Saphos 2024

Lovely shot of the 40. They are one class of diesel I would go out of my way to see. Agree with your comment about appropriate motive power. The main thing that makes it inappropriate is that it is not going to get over the Devon banks without a lot of assistance from behind! Admittedly any steam loco would need assistance, but I suspect Mayflower will need more than most.

 

Thanks. We're at Newton Abbot on the way back now and the train flew over the banks with 'Mayflower' making very sweet music at the front. But I'm not kidding myself, if I wasn't lucky enough to be near the front both ways I've little doubt I'd hear the a very significant contribution from the back. It's been a lovely dry sunny afternoon but conditions this morning were wet, the banks are lined by big trees, battering the windows, but our 2 locos made light work of it. Just approaching Dawlish...

 

61306 at Hemerdon on the return working.

 

Great video, thanks. Both locos working well on the long and fearsome bank.

 

We enjoyed the trip to Plymouth last Wednesday, although it was a long day. Customer service in First Class non-dining was very good and the free snack box and soft drinks for sale were better than average fare. But obviously only as a supplement to the main food and drink you bring yourself and buy at your destination. We were allowed onto the platforms to see the train loco at Taunton and Newton Abbott, but this is only decided as we approach the stop. So I've attached some pictures I managed to grab at those stations and of course on arrival at Plymouth.

 

Does anyone know if 34046 and 70000 are still down here in the South East, so one is possibly on the Golden Arrows this week as suggested by the general comment on the Saphos web site please?

34046 is the one I'd really like as I'm very short of photos of that loco, and the recent trip it ran in Kent slipped under my radar.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Bryan B

 

2025 tours are now on the website. They've stopped doing Standard Class next year, so cheapest option is now First Class, which has increased in price from £195 to £220. The window table for two supplement is still £50 but there is a new "superior" window table for two (whatever that is) for an extra £125.

One new tour in the programme that I could see. "The Edinburgh Summer Explorer" which is steam from Carlisle over Beattock.

 

Is the 'superior" window table one that you sit next to a window with glass in it?

I'm only joking about that because of a circa 1962 incident big brother Don @gricerdon and I were involved in whilst travelling on a local, push pull set with an H class near Oxted. We were in a compartment which was drafty as the sash type window was fully down. So we lifted it up to discover there was no glass in it. So we just pushed it back down. Not long afterwards a gentleman joined us in the compartment and after we got going gave us a 'look', maybe even a 'tush', stood up, pulled the window up and sat down with a look of satisfaction and accomplishment on his face! Don and I being well brought up somehow managed to stifle the giggles until we got off the train at a later stop. Then we fell about laughing.

Oh the joys of a lifetime of gricing.

Bryan B

 

Same case with next year's SD tours.

 

I'm guessing "superior" first class is a table for 4 but only two seats occupied.

So from next year it looks like the only chance of doing mainline steam for less than £200 per person is either a short blast on the Shakespeares or a day stuck in WCRC coffins. Sad times.

 

Maybe that pricing will work well for those making those charges. Could it help with paying for the cost of the diesel on the back, whilst at the same time pricing the regular travelling gricers, who would moan about the diesel, out of the market, thereby ending the 'diesel on the back' debate once and for all?

A wink, but I just wonder. . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

All may not be lost…. The SRPS set by next March should include 3 TSOs, with buffet car to follow shortly afterwords. We wouldn’t be overhauling them if they weren’t going to be used!

 

I've just telephoned Saphos. They say that there will be no standard seats available next year. Very sad. <BJ>

 

Do Saphos actually have any 64 seat Mk1's, Or are they all First Class coaches?.

 

All First Class ones I believe.

 

Very disappointed really with the offering from Saphos next year. It’s a carbon copy of 2024, with only the Edinburgh jobs added. The steam legs seem, if anytning, shorter than before, but the price has increased.

Although I don’t personally trvael Standard Class, I’m dissapointed that Saphos have almost chosen to alienate that market by offering non at all. That seems like a very odd choice given the fact that they relied on enthusiasts in the earlier days of their operations.

Difficult to see what I will book on for next years trip, which is a shame given the past experiences. Perhaps they’ve just gone a step too far this time round.

 

Same with Steam Dreams going by their website.
My money will be spent on main line steam abroad.

 

The only standard class seats in 2024 were half the buffet car, aprox 32 seats, i know this as i travelled on a couple of tours, and checked the coaches in the rest of the consist and no more were 2nd class

 

Would have to wonder what will be made of the standard class buffet going into next year, as it has the 4 by 4 layout and also they use the kitchen area for the teas and coffee servings and some hot foods for a few first class coaches as well as standard