Vintage Trains 2026

Here's my footage of the Earl & the Two Manors in action with The Whistling Ghost tour yesterday. I filmed the Earl at Charfield, Fordgate and Cogload Junction, and the Manors at Churchlands Bridge, Washford and Williton. I hope you enjoy it.

 

From a passenger POV, another excellent tour by Vintage Trains.

With the hot weather, it was never going to be one for the pure steam enthusiast, and we did get shoved around a lot from the back to avoid setting fire to half of Somerset. However, it was partly made up for with a nice noisy unassisted run with the two Manors along the WSR section.

We did manage to keep mostly to time, however, got delayed on the return after an Emergency Call from another train near Droitwich brought us, and everything else in the area, to a halt. Hopefully wasn't anything too serious.
5043 was certainly causing much excitement amongst the late-night revellers at Snow Hill station, always nice to see 'normals' still getting excited about steam.

As usual, a great atmosphere on board with the usual friendly stewards and buffet staff. I ended up spending most of the trip having a nice chat with the couple sat opposite.

I'm looking forward to the Newcastle trip in a couple of weeks, just hoping that 7029 is ready in time. Suggestion from some onboard that it might be a bit 'tight' but I haven't heard anything from VT officially so assume it's all good at the moment.

 

Did next week's tour always show as a Castle to Newcastle, rather than 7029 as advertised for last year's tour?