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Vintage Trains 2024

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Leviathan, Oct 12, 2023.

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  1. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    The Cathedrals Express to Salisbury, 7029 Clun Castle, 2nd March 2024.

     
    D1002, Mar 2, 2024
    #61
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  2. Western Venturer

    Western Venturer Well-Known Member

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    7029 Clun Castle on the Cathedrals Express. Seen at Grateley and Salisbury Station.

     
    Western Venturer, Mar 3, 2024
    #62
    gricerdon and Bob Millard like this.
  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    That shot from Salisbury looks like an authentic unassisted steam departure on what is actually a tricky exit. And a load of 8 plus a diesel is something that should be manageable for a Castle.

    If VT can make this combination work financially for them then they deserve to fill their trains by providing a proper steam charter experience for those who want it.

    Well done VT and good luck for the upcoming season.
     
    Big Al, Mar 3, 2024
    #63
    Western Venturer, gricerdon and simon neate like this.
  4. AlexGWR1994

    AlexGWR1994 Member

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    Here's my footage of Clun Castle showing the perfect combination of Speed, Power and Grace on The Cathedrals Express to Salisbury. My locations were Grateley, Hurstbourne Viaduct and South Stoke. The highlights were the fast run over Hurstbourne Viaduct, and the perfect finale of a 75mph dash on the Great Western Main Line bringing back 1960s vibes minus the overhead wires. I hope you enjoy the video.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2024
    AlexGWR1994, Mar 3, 2024
    #64
    sycamore, gricerdon, Enterprise and 6 others like this.
  5. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    _DSC0430m.jpg _DSC0430.jpg Having gone out for the Black 5 in the morning (so hopelessly wet and windy I didn't get out of the car ) followed by the A4 at Sandy, wet but better I decided to see the return of the Castle in the promised afternoon sunny spells. Needless to say it was wet and windy at Culham but on getting back to the car the sun found a hole in the cloud and produced a nice rainbow!! The B/W version is probably better
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2024
    Johnb, Mar 3, 2024
    #65
    Copper-capped, JBTEvans, ykin01 and 17 others like this.
  6. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    You did better than I did John - Arlesey station is only 5 miles away from me and I didn't even bother leaving the house for no. 7 yesterday morning!
     
    5944, Mar 3, 2024
    #66
  7. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I only did it because soon all we will have on the ECML south of Peterborough will be Tornado. This was the result, not exactly a masterpiece
    IMG_0421.jpeg
     
    Johnb, Mar 3, 2024
    #67
    Oswald T Wistle, ykin01, mike1522 and 14 others like this.
  8. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

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    This thread has not gone to the first page of “What’s going on” .
     
    mike1522, Mar 3, 2024
    #68
  9. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Well after a lot of deliberation given the current issues with other operators, we have taken the plunge and booked 2 tickets on the Great Western 2 day trip to Plymouth. This has likely exhausted our railtour budget for 2024, but this will be the trip of the year if VT are able to deliver on what they promise.
    A few years ago many of us dipped into our pockets to help set up Vintage Trains as an independent TOC, it is trips like this that we all had at the back of our minds when we did so - so on that basis it deserves our support.
    I must admit I am very much looking forward to this one and will be nice to head West rather than North for a change too.
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2024
    acorb, Mar 5, 2024
    #69
    green five, beavis, JBTEvans and 2 others like this.
  10. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Member

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    I know it's late but many thanks for all your replies.
     
    Ben Jenden, Mar 5, 2024
    #70
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  11. Britfoamer

    Britfoamer Well-Known Member

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    Britfoamer, Mar 7, 2024
    #71
  12. sycamore

    sycamore Member

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    Hope the tour was financially viable, can't have been many passenger carriages? 6?
     
    sycamore, Mar 7, 2024
    #72
  13. Julian Jones

    Julian Jones New Member

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    Ticket email for Saturday came through today. I’m in coach G. Who else is on the tour?
     
    Julian Jones, Mar 13, 2024
    #73
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  14. Where's Mazeppa?

    Where's Mazeppa? Member

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    Likewise travelling in Coach G, joining at Crewe via a connection from 1S37 -0603 Euston-Glasgow Central arr. Crewe 0751.
    Given the removal of the supporting diesel at Carnforth northbound to enable EoME an unassisted run to Carlisle, and likewise the plan to run the Earl unassisted (but again "shadowed") on the return from Carlisle as far as Crewe, I would imagine that there will be a noticeable presence of well-known (to this forum) members of the train-timing fraternity. I look forward to reading the once-traditional comprehensive accounts of locomotive performance that these guys were able to furnish. Totally absorbing stuff!!
     
    Where's Mazeppa?, Mar 13, 2024
    #74
    ragl, simon neate, Oswald T Wistle and 1 other person like this.
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Full marks to VT for trying to make the trip something special. It seems that this is one of the few routes where there is capacity to run an additional path that in itself is not a cheap thing to do.

    I hope it all goes well.
     
    Big Al, Mar 14, 2024
    #75
    gricerdon, ragl, Paul42 and 1 other person like this.
  16. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Yes let's hope so! Boarding at Warrington. I decided to sample the pleasures of first class. It's a long time since I have been in a compartment. Maybe not ideal for milepost spotting though!
     
    30567, Mar 14, 2024
    #76
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  17. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Might have to pop out and give the old girl a wave through Oxenholme.

    I note the peculiar pathing stop at Penrith northbound, seen suggestion elsewhere that its due to her being limited to 20 mph through the station thus losing her path there?
     
    GWR4707, Mar 14, 2024
    #77
  18. Sean Emmett

    Sean Emmett Member

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    Coach F. Stopwatches at the ready!

    Yep, I've also booked the Plymouth trip in May.

    The lure of unassisted steam. So far, the only steam trips I've booked this year.

    Staying couple nights in Brum as didn't fancy stupid o'clock drive from Bristol. Have booked on the Severn Valley on Sunday. More than a tad disappointed to find out the first train out of Snow Hill misses the SVR train at Kiddy by 4 minutes...
     
    Sean Emmett, Mar 15, 2024
    #78
    acorb and 70000 like this.
  19. Joseph Bevan

    Joseph Bevan New Member

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    Good Morning from Tyseley Locomotive Works, we are just preparing to depart with our empty coaching stock to Birmingham New Street behind 47773 for today’s Shap Mountaineer to Carlisle.

    Looking forward to welcoming everyone onboard for what is shaping up to be a very exciting day.

    For those travelling, the train is formed as follows leaving Birmingham New Street:

    47773- First Class (A)- Pullman (D)- Pullman (C)- Buffet (Z)- Tourist (E)- Tourist (F)- Tourist (G)

    There are a limited number of seats available in Tourist Class for anyone wanting a pay on the day fare.

    Hope everyone has an excellent day and enjoys the main event with 5043’s solo run over Shap.

    Joe
    Deputy Tour Manager
    Vintage Trains
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2024
    Joseph Bevan, Mar 16, 2024
    #79
    Paul42, green five, Big Al and 14 others like this.
  20. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Full marks to Vintage for doing this. Unfortunately I can’t get to it as I am still not fit enough for a long drive or for mega long days but I will be with you in spirit and look forward to seeing reports. I can probably use train running logs and images in a mini column fir HR if anyone is kind enough to send them via a PM
     
    gricerdon, Mar 16, 2024
    #80
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