Vintage Trains 2025

So how many of us are on Saturday's tour then? Been several years since I've been any further west than Cardiff on the South Wales Main Line, so I'm looking forward to it.

 

It is presumably still operational, as the tour booklet for Saturday's tour to Swansea is listing it as one of the two possible diesels that will be on the back (the other is 37240)

 

37240 was the rear gunner for todays 'Western Mountaineer' with D1015 "Western Champion" leading the way. Seen climbing Shap at High Scales & crossing Arten Gill on the return.





Phil

 

Nice to see D1015 back up north again today after nearly 12 years...footage of the Western roaring up Shap this morning with a little assistance from 37240 then accelerating hard past Euxton on the return.

 

For week after week it was Tangmere, Tangmere, Tangmere and then suddenly here in the NW we have had Blue Peter, Tornado, Sir Nigel Gresley, Nunney Castle, Mayflower, Bahamas, Scots Guardsman. And now for something completely different, a Western. D1015 Western Champion, a diesel hydraulic and a rare (unique?) visitor to the line through Blackburn. I'm a mainline steam fan but will turn out for some of the more interesting diesels and I judged that the Western was well worth a look. As I had never seen one in mainline action where could be better to watch it than the tried, trusted (and handy) Wilpshire bank.

Mrs W returned from her Wednesday lunchtime/afternoon gathering with her former colleagues and responsibility for a slumbering Maisie was duly transferred. The train was due at Ramsgreave at 18.00 so allowing plenty of time for the heavy teatime traffic I arrived just after 17.30. No point faffing about killing time, I headed down to the station platform. Young Philip and his mum were already there. We chatted as I prepared. The Blackburn bound train came and went at 17.40 (RT), D1015 had already passed thro' Clitheroe at 17.36 (6E). The Clitheroe bound train was due at 17.44 but running late; how late mattered as it was a potential "blocker". (Later we found out that it was so late that it was terminated short at Blackburn.)

It was just a matter of trying to guess when the Western would appear. Attendance on the station was sparse; Philip, me and two guys, one with us and one on the opposite platform, Philip's mum had gone up on to the bridge. D1015 appeared from around the curve by the old Wilpshire station, a spot where the sun shone brightly, unlike the station where the trackside trees cast heavy shadows - oh for a chain saw! The train approached at a reasonable speed, plenty of exhaust clouded the air above the Western which was making a very agreeable sound. The sound grew louder, never raucous or thunderous but purposeful and powerful. Philip gestured for a toot from the driver and got one. The coaches shone as they hurried past, the 37 hung on to the rear contributing nothing to the forward momentum. 19C with a cool northerly wind, 7E & 27mph. Now that was different.

 

Clear evening skies tempted me out for this main line rarity; shadows lengthen south of Crewe as D1015 cruises downhill towards Stafford at Mill Meece. A chainsaw would be useful here too, sadly no toot !
I notice D1015 has gained a lamp since Ramsgreave !.

 

A couple of quick phone snaps of D1015 as it pauses at Stafford on the return working from Carlisle.

 

D1015 seen from Scout Green through to Shap Wells then on the return from the Aisgill hillside, plus my archive footage from the last run over Shap on the 31st July 2010.

 

Both might be on the train as LSL have been running of late. It certainly won't be 'Steam hauled' down to Gloucester and on through South Wales. Best we'll get is a Show Pony with perhaps a bit of working between Newport and Cardiff and other built up sections though the trackside is 'brittle' and brown in most places. Forecast changed from Light Rain most of Saturday to bit of drizzle now and again. Probably way too little and too late. Not sure if we're going to turn up as much as we love Bahamas, the sole purpose of us travelling was a Castle out of Swansea High Street for the first time since St David's Day in 2007.

 

D1015 coming off the Long Drag at Settle Junction with the Western Explorer.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54629082605/in/photostream/

 

Another shap mountaineer trip with 1 of the castles on 27 september

 

I see a ‘Diesel Explorer’ trip to Aberystwyth on 20th September has been announced, with 37 240 hauling the train, assisted by a class 97 from Shrewsbury.

I was a bit surprised at the fares, specifically £120 for a Tourist Class seat, especially as I would probably have joined the train at Shrewsbury. The fare seems to be the same as VT’s steam trips, when I was expecting it to be a bit lower. Anyway, it’s a bit more than I was willing to pay, and coupled with less than 2 hours in Aberystwyth, I shan’t be booking on this one.

I see that Enthusiast Class is already sold out. I hope that this new itinerary books well and is a success for VT.

Nick M.

 

According to Alex at V.T. the cathedrals express to Swansea on 5 July I've just spoken to at 4:45pm it's going to be 45596 at the front not been showponied as shireman speculated and 37240 on the rear T. and T.
I quoted from V.T. themselves.

 

Very few diesels tours with any operator are rarely cheaper than the steam equivalent. Some LSL Intercity ones are but many get canx due lack of bookings it seems.
To my mind much of a railtours cost base is fixed. NR track access and station call fees. Stock hire (although not in this case), loco hire (although again not in this case, but that would also apply to both on a VT steam tour) crewing, catering staff etc.
Only real difference as far as I can see is the cost of coal vs diesel.

 

Any indication what will be on the Scarborough trip on the 19th?

 

Yes, the steam supplement hasn't really been a thing for a couple of years now.

 

There is still a hire fee for locos and stock.

 

As it's only an hours drive for us we'll go to Worcestershire Parkway and see what turns up. I'm amazed the fire risk is even as low as Amber down here in South Wales. Skewen Bank will be interesting as 45596 will have to do a lot of work after the restriction through Neath.

 

Ironic that we're talking of fire risk, yet I'll probably be bringing my waterproof tomorrow. Forecast for Swansea is drizzle and heavy showers all afternoon.

 

Done irony in the past. On a Torbay Express we were running under Amber. It bucketed down from dawn but we still had to have a diesel inside. The track was close to being flooded in many but it had to be there on the return too. Saturday is Amber. Surprised VT a bit. A 'handle with care' day. The embankment near Lydney used to be a problem in days gone by. Vegetation very close to the line for quite a few miles west of Cardiff too. Lots of sections where we should get more steam than diesel action. Not a fan of Swansea in the dry. Still, weather changes quickly on the coast so we can but hope that its dry. Pubs might be crowded as the Lions game doesn't finish until after 1230; and weather permitting the Test Match will be on.