Getting money in.....Isn't that what business is all about and lets face it that's what it is... a business.

 

First two Fellmans trips have been updated to show Blue Peter as the rostered locomotive.

Very unusual for Saphos to publicly put a loco down on their website, I assume this will become the norm for the trips where Standard Class is available and is more enthusiast based.

 

I believe this is to become more the norm as things progress. Certainly encouraging

 

Any more from your sources re whether they intend to run any of their regular series without a diesel?

 

They are trying yes. Quite difficult I understand with some of the trips, like Fellsman where the diesel is necessary to Chester, and ERE where it’s necessary to assist with the shunting, etc.

I’ll try ask for some further info as we head towards the season.

 

Although perhaps with the exception of the purely enthusiast tours the steam content either by design or NR pathing seems to be declining of course from what we were used to in the past, but with even longer days. A lot of the English Riviera Express trips start around 06:00 and finish near midnight, for what to me whilst a pleasant run along the sea wall is not a great deal of steam mileage.

 

I don't understand why the ERE requires a diesel for shunting at Kingswear. The old Torbay Expresses operated by EWS/DBC never did. Has something changed?

 

Whenever I do the ERE after arrival at Kingswear the diesel gets uncoupled and goes off to the sidings just over the level crossing. Then the steam engine pushes the whole rake of coaches backwards by itself into the sidings.

 

Will it not need a diesel out of Paignton to avoid stalling on the climb, as has happened before?, normally a long train. Surely easier to take their own than pay for another one and for the P&DSR to have to find a driver. Added bonus is back up on the run to and from Taunton.