Vintage Trains 2026

D1015Western Champion on The Golden Hind rail tour on Saturday 23rd May 2026. Filmed at Powderham, Hemerdon and Newton Abbot. Unfortunately I had a few sound issues, hopefully not too noticeable.

 

Vintage trains ran the Golden Hind on the 23rd May from Birmingham Snow Hill to Plymouth and return with D1015 Western Champion as motive power. I saw the London Paddington tp Plymouth leg of the journey at Rewe on the outward and return..

 

I have now had timings and seat confirmation come through for Saturday's 'Whistling Ghost' to Minehead.

I was fully expecting, given the weather, to have received notification that it would be diesel-hauled due to fire risk, but no mention as yet, so fingers crossed. I do fully expect some diesel assistance regardless. Let's hope there's a little bit of rain by then to damp things down.

VT commented on their Facebook post earlier today that they expect 5043 to be hauling the trip.

 

It is red fire risk and expected to remain so through to the weekend.

 

Some needed couple hours of rain from storms last night across the West and Midlands so hopefully that helps things a little. Obviously not an over night fix annoyingly

 

Thunderstorms and heavy rain overnight in the Bristol area. Long grass in the fields dry as a bone by 7am. <BJ>

 

In Worcester, considering how much rain there was overnight I was amazed how dry the roads and everything else is this morning. Only real change here is that rather than just hot it is now hot and muggy!

 

Ready to go at Snow Hill.
Not sure what's on the back.

 

37 (presuming 240) . We’re one behind the Castle so too far to confirm. Despite heat most places seem fairly green so fingers crossed. I guess with Red fire risk it’s steam with diesel assistance. Only 17 mins in BL so maybe pilot attached rather than loco change; not sure.

 

Will Clun Castle be ready for the Newcastle run on Friday 12th June, i'm booked on it but heard nothing since date change' Thanks

Neil

 

I’ve been told work is well advanced on the retubing so it should be ready but still sounds tight to me. We’re also on it.

 

fingers crossed all round then!!
Thanks

 

5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' racing past Wadborough Foot Crossing on the outward leg of "The Whistling Ghost" earlier today (with a hefty shove from the Class 37).

 

5043 in the Somerset sun.https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/55304017019/in/dateposted-public/

 

I'm quite confused about "red fire risk", I always thought that meant a mandatory pilot diesel on the front and the steam loco doing effectively pretty much nothing. That was certainly not the case on this one or the Saphos operation to Kingswear today which did not seem to be much different from normal. Or maybe the red fire risk was later rescinded in the West Country today?