Torbay Express 2015

Details announced today.

24th May - via Bath and Westbury
14th June - via Weston super Mare
12th July - via Bath and Westbury
26th July - via Weston super Mare
2nd August - via Weston super Mare
23rd August - via Weston super Mare
13th September - via Bath and Westbury
20th September - via Bath and Westbury

No news on locos yet though.

 

Torbay express Facebook page has said 60163, 70000 & 60009 will be in the locomotive pool
https://www.facebook.com/TorbayExpress/posts/723678184412825

 

Ah, I looked on their website and had a quick look on their Facebook page, but missed that.

 

With no GW engines available I'll look forward to that lineup. The class 25 on the DSR might be busy giving a helping hand this year.

 

Be good to see 60163 back on the TE. Do we know what livery she should be wearing ? Also, good to see some services running via Bath, Trowbridge etc, though limited Sunday Service trains likely to make it difficult to make those early dep times without staying the night before, or driving I'd imagine.

 

Interesting line up for sure. No 34046? Guess she won't be ready in time. 60009 is a surprise. I wonder if she will be in Bristol for most of the summer or head up to Crewe later.

 

Yes Tornado will be in Apple Green. I liked her in Apple Green and the blue livery, didn't like the Brunswick Green.

 

IIRC, the plan is for 6 months in the works, but as always it depends on what they find while stripping down. Assuming all goes more-or-less to plan, she's likely to be 1st reserve for other LSL locos. I don't suppose all the locos currently rostered for trains later in the year will actually be fit on the day. But we digress...

 

Indeed. Also interesting this year, is the tours in May and June. IIRC, the last time a TBEx ran in May was 2010, but I'm pretty sure there were more runs in the 2010 season as a whole. For me, the May and June runs would be the best bets if booking now as there'll be plenty of daylight, and going by last year, and the year before, the least likelihood of disruption due to fire risk.

 

Latest Pathfinder brochure plus TBEx leaflet dropped through the letterbox this morning. Beautifully produced I have to say, and should do a good job tempting people to travel.

Not entirely sure what the Std fare was in 2014, but £95 this year seems expensive to me, especially given there's no discount for joining at one of the stations later in the journey. I suspect many will choose the Royal Duchy this year if they want a journey over that route which continues to offer more steam mileage for less money.

 

I for one will choose the Duchy again, I haven't travelled on the Torbay since Past Time Rail's unfortunate demise, to get the best from the Torbay you need to be able to join at Bristol and it being a Sunday no trains would get me to Bristol in time would mean 2 nights B/B in Bristol an added expense to the trip, The Royal Duchy's with the added bonus of the South Devon banks with Ray Churchill in control is much more my cup of tea.

 

Indeed, I'm with you. The original PTR concept was an affordable day out, and if memory serves me right, the first season only featured std class owing to the booked loco, a GWR Hall IIRC being limited to 6 / 7 vehicles. Since then it has evolved into more of a luxury day out it seems, (nothing wrong with that), but like many others I'm sure, I'd love to see where each £1 in that £95 for a std class seat ends up, not to mention the 225 for one in Dining !

Why staggered fares pegged to joining points can't be made available is also still a mystery. I guess most join at Bristol for the reasons of value for money, but those who have to join at Taunton, really have to pay the same as those who enjoy around 60 more miles behind steam ?

 

Yes, well it's that "X" that remains the object of mystery of course, as we don't know what proportion of the fares paid are covering costs, and how much is profit. Without that information, we can't be sure there'd be a shortfall if those getting less, paid less. Not saying anything is wrong with a large proportion being profit, I just think it would be nice if these things were made transparent. Other Operators manage to stagger fares after all, most notably RTC, so why the difference ?

 

By that argument, if I catch, for example. the 10.37 Virgin Trains service from Stockport to Manchester Piccadilly on a weekday, I should pay £164.50 (the same as a passenger from London Euston), rather than £2.30?

 

Yes, I think there is some argument for each passenger in each class sharing the cost, (even though that cost remains a mystery), but to say those joining much later in the journey should share the cost as well is stretching a point I feel.

 

Indeed, the same principle is often applied, but the big difference I think Malc was pointing out to be fair, is that fares on the National Rail network, regardless of ticket type, are determined primarily by the number of miles being travelled.

In the case of charters, this principle is occasionally applied, but not reliably, so any discount enjoyed is usually discretionary, and somewhat random.