Vintage Trains 2024

Page 5 of the brochure says the Worcester trip is via the Lickey and New Street. The same page also says "Steam hauled trains will be tailed by a heritage diesel throughout, except for some advertised steam hauled Shakespeare Expresses and part of the Great Western special trip".
7029 took 6 coaches up the Lickey unassisted on 20th November 2021, so if the load is again limited to 6 then it may well do it again.
Approximate times are on the website - leave Shrub Hill at 1025, into Stratford at 1310. Leave Stratford at 1630, back into Shrub Hill at 1900.

 

2hrs 45 for a Worcester to Stratford either suggests there is some long breaks in loops or it stops to reverse some where (Ie goes to Hatton and Reverses) as such the diesel would be a necessary again.

Its about a 2 hour Journey time if you go all stops WOS-SAV via BSW.

 

The SE from Worcester will also pick up at Droitwich and run up the Lickey to New Street (there will be a diesel on the back as the load will be 9 cars. The train will then proceed to Hatton Jnct, where the diesel will then haul the train to SOA (with the Castle on the rear). At SOA, the diesel will be detached and the normal mid day SE lunch train to BSH and return will operate. On return to SOA, the diesel will be re-attached to the rear and steam will run chimney first back to Worcester via the outward route. Times will be slightly different to the WTT SE times and when clarified website bookings will open. The Derby and Leicester SEs will follow the same pattern via Hatton Junction so the locos are in the right place

 

Just spotted this tour added to the Vintage Trains website and a corker it looks too, clearly stating unassisted steam over Shap…Hmm tasty!

https://vintagetrains.co.uk/the-shap-mountaineer/

 

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it doesn't state anywhere about unassisted steam. It simply states diesel will be swapped for 5043 at Crewe. The only tour advertised with no diesel on the back is the Plymouth one in May.

 

Granted my link above doesn’t…
However…Taken from the preceding page.

 

Ah, good point!

 

I don't think that's a new one. It's been there a while. Granted, it is hard to find tours on their website as it's not particularly intuitive

 

We do plan for 5043’s trip over Shap to be unassisted by diesel. This is a change to the original specification and we currently expect 5043 to haul the train from Carnforth with the diesel following light engine

 

Not from Crewe Michael? Or perhaps it is steam and diesel Crewe to Carnforth and return?

 

Excellent stuff.

 

Given that 5043 successfully ran 9 coaches over the S&C -including Wilpshire Bank in March 2012 - I should doubt that Vintage Trains will have any concerns re ability.

 

That wasn't my meaning, nor have I.

When I last looked, the website said steam on at Crewe.

So I wasn't quite clear whether it is now steam on at Crewe, diesel on the back, diesel off at Carnforth. Or it might now be diesel to Carnforth and steam over Shap.

 

Given the distances whereby 5000 gallons is normally calculated to cover around 72 miles then I would assume Carnforth may be a water stop and the diesel detached at Crewe but that depends on whether the GUV is deployed and what affect this will have on train planning.

 

No-one's mentioned the previous time 5043 did an out and back over Shap. Imaginatively named "Castle over Shap". Steam hauled from Crewe to Carlisle and return on 20th June 2009. Back in the good old days. We expected 11 on but the load was 10. None too shabby a day out. Excellent climb of Grayrigg, Summit passed at 47; roared through Tebay at 77 and held 40 over the final 3/4 mile to Shap Summit. Southbound was entertaining too. 71 through Penrith and Shap Summit passed at 54.

 

It was actually 11 coaches in March 2012 following 6201 failing with a hot tender axle box at Carlisle.

 

Great day out, I think there was quite an attitude of proving a point on the footplate and in the support coach that day!

 

Email received today says steam on at Carnforth on the outward, and off at Crewe on the return.

 

Some interesting news from Tyseley (was previously reported on 'Current State of 45593 Kholapur' thread, but thought it worth reposting here):

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/0...vintage-trains-as-growth-plans-announced.html

It looks like an extremely well thought out plan. One thing that caught my eye was:

"Air braking will also be added or reactivated on the core dining train, allowing either braking mode to be used on the train."

I assume that this means that they will be converting their Mk 2. coaches to dual-braking - not sure if this is something that has been done before. Anyway, a very wise decision, as continued use of vac-braked only stock on the main line is surely an increasingly risky proposition given the limited options for rescuing a failed train.

Also, very pleased to hear that restoration of 5080 is to be actively pursued.

Nick M.