Saphos: Blue Peter to Carlisle - 12/02/26; Sir Nigel Gresley - 11/03/26; Britannia - 8/04/26

Blue Peter in February and Sir Nigel Gresley in March on the Shap trips with £99 fare

 

I have asked Saphos whether these two trips are planned to be unassisted steam on the steam legs and they have responded:

“We have requested that there will not be a diesel on the back of the train”.

Julian

 

As it is their own trip with their own loco who would they be asking "permission" from?

 

They are specifically promoting these as an opportunity to "measure the performance of our Class 8 Pacific locomotives", so that would imply there will be no diesel.

 

On paper this is looking like heaven. This is what many of us have all wanted. Pure steam with star locos at bargain prices. Only minor downside is no S&C return, though I may be asking a bit too much given the price.

 

Oh so nearly there, but the £99 for Euston-Crewe and return is a tad much, especially with peak time travel/hotels required in London for such a folly.

The £99 Crewe-Carlisle steam legs are decent value. Can't complain on that!

Maybe next time

 

There are cheaper fares to Crewe than £99 but you need to have to buy an advance both ways, which for a railtour comes with a serious amount of non refundable risk.
Also depends if you can get to Euston very early and back late at night. Hotels in Crewe will be way cheaper than central London.

Saphos standard class image shows a Mk1, do they have a TSO still?

 

Possibly Network Rail.

 

At the minimum Network Rail train planners need to know what is being requested at Carlisle for the shunt moves.

 

Just 2 weeks to go now to the "Blue Peter" Shap trip, lets hope this time Saphos can match the allocated seats on the ticket letter to the actually marked seats in the carriage in Standard. With the "Duke" trip in Nov 25, this required the steward to sort this out on the day, the problem being that the Euston - Crewe steward was replaced at Crewe by another for the Shap Trip, chaos ensued for most passengers as all seemed to struggle to find their correct seat. A full timing sheet and tour booklet would also be appreciated.

 

Ticket arrived this morning for Saphos Blue Peter tour to Carlisle on Thurs 12th Feb

Confirmed timings
Crewe 10:35
Carlisle 14:20-17:10
Crewe 20:35

 

Snap!! same here!

 

Slightly surprised to find myself allocated different seats for the diesel and steam sections!

 

Timings now in RTT

1Z32 Euston to Carlisle
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U76415/2026-02-12/detailed

1Z33 Carlisle to Euston
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U76424/2026-02-12/detailed

 

Going by the ticket letter as I'm in Standard and that 1s coach F , its either a short train or standard is not at the back of the train this time.

 

Possibly to be added a support coach, genny van and buffet car to make it 10 coaches

 

Guess the stock will be similar to 71000's Royal Scot last November. The formation from Crewe was:

M35333 POB
M35467 Generator Car
Mk1 FO M3122
Mk1 FO M3045
Mk1 FO M3125
Buffet Mk1 M1666
Mk1 FO M3100
Mk1 FO M3148
Mk1 FO M3140
Mk2 TSO M5366

The different seat allocation on the diesel and steam legs is probably due to the multiple seat bookings being very different as so many joined the Royal Scot at Crewe last year.

 

There surely will be many joining at Crewe just for the steam legs and some diesel enthusiasts doing only Euston-Crewe and back. But it still shouldn't have been difficult to give someone booking both sections the same seat.

 

If anyone can't make the Blue Peter trip, or has a spare ticket or two ideally, please let me know